Letters To The Editor
The Times Dispatch featured this letter about the new 2nd St. connector road, echoing concerns brought up by Oregon Hill residents as well as the local Sierra Club: Connector road should have sidewalks Editor, Times-Dispatch: As I biked home recently and saw the Second Street connector road under construction, I pondered the design, which calls […]
The Times Dispatch featured this letter about the new 2nd St. connector road, echoing concerns brought up by Oregon Hill residents as well as the local Sierra Club:
Connector road should have sidewalks
Editor, Times-Dispatch:
As I biked home recently and saw the Second Street connector road under construction, I pondered the design, which calls for two narrow travel lanes and a sidewalk on only one side of the road. This road will connect Second Street just north of the Lee Bridge to Tredegar Street and descends at an extremely steep grade.
The lack of an uphill bike lane and sidewalks will increase delays for motorists and compromise safety for everyone. This new road is in the middle of the city and immediately adjacent to Belle Isle, the Canal Walk and the James River Park System — some of the most popular places to walk, run and bike in the city. For even more evidence that a sidewalk on both sides of the street is needed, look no further than Tredegar Street itself, which lacks a sidewalk on the north side and has a worn dirt path there instead. Fixing this is one of the recommendations in the new Riverfront Plan. What about the thousands of pedestrians who descend this hill to attend the Folk Festival?
Dominion employees will probably have the most time to ponder the road design as they wait behind bicyclists traveling uphill at 5 mph, a problem that would have been easily avoided by adding a mere 5-foot bike lane. It is always more expensive to retrofit a road than to build new, so please, Richmond, let’s stop being pennywise and pound foolish.
John Bolecek.
Richmond.
Also, Oregon Hill resident Todd Woodson implored for a change of leadership in the 5th District:
Agelasto will bring needed change to 5th District
Editor, Times-Dispatch:
As a resident of Richmond’s 5th District, I am fed up with the lack of focused representation from Marty Jewell. Asked about anything regarding the 5th and he gripes about the mayor, the School Board and other issues not directly relevant to the district’s needs. Meanwhile, sidewalks crumble and other responsibilities go untended.
What an exciting occasion to meet Parker Agelasto, who is also running for that seat on City Council. With an MBA from the Darden School of Business at U.Va. and credentials in teaching leadership to developing communities from U.Va., as well as running a small business, Agelasto has energized a diverse constituent group with his poise and boots-on-the-ground campaign style. He promises to bring insight, intelligence and energy to the table and we sorely need it.
I urge my friends and neighbors in the 5th District to cast their vote for Agelasto so we can turn a page for progress.
C. Todd Woodson.
Richmond.
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