Delay in Connector a Negative for Cartersville

In this letter to the editor, Acworth resident Richard Chalifoux opines on the Georgia Department of Transportation's Route DV-E for the U.S. 411 Connector, which he says is likely to be blocked. The absence of any connector would further congest traffic in the city of Cartersville, having a negative impact, according to Chalifoux.

To the editor,

The Cartersville City Council recently released the 2011 National Citizen Survey for the City of Cartersville. According to the survey, most residents experienced a “good quality of life” and believed it was a “good place to live.”

Unfortunately, the city — to nobody’s surprise — continued to remain “much below” national benchmarks with its dismal transportation system. To that end, “traffic flow on major streets” was a characteristic that received one of the “least positive ratings.” The “ease of car travel in Cartersville” also scored poorly in the survey.

Given these findings, it is long overdue for the city to encourage the Georgia Department of Transportation to select a modified or alternate route for the U.S. 411 Connector. GDOT’s proposed route for the connector will cost taxpayers at least $100 million more than shorter, more efficient routes and is likely to be delayed for years in the legal system — due to Route D-VE’s many environmental problems.

While GDOT attempts to defend its poorly chosen, wasteful route (Route D-VE), our transportation system will continue to deteriorate. The increased traffic congestion will stifle economic growth and jeopardize the safety of those that travel these roads.

The city should not continue to support GDOT’s Route D-VE, as it runs the risk of being blocked — yet again — by a judge and GDOT could be forced to start over. Another loss in court could result in the final death knell for the 411 road project.

If the city does not push GDOT for a better route, motorists can expect Cartersville to become more like Atlanta — a growing city reliant upon an inadequate transportation system.

Best regards,

Richard Chalifoux