Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, September 9, 1995 TAG: 9509110039
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BRENT C. RILEY
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The political arena is the appropriate format for making decisions with such far-reaching consequences for our future quality of life.
While the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors has only an advisory capacity to the Virginia Department of Transportation, it is a powerful one. Seldom, if ever, has VDOT failed to honor a position taken by local political leaders on a road issue.
VDOT's desire to construct a separate, new road along the south side of Back Creek would cost environmental and socioeconomic assets like viewsheds, open space, green space, a sense of community, relatively low-level residential density and a low crime rate. These are assets other communities strive to create.
Other costs have implications for people living outside Roanoke County. As those in charge of the Blue Ridge Parkway and Friends of the Parkway have warned, views will be compromised significantly. What we do here in Roanoke County will have implications for how the parkway fares in other times and in other places.
People from all around Roanoke take Sunday drives up Bent Mountain. It's our ``countryside,'' something Virginia is known for.
Just as the health and vitality of the City Market in downtown Roanoke is important to county residents, the character and integrity of Poage Valley is important to the city's downtown. There is little doubt that both of these would be compromised by four additional lanes of pavement on a totally new alignment through this narrow valley.
Almost certainly, the Poage Farm, operating since before the nation was founded, would be put out of business. Just seeing it as we pass by contributes to a sense of tranquility.
VDOT cares much less about what the public thinks. At its public hearing last May, only about 16 percent of those commenting favored VDOT's ``preferred route.'' More than 80 percent wanted U.S. 221 to stay in its existing alignment.
Notwithstanding the fact that there was more public interest in that hearing than any VDOT ever held, it came up with a nondecision. Even though extra core-samples were taken in the questionable areas, it was concluded that all the study and pre-engineering work done over the past year was not sufficient.
The earlier assertion that either route was possible gave way, after the public hearing, to the need for further study. Ambiguity was even structured into where the further study would be done. Additionally, complete plans for two alignments, costing up to $500,000 each, were deemed appropriate.
It's arguable that VDOT should develop a recommendation based on traffic and engineering data. Such a recommendation may not take community assets and values into account.
It's also arguable that the public should look to political leaders to balance esthetics and quality-of-life issues with costs and engineering data. What happens with U.S. 221 will tell us a lot about how successful we have been in selecting our political leadership.
Many believe the whole project may not get funded if VDOT does not prevail with its preferred route. Some may call that blackmail!
Brent C. Riley of Roanoke is a counseling psychologist and a founding member of Political Action Committee for Route 221.
by CNB