To whom this may concern:

On behalf of the Community of Willow I am offering this letter of support as voted on at the Willow Area Community Organization meeting of October 6, 2008. The Susitna Community Council has submitted a well planned Proposed Capital Improvement Project (CIP) that targets safety not only for the communities who use the facilities located at the project site, but for all who pass thru the Parks Highway around the Talkeetna Spur Road. This intersection currently has two large attractions for pedestrian, bike, and other slow moving traffic, the Senior Center and Su Valley High School. A large grocery store is planned to open in the area in the near future, which will also be a tremendous slow traffic draw. The Fire station, while not attracting lots of slow traffic, does have urgent traffic leavings at totally random days and times. This location at the Parks Highway is one where auto and truck traffic passing thru are moving at high rates of speed headed both north and south regardless of the posted speed signs.

The project name is E. Helena/Parks Highway Safety Underpass. Specific project elements are a lighted Parks Highway underpass that extends from the Senior Center on one side to near the driveway for the Su Valley High School on the other side of the Parks; a maintained path on the east side of the Parks highway from the underpass entrance north to the Talkeetna Spur Road; and finally a painted crosswalk across the Talkeetna Spur Road to connect with the existing bike path.

This area has been designated the future townsite in the Susitna Community Council Area Comprehensive Plan adopted in March 2007. This project represents a solution for both immediate safety concerns and facilitates development of the community’s plan in the future.

If we in Willow can offer any further support for this project, please advise us.

Sincerely,

Linda Oxley, Chair