Do we really need an even larger walmart on route 9 in hadley? I don't think so... and I thought you'd like to know that there's an effort to stop this huge expansion Please voice your opinion by sending an email TODAY to nicholas.zavolas at state.ma.us (Mr. Nicholas Zavolas, Secretary of Environmental Affairs office, EOEA Project #13478 (MEPA Office), Boston THE DEADLINE IS TOMORROW, APRIL 6TH To be effective, your comments must address the following subject matters: - traffic congestion and safety - pedestrian and bicycle safety - the filling of wetlandsand protection of farmland and open space. The following are the facts regarding walmart's desire to build a larger store: Replacing about 20 acres of open space with a parking lot and a five acre store Open 24 hours a day, and more than twice the sizeof the old store Weekday traffic on Route 9 is now forecast to rise approximately 25%over current levels—not including the new traffic from the Lowe's and Home Depot projects already approved Added traffic will worsen air pollutionfrom volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) Now even closer to Rail Trail The developer is disregarding community requestsfor an underpass to carry the Norwottuck Rail Trail under South Maple Street, where traffic forecasts show one car would cross the Rail Trail every six seconds during peak hours. We must insist on an underpass for the Rail Trail. Two of the three alternatives do not comply with wetlands regulations, and the third "proposed alternative" brings the Supercenter to within 114 feet of the Rail Trail. The developer is required to send you a free copy of its plan: call 413-452-0445 to get yours.