Dick O'Brien [01/07/2003]

To the editor:I have to respond to the editorial (get on with the widening). Just what don't the editors of The Conway Daily Sun and D.O.T. understand about five lanes to four lanes to three lanes? That's like putting a half gallon of water in a funnel and expecting it to come out has fast as it went in. You can widen the strip to 10 lanes and it still won't relieve or remove any traffic in Conway or North Conway. I am hoping that everyone read the comments and information presented by Ralph Wiggin and Ham Green in The Mountain Ear and The Conway Daily Sun. I am very disappointed that other members of the citizen advisory task force and the Conway upgrade committee have remained silent on this issue. They have had as much knowledge on this traffic problem as I have. Comments on the widening: our own town engineer said, it's like putting the cart before the horse. Looking at the traffic counts which are taken from the environmental impact study done by the state strip, 26,000 vehicles; North-South Road, 5000+; bypass, 7000+; leaves 14,000 on routes 16/302. I asked why we would need five lanes for that number of vehicles, D.O.T. responded that 20 years, in the future, for development. I doubt that will happen in this area. As we're pretty maxed out. That is why you're seeing a lot (of) development in Glen, Bartlett and Jackson. It will be soon expanding up over the mountain into Gorham and Berlin. I talked to a couple of engineers who both agree that the bypass should have been done first, then the local work.You talk about change. I saw nothing in the North-South Road phase about building a railroad line, lights, gates, loading dock and a parking lot, then renting it to a private enterprise. Spending all that money for the business and turning around and tearing up routes 16 and 302 and hurting all of those businesses, just doesn't seem right to me. The selectmen of 1993 were told by the E.P.A. that if they couldn't come up with a solution to the traffic problem local bypass etc. they would seriously consider putting four lanes from Conway Village up 16 and 302, and through North Conway Village and put the parking behind the businesses. Now I would call that undue pressure and mental distress. Today selectmen are under the same pressure from D.O.T. Delay the widening and no bypass.I think they all agree that the widening wasn't necessary, but they wouldn't go along with it if it jeopardized the permit, the lone hold out was myself. There are only 10 rules and regulations that I would not tamper with, the Ten Commandments, they were written by God. Our laws and regulations are written by men. The world, time, towns and individuals change. That's why our laws, regulations and permits are written with consideration and modification procedure. Ours is federal regulation title 33-CFR-325-7. The state is Department of the Army permit permit conditions No. 1. "The time limit of completing work authorized ends on Dec. 19, '05 if you find that you need more time to complete the authorized activity. Submit your request for a time extension to this office for consideration at least one month before the above date."To do the widening would take two years and one year for traffic count. We could get a new permit in less time than that.As a selectman I really don't have any kind of authority. I was elected to this office to represent and help the Conway people. I am sure the governor, councilors Ray Burton, Peter Spaulding, Ruth Griffin, David Wheeler and Ray Wieczorek are doing the same. We would love to have your approval on the delay of the widening. We would save a lot of money and time. If anyone wishes to contact me, they can do it through the town office (e-mail or call 356-6710, home phone). I wish everybody a happy and healthy new year.