Vanterpool voices disapproval for new RT double-lane traffic system
Fourth District Representative Mark Vanterpool said he does not support the double-lane traffic system that currently exists in Road Town, particularly in the absence of traffic lights.
Road Town makes up part of his overall constituency.
“I’m still not in favour of two lanes in the city unless you can put street lights where people can cross over [the road] comfortably where the traffic stops to allow crossing,” Vanterpool said in the House of Assembly recently.
The government implemented the new traffic turnaround system last year to help ease congestion with the traffic flow in Road Town. The new plan included converting previously single-lane roads into double-lane roads on DeCastro Street and along Waterfront Drive.
But Vanterpool, who expressed that he had been approached with the same proposal while he was in government, said he did not mind when changes occurred but argued that these changes ought to satisfy the needs of the public.
“Road Town is no longer a pedestrian-friendly town,” the former Transportation & Works Minister said.
Dangerous double-lane
He said there remains a danger when two vehicles are made to travel from the same direction; explaining that persons trying to cross would not be able to see the vehicles travelling in the outer lane.
Vanterpool acknowledged that there are two-lane roadways in US cities such as New York and Atlanta but said these work because of traffic lights.
“That’s how a double-lane in a city works. It can’t work without that,” the legislator said. “We will get some accidents and some people will get knocked over, especially the elderly people who can’t move as fast and who are not so quick to determine whether they should go across now or not.”
Pedestrians now fear Main Street
The Fourth District Representative further said he does not like what has been made of Main Street in terms of the flow of traffic.
He said pedestrians find it considerably difficult to cross because motorists usually travel at full speed along that winding thoroughfare.
“I had to beg for some speed bumps on it. But it’s still the wrong way. We were trying to turn Main Street into more of a pedestrian street than the traffic street it has now become,” Vanterpool stated.
“When you’re in the city people should be able to walk and cross and go to businesses as they wish comfortably – and not only people – you have to remember the senior citizens of the country who traverse through the town on foot, or maybe holding a stick or maybe in a wheelchair,” he added.
Consultation with Kye Rymer
According to Vanterpool, the incumbent Transportation & Works Minister, Kye Rymer had consulted him before the traffic turnaround in Road Town. Vanterpool said he told Rymer he was not opposed to trying something different but advised Rymer at the time to reverse the changes if they did not work.
The Fourth District Representative told the House of Assembly persons could no longer walk along Main Street because of fear. “That’s not what a city is supposed to be,” he said.
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No matter what road system exists lawless drivers and pedestrians will always create problems. More traffic cops are needed.
working fine to me.. but they will find a way to line their pockets with some new scam
Must be affecting his businesses. Hard to get to Pussers or it’s helping his competitors. Anyway it’s certainly not about safety. There is always a hidden agenda with these guys.
Nothing has changed, traffic still remains the same as before and now even more congested around certain seasonal times, as a matter of fact it is just even more F–d up in my opinion. And when the powers that be realizes it, then maybe, just maybe they would not be so ignorant with the bull s**t plan that they created and just reverse the whole charade and put their pride away.
I don’t what you are talking about. Maybe you are just a grumpy old man. Before the changes traffic is from dolphin roundabout to Sol gas station.
We should pedestrianise Main Street and create a guided tourist route along it from the cruise pier.
Guided tour of ugly storefronts and ugly businesses. Get real.
When school reopens and cruise ships return we will really see what a clusterf**k they have made with traffic. Oh, and add Bobbys offloading taking up one of the busiest lanes in town and you have a nice party!
Add the reopening of the Admin Building and Banco Drive Thru lanes. Total s**t show then.
It is now harder to get from sea cows bay to town during the rush hours
Maybe you just started to drive during the pandemic.
It’s not harder if you use your brains and go over the hill. Barely over 5 mins it takes.
That’s a stupid suggestion. Over the hill cannot handle a constant flow of traffic so while it might work fir some it’s not a solution to the problem.
You obviously dont live on the western side of the island. Every Morning there is a constant flow of traffic going over the hill to beat the traffic along the main road and it works fine ALL the time. The hill is the perfect solution for beating the rush in town especially if you are going to Sea Cows Bay. Town will always be busy because its the town. The hub of the BVI basically. To try and go Sea Cows bay at peak traffic hours in Town makes no sense as there isn’t much you can do to avoid dozens of drivers going to the same spot at the same time other than find an alternate route which is the hill.
While the traffic does seem to be flowing better, I do agree regarding pedestrians crossings having been the “victim” numerous times of outer lane vehicles not even slowing down never mind stopping for pedestrians on crosswalks.
Only thing I hate is that the shortcuts to circumvent traffic to get to Joes Hill are gone.
Too many vehicles are meeting at the round about going in one direction (turning right). I too think that is a mistake.
Before it is pedestrian friendly because the traffic is not moving. LOL.
I can’t believe that is how Mr. Vanterpool’s critical thinking. Close minded, poor problem solving. Poor analysis, Poor explanation. Poor interpretation.. very poor critical thinking.
When was RT ever pedestrian friendly? The sidewalks are too high, often too narrow and in a poor state of repair for anyone who has difficulty walking and virtually impossible for anyone disabled in a wheelchair.
Lol mark just woke up. Operation frog leep in action. Lol.
If you install traffic lights then the traffic will be a nightmare. All you have to do to slow traffic down is install a couple of speed bumps.
That would be infinitely cheaper than installing traffic lights.
Mark vex because he is the only recent Minister of Communication that didn’t even try anything to solve the long known traffic issues. In 2002 VIP/Fraser put the first traffic lights. Fraser later tried and failed to make it better by adding traffic lights at the roundabout in 2007. Kye add the extra lane and change the traffic flow. Mark’s 8 years as Minister was spent focused on the Pier Park because like his slogan during campaign season Chi-Ching! chi-ching! $$$$$.
Best thing that ever happened to the traffic flow in a while, and whilst it is not perfect there noticeable improvements. Cities all over the world add traffic lanes to deal with congratulations, but here it appears that we want to reduce a lane and go backwards. Nonsense!!
Mr. Vanterpool, the ppl of Long Bush has yes to see you in there area.