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Supes Agree to Study Jamestown Road Light MoreThursday, February 10, 2011 James City County Supervisors unanimously decided Tuesday evening to go ahead with plans to study the proposed traffic light at Jamestown Road for a third time, though some board members noted concerns. The Virginia Department of Transportation did two traffic studies on the area and determined a light was needed at Colony Square Shopping Center. Several citizens spoke out against the idea at the January 11 supervisors meeting, arguing a new light wasn’t needed now that Fresh Market plans to leave the shopping center. They were also concerned that a light would only serve to back up traffic even more in the area and block exiting traffic from businesses and neighborhoods.Supervisor John McGlennon asked the board to consider asking VDOT to look at the area one more time but with attention to the broader impacts to businesses and neighborhoods. This time, aside from VDOT continuing with its “due diligence” on the project, a consulting engineer will review VDOT’s work, and the county will also get to see a computer simulation of exactly what the impact would be in the area, according to County Administrator Robert Middaugh. The county will also set up a public meeting about the light for interested citizens. McGlennon’s fellow supervisors agreed to the plan Tuesday, but board member Bruce Goodson bristled when supervisor Jim Icenhour said he would see what the result of the new study was and see the public’s reaction before making up his mind about the issue, because he wanted to “represent the people’s interest.” “It sounds like we don’t need to do a study,” Goodson said, if Icenhour might not follow its recommendation. Goodson said he would support VDOT’s findings, whatever they were. He said he was concerned that, if the study came back that the light was indeed needed, some on the board still might not support the project (though VDOT has the final say on whether it gets completed). Supervisor Jim Kennedy agreed, saying he would support whatever VDOT’s finding was about the light after this examination. As McGlennon and Goodson started to heatedly discuss VDOT's once-proposed changes to a different intersection, new Chairman Mary Jones had to interject and ask the men stick to the topic. Jones agreed that she didn’t want to use the study as “a potential stall-maker” in the project, but said she liked that VDOT would be communicating with citizens while still moving ahead with their plan. Other business Supervisors unanimously approved a special use permit and height waiver for a new ride in the Germany section of Busch Gardens.
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Comments
I think Robert C. has a likely solution. Please don't tell us you work for VDOT Robert. You'll shatter all of our illusions.
2. Is No Dough correct? Even if all the Colony Square shops are shuttered and tumbleweeds blow through the lots, the study will pretend that it's a thriving traffic generator?
3. Someone mentioned safety. I cross Jamestown on foot frequently at La Tienda where the sidewalk switches from one side to the other. It's never a long wait. Is safety really an issue here?
4. Jeff, how many cars deep does the backup get at quitting time?