Forwarded from NAST, Neighbors Advocating Sustainable Transportation:

> VERY TIME SENSITIVE - PLEASE FORWARD WIDELY AND MAKE YOUR DONATION NOW!
>
> *********
>
> On June 25th Caltrans approved a project to add lanes to Highway 50
> for what APPEARS to be a noble cause:  carpool lanes.  What's not to
> like?
>
> The PROBLEM:  These lanes will only be carpool lanes a few hours of
> the day.  The vast majority of the time, they will be UNRESTRICTED,
> BUSINESS-AS-USUAL HIGHWAY LANES which means 25% MORE CAPACITY for
> CARS AND TRUCKS and the GRIDLOCK and POLLUTION THEY CREATE.
>
> Despite that,  Caltrans has the AUDACITY to claim that the project
> "will not have a significant effect on the environment."  YES, YOU
> READ THAT RIGHT.  They claim that adding new lanes will not increase
> car trips, gas consumption or air pollution.
>
> More lanes means more cars and more AGGRAVATION.  Who hasn't felt
> ROAD RAGE being stuck in traffic, burning ever-more-costly gas,
> breathing fumes  and getting nowhere? There is an epidemic of OBESITY
> in this country, partly because most of us are stuck in our cars and
> can't easily walk or take transit to our destinations.  Serious car
> accidents, skyrocketing insurance premiums, lifelong health
> problems.  IT DOESN'T HAVE BE THIS WAY.  We CAN become a society less
> dependent on cars, with healthier, more enjoyable and less costly
> options for getting around quickly and conveniently.
>
> We believe that carpool lanes have a place in our future
> transportation plans.  But WE THINK OUR GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE HONEST
> ABOUT THEIR REAL IMPACTS, and allow for public debate about their
> total costs and benefits relative to alternatives like light rail,
> commuter rail, expanded bus service, and neighborhood shuttles.
>
> The time to shift our public investment to support more sustainable
> transportation is NOW.  RIGHT NOW.  LET'S NOT ALLOW THIS BEHEMOTH
> BUREAUCRACY TO PRETEND THAT EXPANDING ROADS WILL NOT EFFECT OUR
> QUALITY OF LIFE, OUR HEALTH OR THE ENVIRONMENT.
>
> Neighbors Advocating Sustainable Transportation (NAST) is a
> Sacramento coalition of neighborhood, community and environmental
> associations.  We have no staff.  We have no budget.  But we have a
> vision of a better future for Sacramento.
>
> WE HAVE ONLY UNTIL JULY 25, 2007 to file a lawsuit to STOP THIS
> PROJECT, so we need to raise money to hire a lawyer RIGHT NOW.
> Friends of ECOS is hosting a litigation fund for NAST.
>
> Please spread the word about this critical need.  MAKE YOUR CHECK OUT
> TO "FRIENDS OF ECOS", include a note directing it to the NAST
> Litigation Fund, and send your donation NOW to:
>
> FRIENDS OF ECOS
> 909 12th Street, Suite 100
> Sacramento  CA  95814
>
> **************
>
> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIMELY SUPPORT!!!
>
> For more information about NAST, please visit http://nastsacramento.blogspot.com/