Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, October 8, 1993 TAG: 9310080255
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"I'm bewildered sometimes that we don't get more input from citizens in the early stages of planning for street projects," Charles Price said.
Too often, he said, city officials don't seek residents' views until thousands of dollars have been spent.
"And then they say it's too late, and you'll have to repay the state for the services if you don't proceed," Price said.
He cited the fight over the plans for widening Wells Avenue and the Second Street-Gainsboro Road in the Gainsboro neighborhood.
But Price indicated his concerns extend beyond the Gainsboro controversy.
Unless the city does a better job of involving neighborhoods in planning street changes, he said, there could be controversies in other areas.
Price's comments were prompted by the commission's review of a proposed thoroughfare plan for the city.
Commissioner Barbara Duerk agreed with him. "You are right, the [Virginia Department of Transportation] hearing comes after the work on the plans has started," she said.
City Traffic Engineer Bob Bengtson said Price had a point.
"I understand what you are saying. I agree that hearings may need to be held sooner," Bengtson said.
Kent Chrisman, a spokesman for Old Southwest Inc., said he, too, believes city officials should confer with neighborhoods about road changes.
"I would hate to see us have to go through another bloody battle like we did on Wells Avenue," Chrisman said.
The proposed thoroughfare plan details the city's long-range highway needs after seven projects already approved by City Council are completed.
The approved projects include the Wells Avenue and Second Street realignment. The others are the Peters Creek Road Extension, Brandon Avenue widening, 10th Street widening, 5th Street bridge and Hollins Road-13th Street improvements.
The new thoroughfare plan includes nearly a dozen other projects, but city traffic engineers and planners have recommended four for the highest priority: improvements to the Interstate 581-Elm Avenue interchange, widening Orange Avenue, widening the Roy L. Webber Highway and replacing the Walnut Avenue bridge over the Roanoke River.
The biggest debate focused on the proposed changes to the I-581 and Elm Avenue interchange.
Kim Kimbrough, executive director of Downtown Roanoke, urged the commission to recommend first priority for what he said has become known as the "gridlock interchange." If the interchange is not improved, Kimbrough said, it will have negative impact on downtown.
But Commissioner John Bradshaw said he doesn't believe the city should spend millions of dollars of its alloted state funds on the interchange at the expense of other needed projects.
Bradshaw said the city shouldn't spend all of its funds on the Elm Avenue interchange and Webber Highway widening. "Rather than spending all of it on one or two projects, it could be used for several projects in the city," he said.
But Kimbrough said the Elm Avenue interchange will have a direct benefit for downtown and the city.
The commission tabled the issue.
by CNB