The 518 by-pass may have been on the books for 20 years however the residents of League City were never told of the exact route.  We have read articles about moving forward, or the Genco canal being gifted and then not accepted by the present mayor…The exact route became public 4 weeks ago in the Galveston Daily Newspaper.  I have been told repeatedly that the city engineer has invested interest in the road being placed in this proposed route.  Is this because of the failed Tantalus Bay development?  The land swap?

I am utterly confused as to why a city would run a major freeway through our town.  None of our surrounding cities have freeways through and/or over their town.  Was the planning just that poor? 

Environment

 “This route will (I quote from the environmental assessment written by Texas Department of Transportation) require the removal  48 acres of forest, 20 acres of wetlands(including tidal marsh) and 2.3 acres of feeding habitat for the endangered Wood Stork and White –Face Ibis.   It runs 100 feet (a stone’s throw) from the nature park.  I urge you to go to the nature park, walk on the trails, and look where the freeway will go.  Maybe you are unaware of the impact or true route.  How can anyone justify this route? 

Bayou Brae

 It will destroy the quality of life for Bayou Brae.   A neighborhood that has been here for as long as I can remember.  Most of it residents have lived their whole life there.   Many have retired, wanting to boat and live the remainder of their lives on a peaceful Bayou.  They sail, they kayak they bird watch.  The road will destroy this for them.  Robinson Bayou is a navigable water way. It has been for over 40 years.  Who has the right to take that away?  

South Shore Harbour

 I attended Goforth’s school fundraiser and not a single person knew about the route the by-pass would take.  They knew “of a by-pass” but figured it would go over an existing road… like a bridge.   If you live on Pebble Beach Drive it will be in your back yard along with noise, pollution and a major decline in your property value.     

Louisiana Street

 I truly feel sorry for these people.  They built their dream houses in this location to be in the country.  I remember riding my bike on dirt roads.  You could see the stars, pick berries.  Then League City allowed too many apartment and track homes to be built on equestrian land, over populating this beautiful area…a perfect example of poor planning on the City’s part.  The level of Louisiana Streets anger and frustration is truly warranted.

Lake Front Preserves

 The 518 by-pass will run in our backyards.  It will create noise and air pollution.  It will lower our property values.  .  We will have dangerous walking situations for our school children.  Our children will have to cross 2 major highways to get to school.  The tranquility of the lake, bayou and nature preserve will be destroyed.  Our quality of life is being threatened and we simply do not think it is fair.  We moved to this neighborhood to raise our children in a quiet peaceful environment.  Our children bird watch, crab, fish and row in this already compromised waterway.  A 4 lane, 120 foot wide road will destroy our way of life.

Community

 Our community does not want this road.  It is being jammed down our throats.   This road will be detrimental to the Clear Creek Nature Park and Robinson Bayou’s ecosystem.  It will lead to more development (Tantalus Bay or others) and more traffic and more noise and air pollution.  League City residents do not want this.  It cuts through 2 neighborhoods, endangers our children, puts a bridge over navigable waterways… that is just phase one.    Why would we run a freeway through our town?

As the word spreads and the truth about the damage to the ecosystem is known, more and more neighborhoods are getting involved.

Please join us in this fight.  The road will directly affect your quality of life.

 Please fax the Corp of Engineers and let them know you are opposed to the 518 bypass.

Please call, write, and email City Council and our Mayor.  Please come to the City Council meetings and speak out.   The City Council meetings are the Second and fourth Tuesday of every month at 5:30 in the City Council Chambers located at 200 West Walker Street.

Time is of the essence

Let your voice be heard!!

Corp of Engineers – fax number     1-409-766-3049

City Council

Neil Baron        [email protected]

Mike Barber      [email protected]

Mick Phalen      [email protected]

Mike Lee            [email protected]

Phyliss Sanborn    [email protected]

Tim Paulissen      [email protected]

Jim Nelson         [email protected]

Mayor     Toni Randall      [email protected]