To the Editor:
In response to Gary Koester’s letter, as well as to the recent mailer from the organized opposition to the Edgewood Road Improvement Project, I wanted to set the record straight.
Koester and the others who oppose the project make a false claim that I stated in 2019 that we did not need a connection of Edgewood to Coshocton Avenue.
Then, as a councilman, I performed a research study asking the question, “What is the fastest way to get from the South end to the East end retail area and vice versa?”
Time travels by four different routes were statistically examined between the origin and destination.
The findings yielded no significant differences between the Mount Vernon Avenue/Edgewood route and the South Main/Gay/Coshocton Avenue Route, but both of these routes were faster than using East High Street and Upper Gilchrist Road as cut-through routes.
Nowhere in the study did I ever report we did not need to connect Edgewood to Coshocton Avenue — not once. As proof, I have had the study uploaded to our website.
Besides putting words in my mouth, opponents to Edgewood Road improvements have gone on record in open meetings complaining about the increased traffic on Coshocton Avenue.
Furthermore, they suggested the City of Mount Vernon build more roads before additional growth arrives. Finishing Edgewood apparently does not apply to their agenda, even though it would be the most practical and economical.
Another way the opposition instills fear and anger is in their advertisements of the false claim the City wishes to make Edgewood a “Truck Route.”
They have even told people that is what is going to happen on East High Street. This is false, but the opposition continues to produce blatant misleading and false information. Additionally, they say we are going to take people’s homes — this is false.
In my opinion, this opposition will say or do anything to stop the Edgewood Road Improvement Project, including putting words in my mouth, scaring homeowners, and falsely advertising “truck routes” through their neighborhood, all the while accusing me and the City of lies and deceit.
If this energy were channeled to productive, collaborative, and creative solutions, we would be well into design – in other words – the actual plan.
To discuss this, my phone number is 740-393-9517. Project information is on our website. Vote YES on the Edgewood Road Improvement Project and let’s finish a local infrastructure project that was supposed to be finished when Harry Truman was president.
Matt Starr
Mayor of Mount Vernon