Why not an alternative
to Star City roundabout
The constant refrain is, “We can’t afford it!” So, in light of that, I would like to make a non-roundabout recommendation regarding the traffic problems caused on University Avenue at the intersection of Collins Ferry Road.
Since the Mileground roundabout doesn’t seem to reduce commute times to the Cheat area in the afternoons, maybe another expensive experiment isn’t worth it.
Instead, make Collins Ferry Road one-way traveling north (towards the river) from University Avenue to Pocahontas Avenue. Direct all traffic traveling south on Collins Ferry onto already one-way Pocahontas. Put a light at the intersection of University and Pocahontas and eliminate the Y-intersection opposite Pocahontas at Laurel Street.
This might make Pocahontas more heavily traveled, but it already gets a fair amount of traffic. It may also direct traffic onto Laurel, but that ship has sailed.
The dangers of going left onto University Avenue from Collins Ferry, all while dodging traffic exiting the WVU parking lot and Baldwin Street, will be eliminated. It would require much less disruption of the existing infrastructure, and so should cost much less than the proposed roundabout.
Jane Menear
Arthurdale
Manchin must rethink
vote on Equality Act
On March 13, 2019 H.R. 5, to be known as the “Equality Act,” was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives with many sponsors. What it seeks to do is to ensure that the protection of federal statutes such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and others is extended to all persons regardless of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, and even pregnancy and childbirth and a couple of other areas under the broad umbrella of the general term “sex discrimination.”
Millions of our fellow citizens in this state and across the nation have suffered or conceivably could suffer devastating discrimination in every aspect of their lives absent the explicit expansion of these protections.
Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., has already announced he will oppose the law as written for the reason as quoted in one news story that he is “not convinced that the Equality Act as written provides sufficient guidance to the local officials who will be responsible for implementing it, particularly with respect to students transitioning between genders in public schools.”
That is extremely shortsighted. The Equality Act creates no new laws. It merely incorporates these protections against sex discrimination into existing laws, establishing no new rights whatsoever. So the guidance for local officials has already been provided through as much as 55 years of regulatory rulings and court decisions on all levels.
Nothing could be clearer. I urge Manchin to reconsider when the opportunity arises for him to vote. By voting for this act he will be supporting all of the residents of this proud state.
David Hammond
Morgantown
Fix local roads before
extending Interstate 68
Bob Miller’s guest commentary, in Sunday’s The Dominion Post, misses the message behind the 70 percent of voters who supported the October 2017 road bond’s passage to fix the roads.
Voters were looking for relief from the destructive honeycomb pothole roads first. Having paid $4,000 for road damage to our car (front axle, rim and tires, struts and shocks) this writer questions why Miller doesn’t see the needs of the citizens who live here — put citizens first.
Why have the roads been neglected the past four years in Monongalia and Preston counties? Point in question, U.S. 119 between the former Ramada Inn and Walmart. This section of highway had to be the worst road in West Virginia, along with W.Va. 26 in Preston County. The latter has undergone some resurfacing.
The proposed Interstate 68 extension should be held off until plans are complete to make the roads serviceable for the working people to get to work without damaging their vehicles.
Note that the last major road repairs were done under former Gov. Arch Moore.
T.B. Kitzmiller
Morgantown
