The Traffic Study’s ‘Done Deal’

To the Editor:

Prompted by Mr Walczak’s letter of April 14 concerning the Area Traffic Study by Vollmer Associates, I feel moved to respond as well. I have resided in Newtown since 1991, and three years ago we build our second home on Wendover Road, becoming residents of the borough.

Not only do I drive these particular roads frequently each day, but I am also a dedicated runner, covering many miles daily on these same roads. For these two reasons I felt I had a dual perspective on the seriousness of the problems we’re facing due to the tremendous increase of traffic in our town’s center in recent years, and I wanted to express my personal concerns and observations.

So I decided to attend the “walking tour” held at 4:30 pm on a Thursday afternoon, supposedly conducted to seek input from and impart information to concerned residents on this matter. When I arrived at the designated starting point, CVS, a small group appearing to be familiar with each other had already assembled; unfortunately I knew no one. I was rather dismayed and disappointed when none in attendance bothered to greet me or acknowledge my participation in this process.

The Vollmer representative offered some info and fielded queries, but unless you were among the “inner circle” of those who were monopolizing his time and “ear,” hearing was difficult, and soon I felt my presence was a waste of time, and anything I may have had to say or offer would be nonrelevant at this point. Also clear from a few comments I heard along the way was the fact that some issues and solutions had already been decided upon without input from the “concerned citizens” at large.

So, like Mr Walczak, I, too, question whether the May 4 public hearing will actually be a moot point, as many of the proposed solutions may already be done deals, without the consent of all those impacted by their outcome. I feel strongly that we as a town must not allow a select few with personal agendas to use positions of power and undue influence to affect such large scale change, change that will have a huge daily impact on an entire town, without giving everyone the opportunity for input.

Dolores White

Wendover Road, Newtown                                         April 15, 2006