Walmart traffic light

[DC]

 In Woodsville New Hampshire we are getting a SupeWallmart. Now we can drive 40 miles in all directions without going through one traffic light. They are going to have to put up a traffic light for the Walmart. Everyone keeps saying that if we had zoning we could make Walmart pay for the traffic light. I said that we should get enough tax money for the traffic light because of the high propert taxes they ( and the other businesses that are coming because of Walmart) will be paying. The house prices are also going up. I looked and I found one place that said a traffic light cost $75,000.

I was checking to see what others thought about this.

[Fluff and Stuff]

What is the problem?  The town does not have to build a traffic light.  If the town wants to built a traffic light, as long as it has the money to without increasing taxes, what is wrong with that?  It is my understanding that the town will collect more property, corporate, sales, and income taxes because of the Wal-Mart.  The town government will make lots of money and it will have enough money to pay for the traffic light and lower tax rates.

[Dreepa]

There are no traffic lights in my town and I heard that there would be a huge fight it one ever tries to put on up. 

[Russell Kanning]

They always say that. If there is enough traffic, they will put in a light. I guess if the people fight it hard enough, maybe they can withstand the gov guys.
The lights are really expensive. Maybe Walmart should put it in if they want one.

[Thespis]

Maybe Walmart should put it in if they want one.

This would be my answer. If Wal-Mart feels that their business would be better served with a light, then they should pay for it.

<rant> This reminds me of a somewhat similar situation in the town where my mother lives. A new shopping center was built on a main drag. All the businesses in the shopping center voluntarily pooled money together to buy a traffic light for the street. The town wouldn't let them put it up. About a year later, the town raised said road, and put in a traffic light. Apparently, the town would rather use tax dollars for a light, than allow private businesses to put up their own light, and save the taxpayers some money. So stupid. </rant>

[Lloyd Danforth]

Ya gotta ask yourself, why does a light cost so much to begin with?  Could it be that they are always paid for with taxpayers money?

[Russell Kanning]

I would think so .... they only have one kind of customer.

[DC]

As far as I know Walmart never said they wanted a light. They came in stealthlike. They didn't tell they were coming and rumours were everywhere they were coming in this small New Hampshire town but without the zoning they didn't have to diclose it. When they announced it they said how nice it was to avoid all the hassles they usually had. They probably saved enough not going to court and having the city squeeze money out of them to pay for the light. They could do it as a image booster also.

[Russell Kanning]

People don't understand that usually Walmart has owned the land for years and years before they open one up.

[aries]

I wonder if Woodsville getting a walmart will signifigantly decrease the insane amount of people usually at the one in Littleton. They say it's the busiest in the northeast, because it is used by half of Coos, half of Grafton, and half of Vermont it always seems...

And regarding the stoplight, I don't know exactly where it would be, but could there not be a second turning lane for the Wal-mart traffic? Excepting four-way major intersections or places you can't see around the corners, I can't even think of a situation where a stop light would be necessary.

[DC]

I wonder if Woodsville getting a walmart will signifigantly decrease the insane amount of people usually at the one in Littleton. They say it's the busiest in the northeast, because it is used by half of Coos, half of Grafton, and half of Vermont it always seems...

And regarding the stoplight, I don't know exactly where it would be, but could there not be a second turning lane for the Wal-mart traffic? Excepting four-way major intersections or places you can't see around the corners, I can't even think of a situation where a stop light would be necessary.

I am guessing that it should cut down the Littleton Walmart traffic by at least 20%. It should take the people south of littleton and some around littleton because it it a SuperWalmart. Are you still getting the Lowes. I searched to find out and I just found where people were trying to block it.



It is 10 and 302 meet in the Y and between Chase ln. and 10.  There is a school there too and they will use that as a reason because they said that before Walmart. That would be the elementary school being located at the busiest intersection's fault and not Walmarts.

It's good to see somenon new in the North Country Aries.

[KBCraig]

Gorham is getting a sorta-Super WalMart, too. "Sorta", because they won't have an automotive center or gas, but they will have groceries and general merchandise.

So there's another one for Co?s.

[Fluff and Stuff]

Gorham is getting a sorta-Super WalMart, too. "Sorta", because they won't have an automotive center or gas, but they will have groceries and general merchandise.

So there's another one for Co?s.

I don't know about auto but gas is not needed for it to be a super wallyworld.  My town got a flagship one a few years back and it did not have a gas station.  However, they just added one around Jan 1st.  BTW, Wal-Mart lowered gas prices by about 10 cents a gallon in the area.

[KBCraig]

I don't know about auto but gas is not needed for it to be a super wallyworld.

Around here, probably 75% of the supercenters have gas. I didn't mean to imply that it wasn't the defining point. I think it becomes "Super" when they have full-line groceries. I've ever heard of supercenters that aren't open 24 hours a day, but I've never seen one.

Kevin

[Thespis]

Yeah, I think it just has to have groceries to be considered "Super."

Having it open 24 hours is great as well. When I was in college I'd go to the Super Walmart late at night to avoid the crowds.