Elissa Yount: DOT can move fast after all
It seems the North Carolina Department of Transportation can move swiftly after all.
It was only last Tuesday evening when I spoke with representatives from the DOT about the Chavasse Avenue project. They offered lots of reasons why the project was not going forward right away, but they never ever said the project was terminated. So, imagine the surprise when Frank Frazier reported to the Henderson City Council on Monday that this project was canceled. I think I want to see this in writing from the DOT. They sure changed their minds very quickly about terminating this project after stringing the city along since 2004. Communication and exchange of information on this project has been sketchy at best and fraught with backtracking and fumbling.
It reminds me of “Westover Terrace-Gate”. When I first came on the council, the citizens in this neighborhood wanted their street repaired where an embankment had given way and the street had collapsed. It was unsightly, dangerous, and posed a problem for home sales in the area. We were told repeatedly that the city did not own this street and that the neighbors would have to pay for the repairs. Research showed that the common wisdom was incorrect, and that the city was responsible. We took the money that was earmarked to pave Alexander Avenue and repaired that street. I learned from that experience that you cannot always believe what you are told, and you need to find out the answers before you ask the questions when dealing with the city.
So, after trying all summer to get answers from the city about the status of the Chavasse Avenue project, I finally e-mailed Department of Transportation Secretary Gene Conti and asked for answers. Terry Gibsom replied on September 3, 2009 that the project was not in this funding year but, depending on the start time for the High Speed Rail, that “we agree to consider it in next year’s spending plan as there would be some benefits for the project for 5-10 years.”
This was very encouraging because I had just received information from David Foster with the NCDOT Rail Division that the earliest construction time for the High Speed Rail would be 2013 with a three-to-five year build-out. Logic would tell you that Chavasse Avenue is going to be one of the last closures as they build an overpass at Alexander Avenue and work on Andrews Avenue. After all, people will have to cross the tracks while all this work is going on. This would make the project to widen Chavasse and put in a sidewalk even more essential. So, the city should stare down DOT and not blink when they say that this project is terminated. This is what we need in Henderson and the council should make it happen. But that is going to be a harder row to hoe now.
First, I would imagine that Jimmy Crawford is not going to be prone to earmark money to Henderson when the city did not follow through on this project. This is the area of Henderson that is represented by Mr. Crawford (West Henderson is not his district) and it makes it appear that he did not follow through with looking after his constituents who so desperately need a safe way for pedestrians to travel (especially since he personally and publicly took credit for this project in the media).
Second, I would imagine that the DOT is not going to be impressed with the city when a citizen has to e-mail them for information that should be supplied by the city. For instance, when the Division Engineer, Wally Bowman, conveys information to the city in a meeting on June 30, 200 with Assistant City Manager Frank Frasier and other city council members and representatives and that information is not given in a report to the council or in a press release to the public, why should they make an effort to keep the city in the loop in the future?
Third, if the city had been proactive, this would have been an ideal project for stimulus money. The DOT tried to argue me down that after the High Speed Rail closes Chavasse then maybe that sidewalk will not be needed. That is ridiculous. If they knew their own plans, they would know that Young Avenue is going to be extended down past the water tower to Alexander Avenue. A sidewalk along Chavasse would connect to the one on Dorsey, and that would provide safe pedestrian walkways. Alexander Avenue has sidewalks, so instead of walking down to Chavasse to cross, people would walk parallel to Chavasse on the opposite side of the railroad instead of to William Street, and then along the Young Avenue extension to connect to the new sidewalk.
I know the DOT officials do not live in Henderson, and maybe not enough city employees live here to see the real need. However, the elected council people live here and should know. The Public Safety Committee of the city council should have this project on the front burner and should not stop cooking it until it is done. To take the word that this project is “terminated” is an easy way to drop the ball and continue to allow the citizens in Henderson to have their safety compromised.
The name of this game is politics, and the city has a wonderful bargaining tool. The DOT wants the city to make concessions for the High Speed Rail. If the city makes those concessions, then the DOT should make this project happen!
Enough evasion and hemming and hawing. Get this done.
Just read the paper and someone is either lying or completely incompetent. The DOT met with some council members in June, that is June, and now it is November and no one in the city whether they are elected or hired seems to know anything. I want to know who was at this meeting and why are we just now finding out about Chavasse instead of before the election? Henderson really is laughing stock at the county level and now at the state level. We just continue to take it and take it. The council should get a citizen committee to take this over because they sure do not know how to speak up for themselves. The Mayor should appoint that committee.
Comment by Whose on First? — November 25, 2009 @ 6:08 am
Last week, I attended the meeting regarding the street closures for the High Speed Rail. It appears to me that with the closing of Spring Street crossing and the closing of St Matthews Street crossing there will create significant emergency access problems within the east side of Henderson. East Henderson will have none of the benefits of West Henderson and emergency response time will be increased.
If City Council is going to be silent on this problem then eventually we will have to accept more fatalities from house fires, a higher death rate for citizens needing medical transport and an even higher crime rate for this portion of our city. If we choose not to oppose these changes then the city needs to go forward with providing a new sattlelite fire station, a new sattlelite police station and recruit a free standing urgent care medical facility.
For those in our community who have promised economic advancement, if these changes are not addressed they will adversely affect the overall quality of life measurements that are evaluated by prospective businesses.
Comment by Cathy Ringley — November 25, 2009 @ 6:45 am
Very good Mrs. Yount and Cathy and VERY well said.
Comment by Peggy Sue — November 25, 2009 @ 6:58 am
I don’t know why Henderson did not get any of the economic stimulus money for health care clinics in east Henderson.
I would think that this would be the ideal time for Franklin Regional Medical Center to establish a clinic to start offering services. The waiting time for emergency services is advertised as 15 minutes and they will be equal in distance at 15 miles away.
Comment by Beautiful Dreamer — November 25, 2009 @ 7:05 am
15 hrs. is more like the wait time at MPH.
Comment by Interesting — November 25, 2009 @ 7:06 am
Didn’t Cliff Rogers propose a police substation at one point in the Flint Hill neighborhood?
Comment by Candace — November 25, 2009 @ 7:12 am
It certainly does sound like Henderson is being purposely split into two towns. I dare to say there are just as many poverty stricken residents on the west side of the tracks as there are on the east side. Two blocks from where I live, west of the tracks, there are unpaved roads and no sidewalks at all in my neighborhood.
Comment by Ironwood — November 25, 2009 @ 7:22 am
Was I the only one in Henderson who saw the HiH video of city council meeting with David Foster about the Southeast High Speed Rail street closings last summer?
The whole city council including the mayor sat silently watching the presentation. Then Mike Rainey asked a question regarding the street crossing at Montgomery. He told Foster & Co. that he was very concerned about how the street changes will effect Thomas Appliances loading area on the side of their building. Foster appeases Rainey and the council moves on to the next item on the agenda…..
The whole council was oblivious to the implications both positive and negative of a 100+ mph train coming through our city except for its impact on Thomas Appliances.
Personally, I see no reason for any street changes to Henderson at all since it is STOPPING here and only comes through town 2 times each day. Why not just stay with normal train crossing lights and fix Chavasse?
Comment by bert — November 25, 2009 @ 7:41 am
Henderson has ALWAYS been split into two towns – the haves and the have-nots.
It has gotten worse over the years, and the slum Lords that are in the “haves” group are causing the problem to get worse and worse; but, they will continue with their “haves” friends and look the other way when renters have no water, heat and a roof that doesn’t leak.
Oh, and they will ESPECIALLY look the other way when the renters get busted for selling drugs from their rental property.
Who cares what goes on in their rental properties as long as they get their almighty dollar?
Comment by Interesting — November 25, 2009 @ 7:48 am
This is the type of problem that Sam Watkins needs to be advocating for action for “the good of the community”. Where is he when we need his political influence?
Where’s Brenda Peace?
Comment by where's waldo? — November 25, 2009 @ 8:07 am
Of the many things the citizens of Henderson may be “thankful” for on this Thanksgiving Day, one of the most siginificant is the fact Ms. Yount chose to remain an activist as opposed to returning to the council where she would only represent one vote and be required to be a “team player”.
Personally, I want to say “Thank You Ms. Yount” for continuing to dedicate your intellect, time, contacts and experience to help the residents of Henderson as they struggle to overcome the daily, negative impact of our poor local government.
I agree with the position Ms. Yount has presented in today’s editorial.
It concerns me that our local government devotes valuable resources to ambigous projects, Zene Street being a perfect example, and allows so serious a threat to safety as that represented by the Chavasse Avenue “missing link” to drag on with no correction.
I challenge the council the to inspect this area during busy periods – especially early morning and late afternoon – when cars and trucks clog the narrow street forcing pedestrians into the ditch as they attempt to walk for shopping at Supply Line or jobs in the fast food resturants. The hazard increaese as the sun glares in the eyes of frustrated drivers.
For many years, the Chavasse Avenue “missing link” has represented a bottle neck for those commuters entering Henderson from Hwy 39 south via Old Epsom Road. I have never seen a DOT daily vehicle count but having worked near the rail crossing, I can tell you that there are times of bumper to bumper gridlock.
I subit that this issue depicts the paradox that is our local governments attitude toward fiscal responsibility. Millions of dollars are allocated to edifices of “Bricks and Mortar” and recreation but the safety of many of our less fortunate citizens is not only ignored but flaunted. I shudder to thing how much money will be required to settle the lawsuit against the city that follows the death of a pedistrian in this area. If you were on the jury, how would you vote? How much would you award?
It continues to trouble me that each time the “Rock of Henderson” is turned, something slimy crawls out.
Remember, we deserve what we are willing to accept!
Comment by Lewis H. Edwards — November 25, 2009 @ 8:19 am
something slimy, hummm
Comment by DOT — November 25, 2009 @ 10:02 am
Mr. Edwards, Henderson is so lucky to have both you and Ms. Yount.
Happy Thanksgiving to you both, and thank you so much for all that you are doing.
Comment by Interesting — November 25, 2009 @ 10:09 am
The rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Fear not, when all these grants the haves are applying for dry up–but can we afford to wait or is it too late?
We made it to TV showing the 18 poorest counties–another embarassment–but the slumlords still laugh all the way to the beach!
Comment by north star — November 25, 2009 @ 10:58 am
I have never understood why we needed the sidewalk that starts at the Shell Station at the corner of Chavasse/Oxford Road and goes to the CVS.
Comment by alex — November 25, 2009 @ 11:22 am
Bert,
The laws of physics pertaining to the High Speed Rail are as follows:
The roads need to be closed in Henderson because the train is not stopping here.
Based on the laws of momentum, a high speed train that WOULD stop in Henderson would have to start braking in Norlina and Franklinton. A high speed train going THROUGH without stopping in Henderson at 100 mph would need to have roads closed.
Comment by Al-bert Einstein — November 25, 2009 @ 11:27 am
The train will be stopping in Henderson. The reason the roads need to be closed is that that are at grade, and that is too dangerous to have witha train that is high speed. The only crossings need to be over, or under, for safety.
Comment by speed reader — November 25, 2009 @ 11:34 am
If the train is stopping, it will not be going more than 25 mph through the city.
Whether the tracks need to be improved where they are crossing the roads is another story….
Comment by Choo -Choo Charlie — November 25, 2009 @ 12:26 pm
The last information on the stops is that the High Speed train is due to stop in Henderson twice daily and in LaCrosse Va. twice daily. The original plan was to have the train stop mid-way between Richmond and Raleigh at only one stop, but LaCrosse was very successful in lobbying for a stop so the decision was made to stop in both places. The thinking is that people from Wake Forest would rather drive to Henderson to get the train rather than fighting the traffic across Raleigh. The train is coming through Henderson and if we want all the headache with none of the benefits, then we will just delay on getting a station and the decision will change and no stop will happen in Henderson and the train will just fly on by. This is not a commuter rail service but could develop into that. This is a high speed rail service and its objective is to compete with air traffic. Also, the CSX will be sharing the rail with the high speed train so all of these trains will also go through Henderson as the rails will be replaced north of Norlina. The plans call for a pedestrian walk way at Peachtree Street that will go under the rail. Fences will line the tracks throughout Henderson and we need the Appearance Commission to see that this is done in the most attractive way. There is also to be a new configuration of streets from William to Chestnut along #39. I was on the High Speed Rail Committee for the DOT until Brenda Peace replaced me according to information I received from the past City Clerk. She should be attending the meetings in Raleigh and keeping up with the latest decisions.
Comment by Elissa P. Yount — November 25, 2009 @ 1:39 pm
I was present at the last meeting concerning the high speed rail and the suggested closing of the crossings. I particularly listened to a lady from Hawkins street and her anxiety of the anticipation of the closing of St. Matthews crossing. She seemed to have very valid reasons for not wanting that crossing to be closed. Several of her elderly neighbors voiced their concerns as well. Yesterday, I visited the lady at her home on Hawkins and got some background information on her neighborhood. I will be sending some pictures of the neighborhood for all to see. Not only was I able to understand her worries, I also shared her disgust with the area in which she lives. It seems to be an area that has been forgotten by civilization. This wonderful citizen of our area is living in a beautiful home that has become a dangerous enviroment. The dilapidated building less than 15 feet from her home is falling down and is a complete fire hazard. If this building was to accidently catch fire, this womans home would also burn. She explained that she has tried to get some help in getting this building torn down for the safety of her home, but to no avail. She is in the unexplained area of the ETJ. She pays city water, but has garbage pickup from another source of which she can’t afford. I also took other pictures of the area and St. Matthews street as well. There are only two or three houses on St. Matthews that is still being occupied. The rest are burned, or completely unlivable. What has happened to our town and county that would allow an area such as this to still exist? I thought that is what the scattered site funding was all about. I am new to our council, but I am in no way a stranger to doing what is right. I will be sending the pictures in on Monday for printing. When everyone is able to see what a mess we have allowed, I hope they will join me in insisting that it gets cleaned up. Our citizens, especially our elderly, deserve much better treatment from the officials that can make this happen. Not only do I feel it is important to clean up this area, I also feel the planning department for the high speed rail need desperately to take another look at this area and make a better choice in their decisions. Complete isolation from the conveinences that we enjoy is not acceptable. It is already a burden to make their way in to the city to shop, see a doctor, pay bills and otherwise do what we do without a second thought everyday. Closing this particular crossing would put an extreme burden on this segment of our population. Hopefully, with more thought and discussions, there will be a workable solution of progress, restoration, and a comprise that we can all live with to make a more harmonius city and county. Happy and safe Thanksgiving to everyone.
Comment by Sara M. Coffey — November 25, 2009 @ 5:58 pm
FYI Bert even if the speed train does not stop in Henderson, it is against regulations for them to go that fast through city, Ive heard that several times at last summer meeting. However, when I asked the engineer at the city chamber’s meeting what was the logic behind their suggested closings, he told me it was based on safety, traffic and accident history of the crossing. Also the ease and cost of fixing the specific crossing. It would make sense for the train company to want to close as many as possible reducing possible at risk situations and possible lawsuits. I agree we need to consider the neighborhoods, and EMT/Fire and Police needs. We should demand the city bargain with DOT on these closings with our communtiy needs as a priority. But we do need to look t
Comment by live it — November 25, 2009 @ 6:44 pm
Sorry edit problems again, to continue…. we need to also look at the big picture and see how the high speed train will benefit this community in the long run.
Comment by live it — November 25, 2009 @ 6:51 pm
after checking out said railroad crossings it would seem logical to build pedestrian cross over bridges, similar to the one at the elementary school on andrews ave. bridges to somewhere. not a divided town.
Comment by mighty me — November 25, 2009 @ 7:53 pm
Elissa Yount..#19..
“This is not a commuter rail service but could develop into that.”
so, are you saying that initially the train will not be for passengers, but only for freight?
please clarify..
Comment by ziggy — November 26, 2009 @ 12:57 am