I came across this op-ed piece in Sunday’s Roanoke Times about … well … the roundabout.
Op-ed piece was by Jim Marchman, a professor in Aerospace & Ocean Engineering.
I came across this op-ed piece in Sunday’s Roanoke Times about … well … the roundabout.
Op-ed piece was by Jim Marchman, a professor in Aerospace & Ocean Engineering.
PEDESTRIAN, that is the point. The main street design transforms a large four lane road through downtown that is dangerous to pedestrians, into a two lane pedestrian focused road. Businesses need people walking to patron their shops. You cannot two lane main street and have a traffic signal at Prices Fork Road. That would back up traffic forever. The Roundabout provides a traffic design to move traffic in a single lane design constantly. So, if you want investment in downtown businesses, invest in pedestrian improvements. If you want cars to actually move effeciently and safely through downtown, do not put a light at Prices Fork Road. Look at the total picture of the project, not just at the percieved waste of money transforming an intersection. Downtown is worth supporting. And traffic studies have been done, ask VDOT or the Town to explain them, rather than just making uninformed acusations. Participate in the public process at VDOT meetings where input can be meaningful and addressed rather than through website blogs that have no information to educate and respond to specific questions.
PEDESTRIAN, that is the point. The main street design transforms a large four lane road through downtown that is dangerous to pedestrians, into a two lane pedestrian focused road. Businesses need people walking to patron their shops. You cannot two lane main street and have a traffic signal at Prices Fork Road. That would back up traffic forever. The Roundabout provides a traffic design to move traffic in a single lane design constantly. So, if you want investment in downtown businesses, invest in pedestrian improvements. If you want cars to actually move effeciently and safely through downtown, do not put a light at Prices Fork Road. Look at the total picture of the project, not just at the percieved waste of money transforming an intersection. Downtown is worth supporting. And traffic studies have been done, ask VDOT or the Town to explain them, rather than just making uninformed acusations. Participate in the public process at VDOT meetings where input can be meaningful and addressed rather than through website blogs that have no information to educate and respond to specific questions.
A roundabout at Prices Fork and North Main would win the award for biggest waste of resources (both time and money) and unnecessary disruption to a traffic pattern. Has any study substantiated a need for a change to the traffic pattern or is someone gunning for an award using a roundabout? (Sidebar – VT won an award for its use of a roundabout at the intersection of Washington Street and West Campus Drive.)
I would rather see taxpayer resources go toward the development of the South Main corridor for retail and residential. At least the South Main initiative will enhance the beauty of a dilapidated corridor and spur the economic vitality of downtown, instead of creating senseless and annoying construction at a gateway to downtown.
A roundabout at Prices Fork and North Main would win the award for biggest waste of resources (both time and money) and unnecessary disruption to a traffic pattern. Has any study substantiated a need for a change to the traffic pattern or is someone gunning for an award using a roundabout? (Sidebar – VT won an award for its use of a roundabout at the intersection of Washington Street and West Campus Drive.)
I would rather see taxpayer resources go toward the development of the South Main corridor for retail and residential. At least the South Main initiative will enhance the beauty of a dilapidated corridor and spur the economic vitality of downtown, instead of creating senseless and annoying construction at a gateway to downtown.