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The Virginia Department of Transportation held a public hearing at Rappahannock County High School Thursday supposedly to “hear” comments concerning a proposed U.S. 211/522 road renovation in Sperryville.
About a dozen county residents, most from that area, went to participate in the “hearing.”
They were given a handout detailing the public comment process and proposed project. VDOT engineers discussed the project and answered all questions.
But they requested that comments be submitted in writing to the district administrator. Why? VDOT was not there to “hear” anything, only to answer questions — a strange way to hold a “hearing.”
Why couldn’t they report the opinion of residents here to their superiors for evaluation?
According to VDOT, a list of comments won’t be available to the public or the press until December.
No doubt they’ll have numerous responses and it will probably take them that long to evaluate them.
But how much weight will VDOT give those letters? Will their voices be heard?
Hopefully they will.
VDOT says comments from the public will be evaluated and incorporated into the proposal. We’ll see.
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