VDOT Says No Traffic Light Planned for 621

Contrary to public statements made by District 4 Supervisor Rudy Butler, the Virginia Department of Transporation (VDOT) confirms that there are no plans to install a traffic light at the corner of Manakin Road (621) and Broad Street. On several occasions in the past two years, I've heard Mr. Butler say that VDOT was planning to install a light, and to flatten the notorious hill on Broad Street, just west of Satterwhite's Restaurant. Neither is true.

I sent an email to VDOT last week requesting information on exactly what is planned and received a very courteous response from Public Relations Manager Dawn Eischen the next day:

"Thank you for contacting us to try to clear up some of the confusion. I imagine your Web site will be a useful communication tool, especially when we start making improvements to Broad Street in Goochland.

We had a design public hearing for the Broad Street widening project on Nov. 29, 2006. Our chief engineer approved the design in May 2007 with the following modifications to the initial design:"

• Installation of OPTI-COM lighting system (provide by Goochland County) for emergency operations at the Centerville Fire Department; and



• Installation of a westbound left turn in at the approximate mid point between Route 621 and the fire department.

Here is what was originally posted on the VDOT website last December (read entire page here):

The section of Broad Street from about one-quarter mile west of the intersection with Manakin Road (Route 621) to one-tenth mile east of the intersection with Hockett Road (Route 623) will be improved and widened to a four-lane divided highway.

So, the bottom line is that NO traffic light is part of the plan! How could the county even consider a shopping center for the already busy and dangerous intersection of 621 and Broad Street?

Widening Broad Street without a traffic light could actually make things more dangerous because now you will have to cross two lanes of traffic when turning left onto Broad. With the addition of a busy shopping center behind Satterwhite's adding hundreds of more cars into the daily mix, this would be insane!

Today Project Manager Emily Peter called to let me know that plans could change and a traffic light could become part of the plan if the county advises VDOT of an increase in traffic volume. But this project is not even scheduled to begin until Spring 2009, and an eventual traffic light would no doubt come long after the opening of a new shopping center.

This adds up to a significant public safety issue for thousands of Goochland County residents. Voters should demand that all candidates for the Board of Supervisors pledge to ensure that safety considerations will take priority over generating tax revenue by allowing land to be rezoned for commercial development. To make it simple, a light must already be in place before any more land on Broad Street is developed commercially.

(posted by Jim Hale)