As a person who usually supports tax increases for valid needs, I am reluctant to support ballot measure 1A.
Road repairs are important, but I feel that recent road projects have been unwise. The traffic light installed at East College Drive and 2nd Avenue cost $564,000 to accommodate construction of two new for-profit hotels. This work included changing East College from four lanes to two, based on the dubious theory that making it more difficult to drive a route will reduce speed. That worked, as there are often lines of cars stopped in front of my residence on East College that make it tough to get out of my parking area.
An additional inconvenience to pedestrians is the timing of the traffic lights and walk signs that make the delay in crossing in any direction excessive, resulting in about one-third of pedestrians jaywalking in frustration.
The city website describes further work planned to reduce East College lanes from East 3rd to 8th streets, a five-block stretch of road that will cost $2.1 million. One million of this is city money. The rest is grant money, but it still is tax money and comes out of the pockets of taxpayers. That stretch of road is one that currently requires only minor pothole repairs, and spending $2 million to eliminate some lanes while major potholes remain throughout the city seems short-sighted.
I will vote NO on 1A in hopes that future city councils make more sensible decisions.
Rhys Schrock
Durango
