Driving the decision The Interstate 73 study's content and outcome depend largely on three people:
	Lorinda Lionberger James Browder Fred Altizer
	Lorinda Lionberger, Penhook Salem District representative on the Commonwealth Transportation Board She is Vice president of Lionberger Construction Co. in Roanoke County. The company erects buildings for banks, utilities, manufacturing, retail businesses, municipalities, hospitals, hotels and churches. Her company's office on Starkey Road is near one of the corridors being studied for I-73. She said that if the transportation board votes on a route that affects her company's property, "I will recuse myself." Members of the Transportation Board say they are likely to follow Lionberger's recommendation on I-73. Lionberger also said that if a local government opposes a project, it isn't likely to be built. James Browder, Richmond Chief engineer, Virginia Department of Transportation He is an engineer and career employee of the Virginia Department of Transportation. He is a pivotal decision-maker on major highway projects. Browder's recommendation will play a key role in the decision on whether I-73 will be built and where. Each proposed corridor's environmental impact, cost and safety are major factors that he will consider, along with public opinion and comment. Fred Altizer, Salem Salem district manager, Virginia Department of Transportation He is an engineer and career employee of the Virginia Department of Transportation. He supervises VDOT's environmental impact study, which evaluates the proposed corridors. Altizer also oversees public input into the I-73 study and decision-making process. VDOT held public sessions that produced comments from about 3,000 people, and it approached business people in the region to ask their route preferences. Altizer urged county boards of supervisors to delay adopting resolutions for or against specific corridors; several of the counties did it anyway.	Take a look at: Driving the decision The Commonwealth Transportation Board Opponents Supporters What topic surrounding I-73 concerns you most? Environment, including plants, wildlife and air pollution Highway safety Land conservation Jobs and economic growth Build it as a new interstate Improve U.S. 220 Other View poll results (without voting)
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