To: Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department and Scott Bennett, Director
CLOSING OF EXIT 142/CURTIS SYKES DRIVE
We, the undersigned citizens of Arkansas, hereby petition the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department to reconsider the proposed closing of exit number 142 on US Interstate 30, also known as Curtis Sykes Drive, North Little Rock, Arkansas. We hereby affix our signatures, along with our addresses, in opposition to the closing of the entrance and exit ramps leading to Interstate 30 from Curtis Sykes Drive.
Why is this important?
We, the undersigned citizens of North Little Rock, Arkansas, hereby petition the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department to reconsider the proposed closing of exit number 142 on US Interstate 30, also known as Curtis Sykes Drive, North Little Rock, Arkansas. Our concerns are as follows:
1. The proposed closing has not been carefully reviewed to include all relative feedback, as the latest plans were not initially presented to the community that has been directly affected. This appears as deceit on the part of the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department.
2. The closing of this exit will pose a great negative impact to the businesses in the area. These businesses utilize the entrance and exit onto Interstate 30 to procure and deliver their goods and services in a timely manner. The proposed change will impact their logistical efforts as to provide efficient service to their customers.
a. There are three business parks in the area that also house several business entities.
b. There are several dozen churches in the neighborhood adjoining these exits that are served by these entrance and exit ramps.
3. The closing will cause a larger congestive traffic area in the vicinity of Verizon Arena and Dickey Stephens Park during major events, as this entrance and exit are used by travelers as a secondary means of egress.
4. If the exit is moved to the proposed 19th street location, the students that are walking to local schools or participating in the local youth program on this corner are endangered by oncoming traffic traveling at a potentially high rate of speed.
5. CNG gas is the only Natural Gas refill station on Interstate 30 in the area, and will not be easily accessible by the agencies that utilize this service.
6. There are new street plans underway due to the completion of the North Little Rock High School. Due to these plans, closing this exit will cause a backup and delay in traffic on Main Street, which will make it more difficult to access the impacted areas.
7. The proposed closing reflects an injustice to the neighborhoods immediately surrounding and accessible by the entrance and exit, thereby isolating them and causing inaccessibility to the interstate and inconvenience to residents.
8. Residents of the Lakewood neighborhood will face additional traffic congestion while attempting to go into and from downtown North Little Rock, downtown Little Rock, and Interstate 40.
9. Curtis Sykes Drive is a major thoroughfare that leads to North Hills Blvd. 19th Street is a smaller, more congested area abutted by the housing projects.
10. The Curtis Sykes Drive exit is of historical significance to the residents of North Little Rock. Curtis Sykes was a community leader who fought to provide equal access to all the populace of the state and the proposed closing of the entrance and exits at this location casts a negative light on the efforts of the citizens to herald his accomplishments.
We hereby affix our signatures, along with our addresses, in opposition to the closing of the entrance and exit ramps leading to Interstate 30 from Curtis Sykes Drive
1. The proposed closing has not been carefully reviewed to include all relative feedback, as the latest plans were not initially presented to the community that has been directly affected. This appears as deceit on the part of the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department.
2. The closing of this exit will pose a great negative impact to the businesses in the area. These businesses utilize the entrance and exit onto Interstate 30 to procure and deliver their goods and services in a timely manner. The proposed change will impact their logistical efforts as to provide efficient service to their customers.
a. There are three business parks in the area that also house several business entities.
b. There are several dozen churches in the neighborhood adjoining these exits that are served by these entrance and exit ramps.
3. The closing will cause a larger congestive traffic area in the vicinity of Verizon Arena and Dickey Stephens Park during major events, as this entrance and exit are used by travelers as a secondary means of egress.
4. If the exit is moved to the proposed 19th street location, the students that are walking to local schools or participating in the local youth program on this corner are endangered by oncoming traffic traveling at a potentially high rate of speed.
5. CNG gas is the only Natural Gas refill station on Interstate 30 in the area, and will not be easily accessible by the agencies that utilize this service.
6. There are new street plans underway due to the completion of the North Little Rock High School. Due to these plans, closing this exit will cause a backup and delay in traffic on Main Street, which will make it more difficult to access the impacted areas.
7. The proposed closing reflects an injustice to the neighborhoods immediately surrounding and accessible by the entrance and exit, thereby isolating them and causing inaccessibility to the interstate and inconvenience to residents.
8. Residents of the Lakewood neighborhood will face additional traffic congestion while attempting to go into and from downtown North Little Rock, downtown Little Rock, and Interstate 40.
9. Curtis Sykes Drive is a major thoroughfare that leads to North Hills Blvd. 19th Street is a smaller, more congested area abutted by the housing projects.
10. The Curtis Sykes Drive exit is of historical significance to the residents of North Little Rock. Curtis Sykes was a community leader who fought to provide equal access to all the populace of the state and the proposed closing of the entrance and exits at this location casts a negative light on the efforts of the citizens to herald his accomplishments.
We hereby affix our signatures, along with our addresses, in opposition to the closing of the entrance and exit ramps leading to Interstate 30 from Curtis Sykes Drive