ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Wednesday, August 21, 1996             TAG: 9608210030
SECTION: VIRGINIA                 PAGE: C-1  EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: DAN CASEY 

CITY DEFERS TO NEIGHBORHOOD

CITY COUNCIL abandoned plans to widen several blocks of Franklin Road due to residents' objections.

As a result of community opposition to the plan, the city administration has assured residents of Old Southwest that it won't widen and re-lane a shady nine-block section of Franklin Road through their neighborhood.

Joel Richert, a spokeswoman for the historic neighborhood's group, said City Manager Bob Herbert promised her the busy street wouldn't be widened shortly before she delivered remarks about neighborhood traffic to City Council on Monday. Herbert also told her he would put the promise in writing, Richert said.

The administration was planning to widen the street by 3 feet for a total of 200 yards, which would have allowed the city to re-stripe lanes and provide three lanes through the neighborhood - two southbound and one northbound.

The addition of one southbound lane would have accommodated more traffic through Old Southwest at evening rush hours, when cars are frequently backed up trying to get onto southbound U.S. 220.

The city had hoped that would ease "cut-through" traffic in the evenings, when many motorists drive on narrower side streets to avoid Franklin Road.

But residents objected, arguing it would bring more traffic at higher speeds on Franklin Road.

"There's a feeling that there needs to be more support in the community before we go ahead with that," said Michelle Bono, a city spokeswoman.

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