THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, November 9, 1994 TAG: 9411090332
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A17 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TONY WHARTON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Medium: 73 lines
By almost 2-to-1, voters on Tuesday approved a record $76.9 million package to build and improve roads, bridges and railroad crossings across the city.
Most voters apparently felt like Kevin Mann, 19, who came out of Western Branch Middle School with his motorcycle helmet under his arm after voting for the road bonds. Mann said, ``Well, I drive a motorcycle, and I'd like to have nice roads.''
City Councilman Arthur Dwyer, who had appeared on television to urge approval of the road bonds, said he was happy with the result.
``I was a little surprised that it passed with such a margin,'' Dwyer said. ``I mean, it's the largest road-bond referendum we've ever floated. It's gratifying they thought we could provide the roads without a tax increase.''
Dwyer said he had not heard much opposition to the referendum.
``What concerned me more than anything was, if for some reason it didn't pass, how we would handle that,'' he said. ``We do need these roads.''
The road bonds lost in one precinct, E.W. Chittum Elementary School in Western Branch. What opposition existed may have stemmed from fears that the city would raise taxes.
``I'm afraid I'm going to have vote against it,'' said Bobby Goodman, 50, a retired federal employee, as he waited in line at Taylor Road Fire Station to vote. ``People are already paying vast amounts of taxes, and we still have to wait more than three years to get a traffic light on Bruin Drive.''
The $76.9 million package is the largest the city has asked voters to approve in its 31-year history. With interest, it could ultimately cost the city $125 million over 20 years.
Nine years ago, residents rejected a smaller road-bond referendum, but that vote came in the midst of a strong anti-growth movement.
This year, City Council members went to great lengths to convince residents that voting for the roads package would not lead to higher taxes. A private committee was established to promote the road bonds, and council members took to the airwaves to urge their approval.
Many of the 23 projects on the list could have been left to the state, but the city decided Chesapeake's growth is moving faster than the state highway department can keep up.
City officials believe that same growth, in the form of new businesses and subdivisions, will pay for the roads without a general tax increase.
Council members argued that the road projects are needed to continue transforming Chesapeake from a rural to a suburban city. The narrow, winding lanes and steep ditches along such streets as Johnstown Road and Centerville Turnpike didn't matter as much when they were lightly used, but they are carrying heavier traffic loads every year.
Many residents supported the road bonds for safety reasons. Joseph J. Jankowski, president of the Western Branch Council of Civic Leagues, said a railroad crossing on Pine Ridge Drive near his house desperately needs a traffic signal.
Without the signal, the crossing is dangerous to drivers, he said.
Each of the projects still must go through public hearings. The projects would be completed over the next two to four years. The last set of road projects approved in a $30 million referendum in 1986 took about three years to finish. MEMO: Staff writer Patti Huang contributed to this report. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
CHESAPEAKE
Street and highway bonds totalling $76.9 million
YES 30,838
NO 17,860
KEYWORDS: ELECTION CHESAPEAKE RESULTS by CNB