ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, June 18, 1996 TAG: 9606180094
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG
SOURCE: ELISSA MILENKY STAFF WRITER note: lede
The "smart" road will move ahead as planned.
The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors voted 4-3 Monday night to grant the Virginia Transportation Department's request for land in an agricultural and forestal district needed to build the smart road. The vote came after 36 people spoke in a nearly two-hour public comment period.
The board deliberated for less than an hour before they voted, thus ending nine months of uncertainty for the $103 million road project between Blacksburg and Interstate 81 touted as a means to speed travel and to serve as a research boon to Virginia Tech.
Mary Biggs of Blacksburg, the newly elected supervisor widely perceived as the swing vote, said she decided to vote for the road after getting a "crash course" on the issue.
"I know that whichever way anyone votes, it will upset some people," Biggs said.
Supervisors Nick Rush, Jim Moore and Joe Stewart voted against the proposal, in keeping with a vote last year. Stewart, who owns land in the district but declared he could vote without conflict of interest, punctuated his opposition. "Damn it, no!'' he voted. He left the meeting just after the vote.
The issue before the Board of Supervisors was whether the state's condemnation of the land in an agricultural and forestal district would weaken state and local policy and would benefit the public practically and economically.
The Monday vote had far-reaching significance. Its importance was underscored by a letter last week from state Transportation Secretary Robert Martinez to the Board of Supervisors.
"The issue before you solely is to permit condemnation so VDOT can proceed with the smart highway as planned," he wrote. "Your denial of that authority effectively stops the project."
But Monday's approval means VDOT will submit design plans to the Commonwealth Transportation Board next month, begin to acquire right of way after approval and will advertise for grading bids for the first two miles as early as January, said Dan Brugh, VDOT's resident engineer in Christiansburg.
The smart road still faces two federal lawsuits challenging aspects of the environmental planning for the project and other issues.
Monday's vote was met by applause from road supporters and silence from opponents, many of whom quickly left the Christiansburg High School auditorium.
Ray Pethtel, Virginia Tech's transportation fellow and a key spokesman for the road, shook hands with well-wishers and smiled broadly.
"I'm ecstatic. I'm delighted," he said. "It's been a lot of work over the years."
John Lipsey, a landowner in the district and a road opponent, said he was not surprised by the vote. His face betrayed little emotion.
"This is it; it's over now," he said. "I always had the hope. I had been more disturbed than I ever had anticipated. Depression, no sleep."
The atmosphere among the more than 200 people in the Christiansburg High School auditorium was highly charged. Dozens of people held signs made by an anonymous Virginia Tech professor that declared, "A smart road in the Ellett Valley is a dumb idea!!'' while many road supporters wore bright green stickers on their lapels urging a "yes" vote.
One road opponent used sarcasm to make his point: "When I get to Roanoke to my favorite bar, I will have enough money to buy an extra martini.''
Others pleaded with the board to vote against the request, saying it would damage the environment, waste money and violate state law.
Road supporters stressed the economic development and transportation benefits.
``[You] can love squirrels, cardinals and trees and still vote for something constructive," said Blacksburg Mayor Roger Hedgepeth.
The decision has been long in coming. In November, the board voted 4-3 against the request but rescinded that vote a week later to obtain more information about the project.
The board was supposed to vote on the request last week but postponed the decision because Biggs could not attend the meeting and board members feared a 3-3 tie.
Staff writer Kathy Loan contributed to this story.
LENGTH: Medium: 87 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: GENE DALTON Staffby CNBRay Pethtel, Virginia Tech's transportation fellow, speaks in
favor of the "smart" road, as opponent Brad Klein holds a sign
nearby. color.