To the Editor:

Rooftop Highway promoter Jason Clark should check his facts before he speaks. Regarding the likely route of the Rooftop Highway that was recently unveiled by the citizens group YESeleven, Mr. Clark reportedly stated: “They’re just making this stuff up. None of it is scientific,” and “There’s no legitimacy to what they’ve done (Courier-Observer, ‘YESeleven Draws Up Route,’ Oct. 22, 2011). Just the opposite is true.

I have studied the group’s route and the methodology they followed in designing it. I also questioned the group’s leaders about their location-design criteria and discussed numerous details with those involved in the route planning. My evaluation also included spending the better part of two days in both Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties, making field observations of the path they say the highway would likely take if it were ever built.

As a land planning and design professional with over 50 years of education and experience, it is my opinion that the group’s route is, in fact, both scientific and legitimate.

It is a credible representation of where the highway would be built, and certainly is the best by far of any route information that’s been released by the DOT or anyone else.

Their route steers clear of natural features, such as rugged terrain and wetlands, and man-made features, such as population centers, that would run up the cost and environmental impact of the highway. A concerted effort was made to minimize the number of bridges, another cost-saving measure.

This is HUGE. Location is everything when it comes to assessing the highway’s impact, such as which communities might benefit and which could be economically harmed.

How much agricultural and forestland will be taken out of production? How many homes and businesses will be removed? How far from the highway will the impact zone of noise and other pollution extend?

How will wildlife and other aspects of the environment be impacted? These questions are crucial to local residents and landowners who are in the highway’s path, and to the rest of us who will have to live with it.

Up until recently there’s been no organized opposition to the Rooftop Highway. I think the idea seemed so far-fetched that most people didn’t take it seriously.

Mr. Clark has had his way and, without any community discussion or debate, has done a great job at garnering political support for it.

Now, thanks to YESeleven, we have a good idea of where it would probably be built, and genuine community discussion and debate can begin.

Richard Grover

Canton