From Deseret News archives:
No Legacy, no HAFB?
Highway could influence whether base is closed
The absence of an I-15 alternative hurt the base in the 1995 Base Realignment and Closure and could do the same again this year, former U.S. Rep. Jim Hansen, R-Utah, told the Deseret Morning News Monday.
"We argued, 'Well, we're going to build something. We're going to call it the West Davis Highway,'" Hansen said of the '95 BRAC. "We said, 'Oh, it's going to come.' We didn't know the Sierra Club would screw it up."
Not quite, the Sierra Club says.
"It's pretty tough to believe that a highway in south Davis County would affect a military base," said Marc Heileson, regional representative for the Sierra Club.
Heileson and other Legacy foes are denouncing Legacy and pushing the "Citizens' Smart Growth Alternative." The transit-first plan calls for Redwood road to be extended into Davis County in addition to construction of commuter rail, bus rapid transit and light rail.
Supporters call the plan environmentally sound and say it would save $300 million, Heileson said. Utah Department of Transportation officials say Legacy could cost as much as $680 million to build.
UDOT already started building the highway in November 2001, but construction was halted after the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily shut down the project after a Sierra Club lawsuit raised environmental questions.
Transportation access to military bases is just one issue BRAC commissioners must weigh when deciding which base to close, Hansen said.
During the 1995 BRAC rounds, the base closure commission's staff pointed out that Hill Air Force Base had higher rankings in all categories than the other four air logistics centers. The lack of an I-15 alternative was one of few negative points in the base's ranking.
Building the Legacy Parkway is a matter of national security, Davis County Commissioner Dannie McConkie said.
"It's for not only movement of people, but movement of military machines and materials to ensure this nation's secure safety," McConkie said. "We've always worried about having an alternative way to get from the north to the south end of Davis County."
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has said this "mother of all BRACs" will shut down a quarter of the military's infrastructure. In total, 425 bases could be closed or scaled back, which could save $7 billion annually, the Defense Department reported.
Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert recommended Hansen for the commission that will ultimately decide which bases to close.
President Bush will nominate the nine-member BRAC commission on or before March 15.
E-mail: ldethman@desnews.com
Comments
- Ontario Mormons' nativity scenes 9:41 a.m.
- Rabbis join NJ gay marriage debate 9:03 a.m.
- Afghan buildup on faster timetable 9:01 a.m.
- Salahi denies crashing W.H. party 8:58 a.m.
- Suspect in police slayings killed 8:55 a.m.
- Arrests made in Roy slayings 8:35 a.m.
- Bowden meeting with school officials 8:01 a.m.
- FIFA: Ireland won't be in WCup 8:00 a.m.
- Florida's Dunlap arrested, charged 8:00 a.m.
- Stocks climb early as dollar slides 7:59 a.m.
- Hall reprimanded by MWC
- Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
- Utes won't respond to Hall
- 2 citations issued at Y.-U. game
- Cougs begin bowl preparations
- Mitchell called intelligent, controlling
- Y. student vanished in China
- Max Hall issues apology
- Daughter: Mitchell fed me my pet
- BYU says Hall incident resolved
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
899 - Cougars beat Utes in overtime
481 - Hall reprimanded by MWC
385 - Max Hall issues apology
382 - Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
317 - Utes won't respond to Hall
264 - BYU is champion of the state
140 - Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
123 - Cave to be sealed with body inside
120 - Religion in politics is tiresome
113
I wanted to tell them not to go. I dropped subtle hints. "My money is on...
When I was a kid, I worshipped my grandpa. He was undoubtedly my hero....
Regarding whether it was really Max's statement, or one supplied for him: Of...
Raymond is not a Mormon High School. It is a public high school with some...
'Now, care to provide a SINGLE QUOTE in which Rush, Sean, or Glenn encouraged...
as a BYU fan be taking pictures of the Utah players? Shouldn't you be...
I was in the north end zone with most of the ute fans. I didn't see anything...
I feel there IS a difference between the tenor of the fans from Utah and...
Yeah good luck with that. Didn't you read the comments prior to yours from...
Great Family! Great Values! We need more parents who are willing to put their...
So what do you have to say to the BYU fan that hit Jamie Whittingham in the...
The cellphone/camera-hating guy sounds really unstable. Someone should taze...



You can be the first to comment on this story.