How was the PWC Board meeting last night?

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Topic: How was the PWC Board meeting last night?
Posted: 27 Oct 2004 at 9:41am

Hi-

I wasn't able to attend but I am hoping to get an update on how it went. Were the supervisors interested in what commuters were saying or are the HOT lanes a done deal?

Thanks!
Erin [:)]

SpongeBob

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Posted: 28 Oct 2004 at 10:37am

Ha! Ha ha ha! Listen? Listen?!!

A couple of us spoke, but no, they didn't listen. Look at the article in the Fredericksburg paper.

End of discussion, folks. Slugs are going on the extinction list.

Bob

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Posted: 28 Oct 2004 at 11:58am

What disturbs me about the HOT situation is that it is being accepted that the only alternatives are 1) Do nothing and 2) HOT as defined by the two companies. We need to change this. Is VDOT brain dead or have they been paid under the table by these companies to not propose anything else? The decisionmakers (the Regional Transportation Board and BOS) need a whole range of options. Are these other ideas going to have to come from current HOV folks? We shouldnt have to, but if no one does, we get HOT lanes in current form.

My current thoughts involve some kind of toll lane system that leaves the current isolated HOV system alone and connects to HOT on the Beltway. If the HOT people are willing to add lanes to the Beltway to get HOT, why can't they also add lanes to 95 between Fred. and Dale City and leave our HOV lane alone? I am not saying this would work, but for heavens sake we need to discuss some options.

Bob

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Posted: 28 Oct 2004 at 12:15pm

You have to read the proposal to see just how heinous a takeover this is: 1. it ends slugging, vanpooling, and carpooling, 2. it creates a road that is technically and unquestionably unsafe, as stated in their proposal itself, 3. it takes a free resource available to any person or business (weekends and nights) and charges for it, 3. it encourages sprawl by extending the pavement way past Fredericksburg, 4. it leaves the burden of violation enforcement still on VDOT's understaffed back, 5. nothing is to be guaranteed except Fluor's and Transurban's fees, and 6. it only encourages, does not incent or provide for, an expanded bus system (so that's someone else's problem,)... so on and so forth....

Anyone want to buy my house? I'm getting out of PWC.

slugger94

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Posted: 28 Oct 2004 at 12:37pm

I attended the discussion in the evening. I was a little late but found out from another attendee that the discussion on the HOT Lanes actually took place during an earlier meeting in the day. I was also told that the two citizen speakers voiced against the HOT lanes.

I don't know about you all but I am very uncomfortable with the idea of these HOT Lanes.

As a slug community, I think we need to get together to discuss possible proposals to those in charge.

Admin, what you say, if you call a slug community meeting? Thnx.

SpongeBob

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Posted: 28 Oct 2004 at 1:03pm

I should have answered ering's first question above.

I spoke at the meeting and the BOCS looked at me attentively and nodded a lot. They appeared to be listening. One member, in particular, seemed to be in agreement with at least the gist of what I was saying (No Toll Roads) and I'm told this was probably Corey Stewart of Occoquan. He was the youngest on the board. The developers probably haven't gotten his name into their check-producing system yet. (Or maybe he's just smarter than the rest.)

Nonetheless, the proof remains in the pudding: the next day the PWC BOCS had a group hug with the equally befuddled Stafford board and declared their unanimous agreement that charging citizens tolls is a good idea. You'll find a link to an article describing this warm moment in one of the other threads.

ering

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Posted: 28 Oct 2004 at 3:55pm

GREAT!!! It all sounds wonderful.

I am the wife of a cop (shift work) and mother of a toddler so my evenings are rarely free for meetings. I will, however, bring the screaming baby (they'll drop the idea altogether if I threaten to keep bringing her!!!) to the meetings if I have to. I am so disgusted by the entire thing. See ya PWC!!!

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Posted: 28 Oct 2004 at 4:13pm

If you're the wife of a cop, wait until you hear this: inside the beltway, Fluor's proposal calls for three 11'-wide (substandard) lanes, a 2'-wide shoulder, and a 9'-wide shoulder, both sides up against jersey walls.

Imagine what it will be like for a trooper trying to write a speeding ticket or help a citizen on a 9'-wide shoulder. Imagine having to change a tire there. Would you even want to sit in your car on a shoulder next to three lanes of (supposedly) high speed traffic?

Safety is the reason VDOT opposed adding a third lane years ago. Guess they don't care about the troopers anymore. Or the public. Just the developers.

ering

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Posted: 28 Oct 2004 at 4:28pm

That does make me very nervous - regardless of my husband's profession. Anytime I see a trooper get out of his/her car on the side of the road I cringe.

This is about money, pure and simple. I am just sick over it.

fed up

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