| The
Sensible Transportation Options Partnership represents all that
is best about citizens banding together to make a difference.
First, issues that matter have inspired you. From the earliest
days, you understood that a plan to build a new road parallel
to the Millstone River and D&R Canal would cause irreparable
harm to extraordinary resources. Second, you created a core of
dedicated volunteers who worked with each other to challenge
this project. The teamwork of STOP allowed different members
to step forward at different times, or on different issues -
creating a whole that was far more potent that a sum of the pieces.
Moreover, teamwork enabled STOP to remain involved over more
than a decade, a remarkable feat for a volunteer body. Third,
STOP mastered both what you were against and for. STOP did professional
research on virtually every aspect of this project: legal, engineering,
planning, cultural, historical, and archaeological - demonstrating
a vast array of problems with the project. But not only did you
highlight problems, but you also did thorough research into the
planning, engineering and legality of viable alternatives, changing
the tenure [sic] of the debate. Fourth, STOP engaged a much wider
audience to join the effort. Members of STOP formed the core
of the much larger Millstone Bypass Alert, and helped engage
thousands of people in this debate. Finally, and most importantly,
you were able to marshal all these forces to achieve a remarkable
outcome - a roadway design that both improves traffic flow and
substantially reduces harm to the resources you set-out [sic]
to protect. A group may ultimately be measured by their success
- and for STOP, you have achieved a lasting outcome that permanently
improves the landscape of this place we call home. We salute
your commitment, perseverance, bravery, intelligence and friendship,
and are please to present you with our River-Friendly Advocates
Award. |
