ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, February 24, 1996 TAG: 9602260082
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: A. KEITH FURR
IN RESPONSE to Michael Abraham's Jan. 29 commentary, ``We the people don't want smart road'':
I am thoroughly disgusted by the tactics of the small group of zealots who so vehemently oppose the ``smart'' road. They apparently realize that the facts cannot support their position so they rely on distortions and exaggerations to frighten people about the environmental damage that will allegedly be caused in the Ellett Valley. They repeat these over and over - no matter how often they are discredited.
As a secondary tactic, they point to evil organizations in the New River Valley that will allegedly benefit from the project, such as Virginia Tech and its despicable and selfish research scientists. This is a classic ploy to excite class enmity. The latter does exist in Montgomery County as a town-gown problem, and it doesn't take much to stir it up.
However, I don't believe I've ever been so offended as by Abraham's commentary, in which he tries to cloak these views with credibility by his offensive parody of the Declaration of Independence. Abraham isn't Thomas Jefferson nor are his associates patriots valiantly defending a righteous cause. I won't address his points one by one, but will state well-documented facts that can be checked by anyone.
The environment will not be gutted or destroyed. A minuscule part of the valley will be impacted either physically or visually. There are no power brokers who wish to foist hypergrowth on our area. His forces continually offer unworkable solutions to the transportation problem. If circumstances were different, I, too, would be in the forefront of those calling for the use of trains, trolleys and buses for local intercity transportation. But to go from Blacksburg to Roanoke by bus or train is no longer a practical idea. The alternatives proposed are point-to-point modes of transportation. If you were to take a train to downtown Roanoke, for example, you would still be miles from the shopping centers, which are destinations of most travelers.
The source of funds is continually misrepresented. By far, the largest portion of the funds does not come from the federal budget or local taxpayers, but comes instead from the federal Highway Trust Fund, which can only be used for highway purposes! These funds are generated by a gas tax, paid by all motor-vehicle operators in the country. The funds will be spent on road construction and maintenance, whether or not the smart road is built.
Abraham states that Montgomery County is the fastest-growing county in Western Virginia. This is true, but a table on page 10 of the Economic Report for the New River Valley shows that in the past 10 years the number of industrial jobs in the New River Valley has decreased by nearly 20 percent. These jobs have been replaced by retail and service jobs. Most of these service and retail jobs start out at minimum wage of $4.25 an hour, and with time may reach $6 per hour. These kinds of jobs do not replace those lost.
Tech's research scientists may or may not receive grants in the vicinity of $100 million or more, but they already have generated more than $3.5 million. One thing is certain: If the smart-road project falls through, they never will generate the larger amounts, and most skilled scientists will leave for other areas with a more responsible citizenry.
At various points, he talks about how disruptive highways are. How would he like to get by without the interstate system or the road connecting Blacksburg with Christiansburg or Interstate 81? Those of us who have been around for a while remember the narrow winding road previously between these points not with affection but with horror.
Buses and trains have had their turn in the marketplace for providing transportation, but have failed miserably. Amtrak wouldn't survive a year without subsidies. There used to be a bus station in Blacksburg, but not now. No one demanded its removal. It vanished because too few persons used it.
Abraham asks: ``Why should we put money into highways?" I ask: Why should we try to prop up forms of transportation the public will not support? Even within Blacksburg, our local bus system wouldn't survive a year without the money pumped into it annually by Tech. Students ride for free, but other potential riders aren't willing to use it even for the very modest fee charged. I wonder how we would transport our children on bicycles, or how our increasingly aging population would manage to get around town on bicycles.
Abraham and his associates are clearly direct descendants of the Luddites who opposed the Industrial Revolution. It certainly had its evils, but how many would like to return to the miserable existence of the vast majority of the population at that time? Without it, our life span would be in the 40-year range instead of the 70 to 80 years most enjoy now.
I deeply resent his attempt to clothe his specious arguments by assuming the mantle of Thomas Jefferson. It doesn't fit.
A. Keith Furr of Blacksburg is retired from Virginia Tech, where he was director of environmental health and safety and a professor in nuclear science and engineering.
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