The latest Gateway Pacific Terminal promotional flyer enthusiastically claims 3,500 to 4,500 temporary jobs during construction and 800 to 1,200 permanent jobs to support operations. I'm skeptical based on personal experience with how these projects generally go. I'd say their optimism is currently high. No doubt there are a few Murphy's laws that apply.

They also try to address environmental concerns at the terminal site, and cite studies showing how global increase in coal use can't be stopped or even effected by the lack of a terminal in our locale. So we may as well join the party and reap the economic benefits. I don't see the relationship between shipping volume and economic benefits to Bellingham, so I guess they want to convince us GPT will be wildly successful.

But this propaganda piece fails to address my main concern: how GPT will affect my and my family's and friends' quality of life here in Bellingham. I have not seen a reasonable proposal for how our transportation infrastructure will be upgraded to handle the dramatic increase in shipping traffic (rail, truck, whatever). Our single rail line certainly can't be the answer, regardless of how many miles-long sidings are added. Of course global energy policy is a greater concern. But I'm content opposing GPT simply because I beleive it will wreck our town. Surely we can find a better way to maintain our economic stability.

Bill Hasenjaeger

Bellingham