Opponents

Opponents

Pack Road

Gathering

By SHARON KILPATRICK

Rappahannock News Staff Writer

Opponents of further widening county roads packed the Courthouse Monday evening for the Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission’s public meeting on the future of the county’s road network.

Richard Keller, of Kellerco, the company which developed an analysis of current road-use patterns and proposals for the future for the Rappahannock-Rapidan Planning District Commission, presented the report and alternatives for further consideration.

Mr. Keller said he had done work in Williamsburg and Annapolis and was aware of constraints of working in historic and scenic areas. “Two years ago it occurred to me that we could prevent some of the problems,” he said. “You don’t have to have congestion here.”

He suggested the county could develop “futuristic options” to prevent the problems that have plagued other nearby areas. “You can put a different spin on highway planning and prevent future traffic congestion. You can manage access and reduce infrastructure costs.”

He said traffic projections were based on VDOT estimates. “You can envision the kind of corridors you want in this county. That is not usually done.”

He said in past projects he has been involved with in Virginia and elsewhere there have included one-day retreats to develop creative solutions. “You can develop hybrid solutions, some ideas that are not on the option sheet,” he said.

He said it takes eight to 12 years to get a road built once the need for it is recognized. “If you wait too long, you can have serious safety problems,” he added.

Mr. Keller said the Interstate 81 corridor is one of the fastest growing in the nation. That will affect Rappahannock County he said. He noted the traffic projections for 2010 do not include any estimate for development that does not currently exist, and such developments, whether in Rappahannock or surrounding counties can affect the county ’s traffic.

See Traffic, Pagej&-6

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