THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, November 4, 1994 TAG: 9411020158
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY W. JOE NEWMAN
LENGTH: Medium: 69 lines
On Nov. 8, Chesapeake's citizens will be asked to vote on $76.9 million in road bonds for numerous citywide road improvements. These projects will serve to greatly enhance the safety of motorists as well as ease congestion. Chesapeake voters should vote ``yes'' to the referendum because it's good for the citizens of Chesapeake.
A safe and efficient transportation network is critical to Chesapeake's continued reputation as a highly desirable place to live and work.
Much of the current transportation network was built when Chesapeake was primarily rural in nature. The inadequacy of the system is evident in the congestion we endure on our commutes to work, on daily school bus routes and in providing goods and services through commercial business traffic. This congestion, as well as the condition of the roads themselves, result in numerous accidents and fatalities annually. Overall, the number of traffic accidents appear to be averaging about 250 per month over both 1993 and 1994 to date. In 1993, there were 15 accidents resulting in 18 deaths from traffic accidents. The 1994 statistics appear equally grim, with 12 accidents resulting in 16 deaths.
Several of the projects - portions of Centerville Turnpike, Johnstown Road, Cedar Road and Battlefield Boulevard - will enhance safety by relocating deep, dangerous ditches, providing adequate shoulders and acquiring right of way for future widenings. Installation of train-activated safety gates at 14 railroad crossings will further safety efforts by reducing potential accidents. In addition, several intersections will be equipped with signals and some realigned to improve the flow of traffic through these busy areas.
The projects were selected using a formula which compares current actual volume of traffic with the road's capacity, what it was designed to carry. In addition, the accident history of the roadway was included in this consideration. While we may not agree on all the projects selected, each of them addresses important safety and / or congestion problems. For example, when the Great Bridge Bypass was proposed, many thought it would be the demise of the Great Bridge business area. Some 15 years later, it is obvious that the overwhelming amount of through traffic on the Bypass would cause such gridlock that the businesses would suffer tremendously.
Chesapeake's central location in Hampton Roads is key to our economic prosperity. At the same time, this strategic location in Hampton Roads has a flip side when it comes to traffic - in order to get to many important destinations in Hampton Roads, you must travel through Chesapeake. The net effect of this through traffic, combined with numerous water crossings, makes it challenging to maintain an adequate transportation network. Our goal is to retain our attractiveness to prospective new business and industry by having safe and efficient roads and bridges. If we are to continue to enjoy the excellent quality of life to which we are accustomed, this road bond referendum should be approved.
This referendum, while not addressing all of Chesapeake's needs, will help with some of the many pressing needs.
The 1994 road bond referendum has been endorsed by the Chesapeake Transportation Safety Committee and the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce. I urge you to vote ``yes'' as well on Nov. 8 in order to make Chesapeake's roads safer for all of us. MEMO: Mr. Newman, an investment counselor, is serving his first term on the
Chesapeake City Council.
ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Joe Newman
by CNB