THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 29, 1995 TAG: 9510270179
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Short : 43 lines
Compromise sometimes works better than we think.
In Waterview, where the community has been split over the future of Caroline Causeway, the city finally has come up with a plan that could make all the residents happy.
The move to close the causeway grew out of neighborhood complaints over traffic speeding through the residential streets from High Street to King Street. However, for every person who wanted to close the causeway, there was another who wanted it left open.
The battle has gone on for at least two years. Periodically, it cropped up at City Council meetings, but resolution was a long time coming.
Finally, the city's Traffic Engineering Department got smart. Prodded by Acting City Manager Ron Massie, the department produced a study with a list of 12 alternatives.
Massie recommended a trial of one of the alternatives. On a temporary basis, traffic on High Street would be prohibited from turning into three Waterview streets: Shenandoah, Grayson and Orange. Traffic coming out of Waterview would be able to make right turns only.
If the plan works and reduces traffic speeding through the neighborhood, the city will install permanent traffic islands to keep the traffic pattern in place.
It is a perfectly logical compromise, satisfying those who want to keep the causeway open and, at the same time, reducing through traffic.
Many people in Waterview have been agitating over this dispute for a long time. When they left City Hall after hearing the proposed solution, they all seemed fairly pleased.
Once more, it's obvious that providing the public with information, such as the list of 12 alternatives, and offering a compromise is good politics for both City Council and city managers. by CNB