Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, October 15, 1995 TAG: 9510160012
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: KEITH FURR
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
I do not concede anything to anyone about my concern for the environment, but I am concerned about the entire environment. My wife and I are members of the Virginia Nature Conservancy. I practice energy conservation and recycling and served several years on the Montgomery County Recycling and Solid Waste Committee.
Environment is not just scenery, but the totality of our impact on the earth. For example, the smart road will take up, in total, about 140 acres, stretched out along its 5.8-mile length. Because of its shorter length, every car using it should use approximately a quarter of a gallon of gas less than it would following the longer route. This translates into over 900,000 gallons of gas used per year for every 10,000 cars using it each day, on average. There would be a corresponding decrease in the amount of nitrogen dioxide and hydrocarbon emissions.
The Ellett Valley will not be destroyed. Only small portions of the road will be visible from any given spot. The long bridge may be visible from farther away, but I suspect not much farther.
We must ensure that the smart road and the entire stretch of I-73 be constructed with respect for the environment in mind. Appropriate landscaping of the road area and sign regulation could eliminate or minimize any harmful visual impact. The alternative of taking I-73 down I-77 is not sound. That stretch of I-77 is already drastically overburdened and dangerous.
Economically we need sound, managed growth to maintain our area. In almost every letter opposing I-73, and the smart road specifically, a statement is usually included to the effect "the reason we moved to this area is the beauty of the area." If that is the only reason, I recommend that these persons move to the area of Virginia between Wytheville and Bluefield along I-77. There is no lovelier drive anywhere in the fall of the year than that stretch. It puts the Blue Ridge Parkway and New England to shame.
No, the primary reasons I suspect caused most of them to move to the area would be 1) a well-paying job; 2) the availability of the amenities associated with a major university 3) good medical facilities 4) proximity to decent shopping; 5) low crime rate; 6) low taxes; 7) reasonably good schools; 8) access to good transportation by road and air, and, finally, (but not exclusively) 9) an attractive environment. If all of these are not present, desirable clean industries with their accompanying desirable jobs will not come.
These amenities do not come free. If good jobs are not available, people will not be able to pay taxes. Shopping centers will not be built. If opportunities do not exist, young people will move out of an area and population will decline. We need to increase opportunities for industries and academic development that bring in skilled jobs.
Even the six-minute savings between Blacksburg and Christiansburg is not trivial in this context, since it represents nearly a 20 percent saving in transit time. If industries can ship their products more rapidly, we are far more likely to attract desirable growth.
For those well-meaning individuals who have been persuaded to oppose I-73 and other road improvements based on the perceptions that have been most publicized, I urge that you consider the total picture, not just one aspect. Don't be convinced by something just because it sounds like you're being asked to support God and motherhood.
Keith Furr lives in Blacksburg and recently retired from Virginia Tech where he was director of environmental health and safety services.
by CNB