Traffic Congestion

CHARLES TOWN, W.VA. - Battle lines continue to be drawn over a controversial $250 million office complex planned next to Harpers Ferry (W.Va.) National Historical Park. On Thursday, Del. Bob Tabb told the Jefferson County Commission he believes the idea has merit because it would boost the county's tax base and be a source of jobs in the county. Since county voters rejected casino table games for Charles Town Races & Slots and the new jobs they could have generated, the 6,000 jobs that could be created by redeveloping the so-called Old Standard Quarry site "could fill some gaps," said Tabb, D-Jefferson.

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. - Battle lines continue to be drawn over a controversial $250 million office complex planned next to Harpers Ferry (W.Va.) National Historical Park. On Thursday, Del. Bob Tabb told the Jefferson County Commission he believes the idea has merit because it would boost the county's tax base and be a source of jobs in the county. Since county voters rejected casino table games for Charles Town Races & Slots and the new jobs they could have generated, the 6,000 jobs that could be created by redeveloping the so-called Old Standard Quarry site "could fill some gaps," said Tabb, D-Jefferson.

CHARLES TOWN, W.VA. - Concerns continued to be raised during a public hearing Tuesday night regarding a proposed $250 million office-space project next to Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. Developers of the project have promoted it as a way to create 6,000 jobs in Jefferson County and give county residents a place to work without having to commute to nearby metropolitan areas. That is important, given that by the year 2010, about 60 percent of the county's work force is expected to go out of the county for work, attorney Jim Campbell said during the Jefferson County Planning Commission hearing at the Charles Town Library.

CHARLES TOWN, W.VA. - More than 100 people turned out Wednesday night at a public forum at Shepherd University to hear supporters and opponents of casino table games put forth their best arguments for their stances on the games. Del. John Doyle, D-Jefferson, joined local pastor Douglas Fraim in an argument against the games as the two talked about the "paltry" deal the county will get out of the games and the threat of crime problems like prostitution. Table games supporters Walter Pellish and Alan Sturm emphasized the millions of dollars in revenue that county schools will enjoy if the games are introduced, and the good jobs at the track that would be created.

QUINCY, Pa. - Representatives of Quincy and Washington townships are expected to ask the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation on Wednesday to fund a traffic circle they say they can't afford without help. Estimates discussed in a planning session Monday started at $500,000 for the rotary at the future intersection of Pa. 997 and Washington Township Boulevard. The traffic circle had been encouraged in a letter to PennDOT from the Quincy Township Supervisors. Kerry Bumbaugh, one of Quincy Township's three supervisors, argued a traffic circle would allow residents of South Mountain, Quincy and Tomstown - whom he expects to use the intersection daily - to move through the junction quickly.

The City Council told City Engineer Rodney Tissue during its Tuesday work session to re-examine preliminary design plans concerning the construction of a road in the city's north end. Councilman Martin Brubaker said the initial plan, if implemented, might cause a "tourniquet" effect and lead to traffic congestion. The proposed road would connect Marsh Pike to Antietam Drive near the YMCA, and run east of the future Lowe's Home Improvement site near Leitersburg Pike. If it's completed, city officials hope the road would alleviate traffic on Leitersburg Pike and Eastern Boulevard.

Editor's note: The Morning Herald does not endorse any of these anonymous opinions. We encourage readers to put their names with their opinions through letters to the editor that appear each day on Page A4. "I thoroughly agree with the caller in Monday's Mail Call who said it doesn't matter if its Republicans or Democrats in office. Either way, we as a nation are doomed. These high-rolling, special-interest-concerned, lobbyist-bribe-taking politicians have got to go. They have no concern for the average blue-collar worker.

FUNKSTOWN - Though deputies have stepped up traffic patrols in Funkstown, one resident told officials she still hopes the town addresses congestion. Denise McCoy told Town Council on Monday that while she appreciates the work of Washington County Sheriff's Department deputies, who have patrolled the town on a contract basis, she still is concerned about traffic in the area of Poplar Street. Assistant Mayor Paul N. Crampton Jr. told McCoy the town is awaiting the results of a traffic study in the area.

CHAMBERSBURG, PA. - Hundreds of orange and white traffic barrels still form a maze that motorists must negotiate each day, but the $27 million U.S. 30 widening project begun more than two years ago is entering the home stretch. "We hope to have the contract work done by the first of October," Project Manager Ray Alden said Friday. The last of the paving work was finished on Thursday, he said. Installation of sections of 2-foot wide mountable concrete medians and signs, some topsoil work and line painting remains to be done, Alden said.