Too many questions surround museum plan

Concerning “State presses ahead with plans for $20 million pedestrian bridge in New London,” (Sept. 25).

Before we spend one more dime on the National U.S. Coast Guard Museum the taxpaying citizens of Connecticut and the United States need honest answers regarding the true cost and impact on downtown New London. The opinion of many is that the current location choice is just “wrong-headed.”

First of all, this is NOT New London’s National Coast Guard Museum. This museum will belong to the people of the United States of America! Taxpayers of Connecticut and the United States will be paying a significant amount of dollars and it is their interests that are paramount. We need answers.

1. The train station is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The impact study on the current location raises questions that violate Historic Places modification/demolitions; permits may be required?

2. The true cost by the Army Corps of engineers of building in a 100-year flood plain?

3. The traffic flow impact on the city, including parking and emergency response times?

4. The impact of parking for employees and delivery services in the limited parking space on the waterfront side?

5. The true amount of donations made, not subsidized to raise $100 million in their timetable?

Concerning the train station, information regarding New London’s 1971 Union Railroad Trust agreement to be placed on the National Historic Trust (at the city’s request) can be found online. This was the last of Henry Hobson Richardson’s Romanesque style train stations to be built.

Owners of the train station had their lawyers submit to the state “their qualms” (exact words) considering changes. The state found two problems. First, negatively affecting aesthetics of the building and, secondly, demolition of the baggage room portion of the building to support the new bridge.

Nothing was submitted to the National Historic Register as a follow-up.