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John Mattson
Member
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Posted: Thu Feb 28th, 2008 12:59 am |
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| Update: I will be presenting various propositions to the County Commission on 7 March at 3:00 PM.
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John Mattson
Member
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Posted: Fri Feb 22nd, 2008 02:49 am |
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Truck traffic is terrible and I wait for them to pass by every morning as they fly up and down 522. However, traffic in general is already a problem, especially on the weekends and it is only going to get worse as the current commissioners focus and interwind Tourism with Development, but that is a seperate topic.
First, I was disappointed at the ruling by the state last year to not allow a ban of trucks on 522, so we will have to figure out some way of dealing with it.
We don't have near enough funding for the bypass and we need to work harder to obtain the funding. I am sure if you took a poll of Morgan County residents, they would rather see $12 Million go towards starting the bypass than on a fancy courthouse. One way of obtaining funding would be to insert a toll booth at the south end of 522 just prior to the VA line. I have been discussing this option with my coworkers for the last couple months and there a myriad of pros/cons. The obvious pros would be the income it would generate and jobs it would create (if it was a manned toll booth). The obvious con would be the potential for heavy congestion at the south end of the county. I also saw the article in today's Journa regarding tolls so it will be interesting to learn more. I am presenting a few Propositions to the Commissioners on 28 Feb @ 3:00 PM that I would like to see put on the May 13 Primary ballot - one of which is this very subject. I would like to know how the People of Morgan county feel about a toll booth.
I thought I read an article recently stating Senator Byrd had slipped a $98 Mil earmark in a bill which would be used for converting the old rail into a trail, but I searched The Morgan Messenger for 30 minutes but could not find the article. I am not sure if it was in that paper or the Journal. So, not recalling the facts exactly, but if this is the case, I am disappointed the he would earmark such a large amount to create trails that may be used by several hundred or even a thousand folks, when he could have earmarked half that to provide funding to build the bypass. But that is something I will research a bit more to make sure of the facts.
Additionally, 1,500 trucks produce "pass through" revenue for the town which I am sure would be missed.
The trucks also produce a lot of smog that has little room to evaporate in town with the narrow streets and buildings so close to the roads.
This is a hot topic and more people need to be involved in the discussions to come up with the best solution for everyone.
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voice
Administrator
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Posted: Thu Feb 21st, 2008 07:36 pm |
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John,
In an effort to get a discussion started here, please tell us how you and your voters feel about the truck traffic in town and what you would propose to deal with it.
--Thanks
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Current time is 06:22 am | |
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