Wednesday, August 7, 2002
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Wednesday, August 7, 2002 |
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F'ville development has caused traffic problems I read with great interest recently an article written by Fayetteville's Mayor Ken Steele. The article stated that Fayetteville's traffic congestion is a regional problem. Apparently, Mayor Steele had a conversation with a friend that made the following comment, "We do not have a traffic problem in Fayetteville." He proceeded explaining that it was a regional problem because Ga. highways 85, 54, 314, and 92 all come together in Fayetteville. I question this theory that it is a regional problem. While traveling through the city limits of Fayetteville, I must drive around 35 miles per hour. Occasionally that speed can be increased slightly. Why is there a need to drive so slowly through the city? The incessant curb cuts, heavy commercial development, and frequent traffic signals create the traffic jams in Fayetteville. Fayetteville has seen a need to line every mayor highway, except Hwy. 92 north, with as much commercial as they can possibly squeeze in. With dense development comes heavy traffic. Once I leave Fayetteville, whether it is north past the Pavilion or south past the Town Center development, I can breathe a sigh of relief. The major traffic is behind me. If this is a regional problem, you would think that the traffic would continue traveling with me, but I leave it behind me in Fayetteville. Fayetteville has created their own traffic problems. The driving force behind the dense development has always been an increased tax base and what Fayetteville feels is a more equitable distribution of local option sales tax funds. Since Fayetteville has created their traffic problems due to the dense commercial development, then Fayetteville must find their own solution to their traffic problems. They want the money created by the development. Then they must spend that money on solving the problem. One small solution might be to four-lane Hwy. 92 north, at least in the city limits. This would help relieve the turn-lane backup on Hwy. 85. The turn-lane traffic frequently backs up past Hood Avenue. This is just one small way that they could help the flow of traffic. Fayetteville needs to employ an engineer to help them find other ways to solve their traffic problems. This is a problem that the city of Fayetteville must solve, not the region. Paula Williams Fayetteville
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