The Virginian-Pilot
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VIRGINIA BEACH
With the state expected to cut city funding by $28.3 million, several road projects will be delayed more than five years, city officials said Tuesday.
Improvements on some of the city's thoroughfares - including Lynnhaven Parkway and Witchduck, Elbow, Laskin, Holland and Indian River roads - are unlikely to start before 2014.
"We're back to the drawing board and back to square one on our urban roads," City Manager Jim Spore told the City Council.
Money from the Virginia Department of Transportation for expansion and construction of new roads has been on the decline, but because of the economy and budget shortfalls, the state is expected to cut funding even more - by 45 percent over the next six years, said John Fowler, a city engineer.
City leaders hope President-elect Barack Obama's economic stimulus plan will include money for roads. Among the projects that might qualify for federal money are improvements to the intersection of Princess Anne and Kempsville roads, the widening of Princess Anne Road, connecting Nimmo Parkway, and widening Laskin Road.
"It is what it is, and we're going to have to deal with it," Mayor Will Sessoms said.
Deirdre Fernandes, (757) 222-5121, deirdre.fernandes@pilotonline.com
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No Problem
With as buddy-buddy as sessoms is with obama (I saw the flier) I bet there will be no problem for him to pick up the phone and get all the money we need. City leaders? What leaders? If their concept is to wait and see what the stimulus plan will provide, maybe they should look toward the tooth fairy as well.
I do not agree that spore should resign. He should be FIRED!
Deadkoz-you buying?
Jsut who do you think would buy the sites you mentioned, other than a developer?
Shocking.
The residents of the Centerville area continue to be ignored by the city. Lynnhaven Parkway needs to be finished ASAP. It takes an incredible amount of wasted time to go around the break on Albright, thus allowing more time for a fire to spread, someone's airway to close up, or a burglar to get the door fully popped open and kill someone before emergency crews arrive on scene.
This is disgusting.
And lightrail too???
Sessoms wants to buy land rights for the light rail system joke? PLEASE!!!!!
The HRT buses are empty now and he wants to push for another white elephant investment that is not applicable for our region. Additionally, we need a new breath of thoughts with a City Manager replacement.
Mr. Spore
If we do not have the money to fix the roads, will you support Sessoms in building the useless Light Rail? And where would the money come from with all the shortfalls?
and please Santa, stop telling everyone to resign, it's getting old.
Money for Rudie loop, light rail & Dome Site???
"It is what it is, and we're going to have to deal with it," Mayor Will Sessoms said. Funny but I'll bet we have the money for the projects including light rail... a 28 million state budget cut isn't a lot of money if you look at the overall budget. It is less than one road project.
100 million budget hole but it is what it is and we're going to have to deal with it... LOL
Top down is coming, but it won't be a "Fix"
I read with amusement the previous post where the poor writer "hopes" (sound familiar?) Obama fixes our governments from the top down. Yeah, he's going to be fixed alright.
More social programs, more bureaucracy, more taxes, and more inexperience than has ever been in our national government will be hallmarks of his administration. Do you think that's going to help??? Road repairs in Va Beach been guided by a DEMOCRATIC council for decades - look where that got Va Beach's roads.
I rest my case.
BS
Lets sell the golf course, soccerplex, dome site, stop funding developers who dont need it, and all the other frivilous wastes of "MY" money and FIX the roads!!!!!!!!!!!
Virginia Beach has the worst roads of all of the 10 cities that I have lived in these past 40 years. 44 or is it 464 is the most potholed piece of crap for a road that I have ever had the pleasure of driving on.
Tell me again why the roads are stuck in the 70's?
It is time for a new form of government and I pray that Obama will start from the top down and fix OUR BROKEN GOVERNMENTS.
leadership on roads
Over the last 15 years Sessoms and Spore have neglected roads while chasing rainbows. Think about the $$ spent on the Sportsplex, TPC GOLF, Convention Center, Sandler, 31st Street- its well over a third of a billion dollars. Now take a trip to Indian River at Elbow during rush hour and realize that it has been a major problem for over 20 years. And all Sessoms has is his lame quote at the end of the article? Life is about wants and needs and for too long the citizens and our tax dollars have been funding white elephants. Chickens are now coming home to roost.
Perhaps Sessoms will now tell us how the light rail will solve all of these roadway problems that he ignored while vice mayor. Thanks for the leadership.
Suprise
We've got money to help developers build hotels, parking garages and the list goes on but no money for roads. There's even money for Spore's generous car allowance too!! Way to go city council, we be proud of you!!! Let's see if our new mayor can stop some of the waste going on and the free for all spending of our tax dollars. Let's see if city employees get another "free holiday" just 'cause. Sadly I doubt if he'll bring change to the table.