THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 13, 1996 TAG: 9609130003
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A20 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 44 lines
We would like to respond to the column on the op-ed page of Sept. 7, by your editorial writer Kerry Dougherty.
It was shocking to learn that the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel has placed a ``crushing burden'' upon Eastern Shore residents, keeping many of them ``sadly impoverished.'' We doubt that Ms. Dougherty was around 35 years ago when, after great effort and risk on the part of many, this facility was begun with great enthusiasm as an effort primarily to bring these citizens closer to the Hampton Roads area. Funding for such construction was entirely private, both for the original as well as the current construction, without either federal or state assistance.
By inference the writer leads us to believe that ``the pain of poverty,'' the ``misery of fellow Virginians,'' is caused by an isolation imposed by the requirement to charge a toll fee. As either full- or part-time residents of the Eastern Shore, we emphatically disagree with such an intemperate and unjustified conclusion.
With regard to medically required transportation, the commission several years ago began the practice of contributing funds to both the Northampton and Accomack County Social Services programs for the purpose of assisting needy individuals. During recent years, also, the medical facilities at the Northampton-Accomack Memorial Hospital have continued to grow in sophistication. The results of this diversity and skill are a much lesser requirement for specialized treatment across the Bay. Furthermore, the Sentara Hospital group will also subsidize Bridge-Tunnel tolls for unusual treatment in needy cases.
Ms. Dougherty also states erroneously that the commission will never consider commuter rates. On the contrary, such consideration receives frequent discussion, but due to the financial needs of the district with its existing construction project, any toll modifications must await the conclusion of such activity.
M. LEE PAYNE, chairman
MILTON T. HICKMAN
WILLIAM R. LEWIS JR.
Chesapeake Bay Bridge
and Tunnel Commission
Cape Charles, Sept. 10, 1996 by CNB