TOLEDO, Ohio — America Walks, a national organization dedicated to advancing walkable and accessible communities, released a letter of support to a west Toledo neighborhood group opposing an Ohio Department of Transportation project.
According to a press release from the I-475 Neighborhoods Coalition, America Walks officially endorsed the coalition and their opposition to an ODOT project that would widen I-475 between Douglas Road and US 23. In the letter, which was addressed to ODOT director Jack Marchbanks, America Walks called the widening "unnecessary" and "destructive", claimed it lacks community support and said the project wastes taxpayer dollars.
EARLIER COVERAGE: West Toledo residents voice concerns over I-475 widening project
America Walks also said the project poses a health risk to residents, who cited U.S. EPA studies indicating exposure to traffic pollution causes increased risk of childhood asthma, impaired lung function and premature death, among other health risks.
The organization also claimed highways like I-475 drain local wealth, potentially perpetuating disparities in income and access to opportunity. Additionally, America Walks claimed in their letter highway expansion exacerbates traffic problems rather than solves them.
Ultimately, America Walks, the I-475 Neighborhoods Coalition and other national organizations are calling on government leaders to adopt a moratorium on expanding highways and a pause on existing projects until climate, equity and maintenance goals are met.
In the press release, the coalition included letters of opposition to the project from Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz, who wrote to ODOT in September 2024; Pete Gerken, who wrote to Marchbanks in March 2024; and CNU Midwest, an organization dedicated to new urbanism in the Midwest.
Peggy Daly-Masternak, is the leader of the I-475 Neighborhoods Coalition. She and the coalition met with ODOT in fall 2023 to discuss the project and voice their concerns. In the press release Thursday, she reiterated America Walk's concerns.
EARLIER COVERAGE: ODOT meets with concerned residents to discuss changes to I-475
"Increases in noise and air pollution, depreciating property values, expanded trucking routes running through residential neighborhoods to distant locales, climate impacts, and continuing population decreases as residents get fed up," said Daly-Masternak. "Most concerning for all Toledo will be increases in previously restricted international hazmat trade with the Gordie Howe Bridge between Detroit and Windsor."
According to the ODOT website, the proposed widening project will cost an estimated $186 million. It is slated to begin construction in summer 2027 and end in fall 2030.
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