I-66 PROMOTERS HOPE NATIONAL MEETING WILL REJUVENATE INTEREST

Promoters of a proposed east-west interstate highway are hoping a national meeting in September will rejuvenate interest in the project and solidify an organization that can win congressional approval of funding a design study.

Walt Wildman of Cape Girardeau, associate director of Interstate 66 Project Inc., met recently with city officials of Wichita, Kan., to discuss their interest in the project. Wichita has been serving as the national headquarters of the I-66 Project for the last few years. Wildman said part of the discussion focused on whether to move the office back to Cape Girardeau or somewhere else.

"We had ultimately talked about that, based on an assumption Wichita was no longer interested and had other things going on," said Wildman. "But the result of our discussion was very positive, and they very much want to stay involved."

Cathy Holdeman, governmental affairs director for the city of Wichita, said it is important that the I-66 group refocus its efforts. Both Holdeman and Wildman agreed that things have been quiet on the I-66 front recently, with a preliminary feasibility study now under way. Most work that has gone on recently has been low key.

"I think people are waiting to hear more," said Holdeman. "Some time has evolved since they last heard an update on the status of the consultant's report. They need more information, and when they do have that information, I think they will recharge their interest in the project."

One of the decisions made at the meeting in Wichita was to hold another national meeting of people along the proposed I-66 route in September, either in Denver or Las Vegas.

"We need to hold this meeting to give a progress report, a financial report, and talk about where we need to go from here," said Holdeman.

The meeting will be patterned after one held in April 1989 in St. Louis. It was organized by the Cape Girardeau Regional Commerce and Growth Association, which initiated the I-66 concept.

Wildman said one objective now is to form regional groups along the route, generally within state boundaries, to help broaden the base of the organization and its ability to be a strong lobbying force for the project.

Said Wildman: "We are trying to form these groups all along the corridor to bring people in and rejuvenate I-66 again. It has been in sort of a lull because the study is going on and we don't have any money. But part of this meeting process will be to approve a budget and fund-raising method."

Wildman explained that the 13 or 14 regional groups to be formed will "be responsible for political grassroots support and financial support."

Bill Fashing, vice president for economic development with the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, said he senses support in his area for an east-west interstate and believes the national meeting would provide a needed stimulus to the effort.

"I think there is an understanding of the importance of east-west access, and obviously, from Springfield to points east of here, there is an unfulfilled need," said Fashing. "We haven't seen a substantial outflow of interest, but the project has not really been promoted to the level it will be in the next few months.

"I believe once people are updated on what the plan is and the progress made to date, that will generate additional interest in I-66."

Paducah, Ky., Mayor Gerry Montgomery said she too is optimistic about the I-66 concept, but the effort will take time.

"It has come a long way in a very short period of time," said Montgomery. "It's going to be a long process too; it is not something, particularly with the financial problems of the federal government, that is going to happen quickly."

I-66 Project Inc. is hoping to raise $250,000 soon to continue promoting the effort, Wildman said. Part of that money will be used to hire a consultant to organize the effort to win congressional support next year for funding an engineering study.

The study, which could cost $30 million to $40 million, would take four to five years to complete, Wildman said.

As part of the organizational structure, each regional group would have a representative to serve on the national steering committee.

The regional groups will also be asked to provide input for a more specific route, which Wildman said he hopes will be included in future legislation that funds the major engineering study.

"We hope to go to Congress in the spring of 1994 with route-specific recommendations sanctioned by each one of these groups," said Wildman. "Our long-range goal is to get Congress to fund the design-build phase, which would be route specific and be primarily engineering work."

Fashing, who moved to the job in Springfield about nine months ago from St. Joseph, said he believes there will be financial support in his area for the organization.

Said Fashing: "I believe there is some potential for significant support, but at this point I have not been involved in activities to generate funds specifically for this project. I don't have a handle on the level of funding that may be available, but I think the concept of the I-66 proposal does have merit that would be recognized by business people from Southwest Missouri and hopefully be supported financially."

Montgomery said she is willing to do her part to help in further fund raising for the project and believes the only way to keep it moving is through a strong grassroots effort that is being proposed.

"I think we have to keep the push going. If we don't keep the dream alive, we will have no hope of getting it completed," said the Paducah mayor. "The whole concept has a lot of merit."

Montgomery said she is looking forward to seeing the report from the feasibility study now under way, and is optimistic it will keep the concept moving.

"I think it was a miracle that the study was able to be funded as quickly as it was. We are very fortunate to be this far along at this time," Montgomery said.

Wildman said he is pleased that city officials in Wichita have re-stated their support for I-66 and want to continue as leaders in the effort.

"Things had been slow, and I did not know what their attitude was," said Wildman. "But having them on board is a positive move that will help this overall effort."

The invitation to the national meeting will be sent by the mayor of Wichita.

The I-66 study being conducted includes a corridor roughly between I-40 and I-70. The corridor's dimensions are approximately 3,000 miles long and between 250 and 350 miles wide.

This study will attempt to narrow that corridor and will also look at special features this highway could have, including extra right of way for pipelines and high-speed rail, and high-tech features.