? - Northern Connector Route - ?
or a ByPass for the Maple City

What is the Northern Connector Route proposal? This is a proposal to build a throughway through a residential (mostly rental property) area along the southwest side of the railroad from the Goshen High School area to the area of Main and Pike Street. It would include an overpass over the Norfork and Southern Railroad which curves south at Ninth and Lincoln. 


Recently, many Goshen, Indiana, political leaders from both parties endorsed the Northern Connector Route as a solution to Goshen's traffic problems.  This page is an attempt to show all sides of this proposal. 
Since there is a very slim chance that the state will find this alternative feasible (see disadvantages below), it allows political leaders to take a populist position without taking the heat of the consequences.  Politicians will be able to use the Indiana Department of Transportation and others as the scapegoats for not being able to build the Northern Connector Route.  Having found a scapegoat, they will use it as rationale to widen Madison and Third Street and proceed to perpetuate the damaging truck route through the heart of Goshen. If you have additional points to make, e-mail Marvin@Bartel.com or click here.
Advantages of the Northern Connector Route:
  1. It would move traffic along the southwest side of the railroad between Goshen High School and Pike Street, alleviating some congestion on Madison, Downtown Main, Third and Fifth Streets.
  2. It would provide an overpass across a railroad currently stopping traffic on Madison.
  3. It would move heavy traffic away from Chandler School and could save several historic sites.
  4. Businesses along the many remaining busy thoroughfares would continue to benefit from current and future traffic flow.


    5. Click here to see arguements for and against a bypass for Goshen.

 Disadvantages of the Northern Connector Route:
  1. The Northern Connector Route would produce more congestion and through truck traffic on Pike Street, on North Main, and on Southeast US33. This is because it may be faster than taking peripheral roads - thus attracting more through town traffic. Many streets are near capacity now and would all need widening, destroying yet more of our trees and properties.
  2. The Northern Connector Route does nothing to mitigate traffic volume on South Main and North Main.  Both South Main and North Main have experienced significant increases in truck and house traffic since the toll road opened entrances at Bristol and CR17.
  3. The Northern Connector Route requires the destruction of more than 50 homes and businesses causing major relocation costs, neighborhood disruption, and family hardships. 
  4. While relocation help would be required by federal regulations, the replacement of 50 low cost homes would not be required.  This would cause a greater shortage of low cost housing in Goshen.
  5. The Northern Connector Route produces noise and pollution of traffic adjacent to a residential area.
  6. The Northen Connector is much more expensive than widening Madison Street. 
  7. A four lane highway running along the south side of the RR tracks

    8. would literally and psychologically cut the city in half to the great
    disadvantage of the north side.  Grocery stores, gas stations, city &
    county offices, police & fire stations, and lots of other businesses are on the south side.
    Building the North Connector Route would require closing Cottage Avenue which is a major auto and pedestrian artery between the north and
    south.  Access would be limited to 5th Street and Main Street on the west and a hard-to-get-to Lincoln Avenue on the east. 
     
photo: Marvin Bartel - 11/10/99
The Elkhart County housing revolution takes place in factories and in the middle of our streets. Some of these rigs are 16 feet wide. Much of Main Street through Goshen is only two lanes. Many homes would be demolished if it would be widened. These drivers would rather use a bypass. This particular convoy comes from South State Route 15. They are likely on their way to the Bristol toll road interchange. The routing of the proposed Northern Connector Route does not give these particular drivers any relief. Other drivers and pedestrians would continue to be challenged to negotiate among these houses. The proposed peripheral county road system takes these rigs off state and federal roads maintained by state and federal funds and puts them on locally maintained residential roads.  A state and federally built and maintained limited access bypass would be a godsend to these drivers and the rest of us. Wouldn't it be better to move SR 15 out of the city? Let the state continue to maintain the truck route for these modular houses and thousands of semis per week.

 
Advantages of a Limited Access Bypass Like US20 Bypass
  1. The noise, pollution, and hazards of through trucks and houses would be out of residential and school areas. Goshen's quality of life could regain some tranquility.
  2. Bypass traffic would flow faster and more efficiently.
  3. A limited access bypass, according to computer simulation projections requested by INDOT and carried out by MACOG, is the only design thus far shown to decrease traffic on virtually every traffic artery in and around Goshen. 
  4. We would avoid all the delays created by construction crews needed for widening proposals currently considered.
  5. A limited access bypass would not allow traffic slowing entrances all along the road as a peripheral road system could.
  6. A bypass would reduce commuting time and costs for many workers in our county.
  7. A bypass would not require maintenance by local taxes as compared to the county road peripheral roads. Trucks can be very hard on local roads.
  8. With a bypass, our local road system including Madison, North Main, South Main and many otherscould remain more civil and friendly, even making it possible for our neighbors with buggies to continue use them.
  9. With a bypass, Maple City trees and the attractive entrances to Goshen that are still remaining would not be destroyed. None of the city's historic or family homes would be demolished or relocated. Even the city officials expect a bypass to be built eventually. Why destroy the trees and history now when the planning for a bypass could get underway immediately if the elected officials had the courage to request it now. 
 Disadvantages of a Limited Access Bypass
  1. Farmland would be required. Unfortunately, farmland has also been required for development. These developments have been the cause of much of the traffic problem.
  2. Goshen would have to wait longer for the completion date. However, while we are waiting, we would not have the hassle of road construction on the main arteries through town.
  3. Marginal businesses on the current thoroughfare might fail. However, they may also fail during the long construction process needed to complete the current widening proposals.
  4. Goshen would need to maintain its own infrastructure and city streets, rather than waiting for a state/federal road wideners to do it. A bypass would likely move the state maintenance from current streets to the new road.

All rights reserved. © Sponsored and written by, Marvin Bartel, a Goshen resident since 1970
Readers may print one copy for their own use. Anybody wishing to publish or make additional copies of any part of this page or the images must obtain permission. Links to other web sites and scholarly references are encouraged. E-Mail: Marvin@Bartel.com
updated 5-2000