"The Sierra Club filed suit Wednesday to stop the construction of the Legacy Highway, citing the public health threat due to increased air pollution stemming from the increased traffic flow expected from the new freeway.
'If you build it, they will drive,' said Nina Dougherty, Chair of the Utah Chapter of The Sierra Club. 'Past experience shows that people drive more when more freeway lanes are provided.'
And more driving means more air pollution, according to Dr. Hugo Rodier, a member of Utah Physicians for Clean Air. His group is busy preparing their own Clean Air Act lawsuit and plan to file early next week.
'You don't cure malaria by passing out malaria pills. You must direct efforts to the mosquito that is spreading the disease,' Rodier adds.
A study of 20 large American cities released last December by Johns Hopkins University found that increased exposure to particulates and ozone in auto exhaust can increase the risk of death from cardiovascular and breathing problems.
'The Wasatch Front has some of the worst air quality in the nation,' said Marc Heileson, the Sierra Club's Associate Representative in Utah. 'Everyone who lives here is well aware of the inversions we have experienced this winter. Instead of building more health-threatening freeways, we need to take a Transit First approach. Let's build commuter rail and light rail and expand bus service and give them a chance to work before we make the investment in more freeways.'"
