January 14, 1998



Senator/Representative _______
(insert address)



Dear Senator __________,

   I am joining other citizens in writing to you of our overwhelming concern 
about the spread of sprawl development in Virginia and the destructive 
highway projects that help fuel that sprawl.  Whether we live in Richmond, 
Charlottesville, Fredericksburg, Tidewater, Northern Virginia, or the 
Shenandoah Valley, sprawl is consuming our farmland and open space; it is 
overwhelming our natural areas and historic sites; it is shifting jobs and 
residents away from our downtowns; and it is creating traffic congestion and 
raising our taxes.  Our quality of life is at stake.

   Of particular concern to me are $67 billion in highway projects proposed by 
the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), with the support of Virginia 
First, to the Commission on the Future of Transportation in Virginia. 
Included are bypasses around Charlottesville, Richmond, Staunton, Roanoke, 
Lynchburg, Winchester, Washington DC, and Norfolk/Virginia Beach.  These 
bypasses will spark still more sprawl development, increase our taxes, kill 
the economic life of our downtowns, and destroy the settings of our historic 
battlefields of Manassas, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville.  In the 
process, Virginia risks losing its scenic beauty, its historic heritage, its 
soul.

   We have a different vision for Virginia.  Our vision is that of a land where
we have protected the economic vitality of our urban downtowns and our rural
communities, where we have safeguarded our historic sites, our scenic beauty,
and our natural environment, and where we have built livable, walkable towns
and neighborhoods with a strong sense of community.

   We need your help to realize this vision.  As a state, we need to study the
causes and costs of sprawl development.  We must ensure that local
governments have the tools, know-how, and political will to plan and manage
growth.  We must have stronger policies to protect open space, historic
areas, natural habitats and farmland.  We need policies to encourage growth
where infrastructure already exists.  We need to pay attention to studies
that demonstrate that new highways do not relieve congestion.  We need to
stop the never-ending cycle of highway construction.  In summary, we need
Smart Growth in Virginia.


Sincerely,