As reported in The Source, Thornburgh Destination Resort west of Redmond may enjoy a $46 million dollar subsidy by Deschutes County taxpayers by the time they are fully built out. The developers are denying that is the case, but the research I have done on traffic impacts in the Tumalo area tend to support the report's conclusions.
The Intersection of Cook Ave and Highway 20 has been given a LOS F (lowest county rating) since the early 1990's. Even though the intersection is regarded as dangerous, Eagle Crest, which contributes traffic to the intersection, has been allowed by Deschutes County to expand twice over the years. Deschutes County also approved Thornburgh Resort, which will generate over 6,000 vehicles daily, many of them traveling south to use the intersection. ODOT has collected so little money from the resorts that they say they cannot improve the intersection adequately until about 2014. This is a classic case of growth being allowed to race ahead of needed infrastructure.
We have been told by pro growth factions that growth is good and benefits the community. With all the growth that our community leaders have promoted, why is it that government never seems to have enough money? Perhaps, this report is quite accurate. If so, it begs the question: How much total subsidy is being provided by taxpayers to all the resorts in Deschutes County.
Very truly yours,
Bill Boyd
