A huge gas station need not apply

We don’t understand why a huge truck stop is necessary at the end point of one of our nation’s best National Scenic Byways (“Another hearing planned over Pilot Flying J truck stop,” Sept. 15).

For those of you new to the subject, a national chain is proposing a mega gas station at the intersection of Interstate 25 and N.M. 14. That’s the northern terminus of the Turquoise Trail National Scenic Byway. Our byway has a rich culture and history set in a landscape of mountains, canyons, forests and rock formations. Our byway is a major contributor to the tourism industry in New Mexico and has provided hundreds of jobs across several generations.

The byway has a communitybased Corridor Management Plan, which took a half decade to develop with community support. That plan meshes with other community plans and ordinances on our trail. Trucks on our byway are not part of the plan. Big lighted signs are not part of the plan. Air and noise pollution are not part of the plan. A truck stop is not tourism. It’s interstate commerce.

We don’t understand why a truck stop is needed at the proposed location for trucks coming from and going to points unknown. Trucks have a range of more than 1,000 miles. With two drivers, trucks can run 22 hours if they have a larger dual fuel tank. That’s going across half the country without stopping for fuel. A truck does not even have to stop in the state, never mind on the Turquoise Trail National Scenic Byway. We understand everyone has to take a bathroom break, get rest and eat. There are several places to do that within an hour’s drive of the proposed site. The San Felipe Travel Center is 37 minutes away. The La Bajada rest area is just 12 minutes away. There are multiple facilities in Albuquerque and Las Vegas, N.M. There is no need for 70 idling trucks to stop at this location.

We don’t understand the need to create low-paying jobs in a high cost-of-living area. Those jobs would have a more positive impact in other parts of the state where the cost of living is lower and there are fewer opportunities for jobs. There are other, more productive industries with better pay, such as medical facilities or research labs that could be placed in that same location.

We don’t understand why anyone in Santa Fe County would want light pollution and huge signs in the sky that don’t meet current law. There are ordinances to prevent that, so people can enjoy their surroundings. How does adding massive signage with lights serve a useful purpose for the community? We have technology that can find just about anything. Just look at your smartphone. Truck companies do 24-hour analysis of where to pick up fuel already. They don’t need signs to find facilities. Signs, especially lighted ones, do not promote the values of our National Scenic Byway.

Scenic views, diverse cultures, extensive history and great outdoor opportunities continue to entice visitors to journey down the beautiful Turquoise Trail. The Turquoise Trail remains unprotected by the state from through-truck traffic. The county can help by restricting and not encouraging such development at the one end of the trail that they oversee.

We don’t understand why anyone in Santa Fe County would want light pollution and huge signs in the sky that don’t meet current law. There are ordinances to prevent that, so people can enjoy their surroundings.