VERMONT SITE FIGHT: POTENTIAL WAL-MART BRINGS UP TRAFFIC WORRIES

Potential Wal-Mart traffic concern in Wells River [Journal Opinion (Vt.)]

BRADFORD, Vermont (STPNS)—WELLS RIVER–“We’re trying to stay proactive and make it work,” said Ann Tyler, Wells River Village trustee chair of Wal-Mart’s projected opening. “The major concern is about the traffic.”

In a telephone interview, Tyler told the Journal Opinion that the box store’s New Hampshire location means that Wal-Mart has no legal or technical obligations to address traffic impact on surrounding Vermont towns. In a meeting last fall that included village trustees, a Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) representative and Senior Transportation Planner Chuck Wise from the Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission, trustees learned that getting state help for potential traffic problems is a complicated business.

One VTrans suggestion that arose from that meeting was that the Commission conduct a traffic safety audit. Tyler said that, to her knowledge, a date had not yet been set for the audit. However, in a subsequent telephone interview, Wise told the JO he hoped to be in Wells River for that study in mid-July.

Wise explained that a safety audit studies traffic flow in the town to see if “any small improvements could be made,” such as with signage or lane striping. This does not include infrastructure changes in the configuration of roads or the addition of traffic lights.

While these may sound like minor changes, Wise pointed out that “sometimes a five-percent solution is better than what you have now.” Also, he said, such small improvements fall under the budgetary category of “maintenance practices.” This is beneficial because the process for potential approval for these changes is less complex than is required by VTrans for infrastructure additions.

“Moving traffic quickly through town has not proven to be beneficial to the economic health of downtown areas,” Wise said. “Congestion is what you want to see. Slower vehicles are more inclined to stop at local businesses.”

The planner explained that in the 1950s, the standard practice was to make major infrastructure changes (such as widening roads) to make traffic move through downtown areas more efficiently. What resulted, however, was that roads through towns “became speedways,” posing more dangers and having a devastating economic effect on local business.

Wise cited Woodstock as an example of beneficial traffic congestion. “Woodstock has very intense traffic congestion, twice the volume you see in Wells River,” he said, “and the customer traffic in town businesses is very high.”

Tyler said that she “hasn’t heard anything negative” from people regarding Wal-Mart. She feels that people are adopting a “wait and see” attitude about it.

“Merchants in town feel that they have products and services to offer that won’t be in competition with Wal-Mart,” she said.

Steve Ross of Ross Business Center is one such merchant. “I know I’m going to be in competition with Wal-Mart on some items,” he said, but he feels that his business offers a level of personal service that will keep his customers coming back.

Ross is expanding the copy center at the store, moving it into the space previously occupied by the framing shop. He is acquiring a new color copier. “We do a lot now with people emailing things to be copied,” he said.

The Center also provides maintenance service for copiers, faxes and cash registers.

“Nobody really knows here what a Wal-Mart Supercenter will really do to this area. It will change the way things are done. But,” based on his research, “every region where a Wal-Mart has come in has been effected differently.”

“In my little business here, I think you’ll see a downswing immediately [after Wal-Mart opens] but some people will go back to the little businesses.”

“Am I worried? I think it will increase the volume of traffic, which could be good,” Ross said. “The concern is that it will kill the small towns. I think that’s what people are really worried about.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: Next week, the Journal Opinion will explore the process involved in getting approval and state funding for infrastructure traffic changes from VTrans.
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