MDOT and Progress

[TigerJack]

Doggone Hawk can't believe u haven't had more reaction
Wayne Brown in my opinion has done a pretty good job, during
a time when Mdot got crunched by the legislature, i am one of the
few who like cutting down the trees, because i think it makes for
safer travel, but i am interested in what u had to say,
Cat must have got Tully's tongue

[Tully Mars]

More later, kinda busy right now.

[TigerJack]

Take your time Tully, we are interested in your opinion

[TigerJack]

Ole Tiger done made somebody else mad,
I understand where u coming from, if i had a business
down there I would want to know what was going on.
I am glad we agree on the trees, I remember the Ryals tragedy
only been to Donanelles once, the steak was good, but it was very busy
that night

[jmb]

busy restaurant=good food, good service

[Tully Mars]

Nothing like a little pressure to give pause to a quick reply.

I will simply go through this and relay first the facts as I understand them and then insert my own opinion into the situation:

I am not exactly sure when Hattiesburg annexed the 49 corridor between 98 and Southgate road. I do know that the earliest annexations took place around 1886 or 1987. If I am not mistaken, the city annexed that corridor along the same time that it attempted to annex the Rawls Springs community. At any rate, the annexation of the 49 corridor occurred before any real growth was taking place along 98 W. It seems to me that at the time, the projects were that the path of growth for Hattiesburg would be along 49 S. With the annexation of the corridor, the City would control all of the infrastructure necessary to provide services to the 'projected growth area'. As that growth occurred, it would be a very simple matter to annex the growth because #1, the city could prove that it had the ability to provide the needed services, and #2 that the new developments were in the natural growth path.

Now, on to MDOT...The primary function of MDOT is to develop a transportation network that allows traffic to flow as freely as possible. This is nearly a single-minded goal of not only MDOT but for DOT's throughout the country. The end result of that function is that traffic signals or 4-way stops are rarely placed along a major route...not necessarily because it would impede progress in terms of commercial or residential growth. It is tough to make a purchasing decision at 65 MPH. Believe me, businesses located on those routes want traffic slowed or stopped (even momentarily) so they can eye-ball the businesses along the route. MDOT is reluctant to install signals along major routes because it is a direct contradiction to the primary function as I stated above. Another consequence of this goal or function is that many once vibrant small towns in Mississippi are now practically ghost towns because, in an effort to improve traffic flow, the towns were by-passed.

MDOT's Vision 21 plan calls for Highway 49 from Gulfport to Jackson to be 'improved' to interstate standards. Another term for this is limited access. On average, that means that you would have interchanges generally no less than 2 miles apart. The Vision 21 plan also states that bringing 49 to interstate standards would require 'special funding'. It is my opinion that the simple economics of the proposal would significantly decrease the odds of it ever happening. But, let's just say for arguements sake that the funding is there and the plan will move forward. Now, what is the logic behind such a plan?

Going back to our stated purpose of MDOT, obviously the transition to Interstate standards would allow traffic to flow better on 49. There is also a public safety issue as there is a high number of wrecks and fatalities on that particular stretch of the highway (from 98W to Southgate Road).

We all know that a goal of the state (whether it is a stated goal or not) is to provide a mechanism to move goods (bananas, among other things) from the Port of Gulfport to the interior of the state and the U.S. If you remember, the state began the process of securing the north-south rail corridor that runs from Gulfport through Hattiesburg. The plan was to upgrade the line to allow for high-speed rail and to allow for double-stacking of cargo containers on flat-bed rail cars. Again, an effort to speed the flow of goods from the port north.

As I understand the plans, the main focus of the 49 upgrade is the area between 98 and Southgate road. I honestly am not sure how that will benefit the transportation of goods from the port when there is another 60 miles or so south to Gulfport that will not be improved.

Hawk, you are certainly more in the know about the banana connection than I am and I hesitate to speculate too much on where the ties are with the state although I can draw some pretty clear assumptions. I am still working on the 'silent' information that you requested Hawk and I hope to get back to you on it this week.

As far as the development of the corridor is concerned there is certainly a significant opportunity there considering that Hattiesburg really only has two other growth path options. The first - 49 N is not very plausable unless a great deal of infill development were to occur. The second, 49 S is much more feasible from a development and economic standpoint. It would certainly benefit both the city and county to begin making plans to encourage development along 49 S (actually, it should have been done years ago).

Hawk, I honestly don't have the answer to all of your questions. In fact, your questions raise more questions for me. Like you, I am continuing to look into things without being overly conspicuous so please bear with me.

The bottom line for me is that balanced and managed growth is the most desireable alternative for Hattiesburg, and the entire Pine Belt for that matter. However, that balanced and managed growth will not happen without some significant planning and intervention on the part of the city and county.

Alright, I think that this is the longest post I have ever done on this site and I am tired of typing (I get paid big bucks to think this hard:-D ). Let me look into things a bit and think on this some more and we will keep this thread alive for a while.

[Tully Mars]

Thanks Hawk, I am into bartering also. I would be more than happy to accept payment in beer and Ribeye Sandwiches.

I have read my own post about three times since I wrote it and see stuff that I should have put in it. This is an interesting situation that bears close scrutiny.

[bartspoon]

The land on 49 south is mostly tatam land and it was in probate court for many many years..about 20 or so years. After the family stopped squabling over it and all was settled it immediatly started to be developed. With no green areas i might add. One tatum said they would lose too much money with green areas.. I could not argue with that, seeing as how in need of money the tatums are.

I always liked the fact that is was not developed because you could leave bustling hattiesburg and be in the country in a few minutes. My fear is it will go the way of north hattiesburg. blight for the sake of the mighty dollar. and i gaurentee when its all over it will not be more safe. what makes 49 an unsafe highway is not the trees its the roads that come in to it.. never seen a streatch of road the length as from the coast to the capital with so many roads coming into it. that is were the most of the accidents occur. One thing is sure MDOT will not do the the thing that is best for us. And it should not be in there hands it should be in our hands. It use to be no matter how you came our went from hattiesburg it was pretty. coming from the north you use to not get into that terrible blight that most large cities have..you just came down that little hill and under the interstate and there was town. and from the south you didnt feel like you were in a city until you passed the beverly drive-in and then it was a nice shady drive to town. now we are getting like the coast and jackson.. way before you get to town you have to go through the miles of uncontrolled short sighted development that poses dangerous traffic conditions. But thats progress i guess . i just always hoped progress in hattiesburg would be different. Boy, im a dreamer arent I.

[jmack]

Damn, Tully. I thought I was reading 'War & Peace' there for a minute.