Letter to the Editor: Council's action on 4 for 2 stifles development

Friends and neighbors,

The Highway 2 Association has been the voice of the 4 for 2 mission for 15 years. Our mission has been to enhance economic development in the U.S. Highway 2 corridor by constructing a four-lane highway.

An adequate transportation system — 4 for 2 — is the prerequisite for

economic development. Eighty percent of businesses locate in or near communities with a four-lane highway or better.

It’s important to note that the Great Northern Corridor from Seattle to Chicago and Rochester, New York, serves some 40 million people and

enjoys a $2.5 trillion GDP.

Problem is, Montana’s Highway 2 is the only segment that is not four lanes, yet it’s that connectivity between the East and the West.

The Havre to Fort Belknap logical termini with only a two-lane highway becomes that bottle neck for commerce and trade in the entire corridor.

We ran into a bit of a road block when the Havre City Council — for the second time — denied my request, supporting a meeting with the Montana Department of Transportation to discuss a revisit of the Havre to Fort Belknap Environmental Impact Study that was completed in 2004.

The EIS recommended a two-lane highway, which will constrain any future highway designs into perpetuity. So, at best, all we will ever get is a two-lane highway with centerline rumble strips of which will impede economic development of any significance.

The Havre City Council has voted against 4 for 2 and in favor of the 21st century two-lane highway with centerline rumble strips.

They have in effect displayed to the world that the council has a no-growth policy.

That begs the question: Why should the rest of the state care about the economy of northern Montana if we don’t?

It has been suggested that Havre’s motto should be “Havre Doesn’t Have It.”

I haven’t given up, nope, I’m relying on the people who have always supported the Highway 2 Association Mission of constructing an adequate Highway — 4 for 2 — so we can compete for business.

I would encourage anyone when they are told by the mayor or City Council, “We support economic development,” to ask them what is their plan? If they don’t support 4 for 2 how do they intend to grow the area’s economy? I don’t get a response.

I’m very confident, that we the people can make a difference.

I want to thank everyone for the great support.

Cordially

Bob Sivertsen

President, Highway 2 Association

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Editor’s note: For more on the Council’s 5-4 vote to not revisit the Havre to Fort Belknap EIS, see a front-page story in Wednesday’s edition of the Havre Daily News.