A study into the impacts of a proposed casino on traffic in the Virginia city of Danville has been initiated, aiming to help city leaders plan possible transportation projects in the area that will be hosting the gambling venue, local news outlets report.
The study is being carried out by Charlottesville-based traffic engineering services firm EPR, PC. It was launched in mid-June and is expected to be completed by the end of the year at a cost of $27,500.
News about the traffic impact study emerge just as casino powerhouse Caesars Entertainment Inc. celebrated the launch of its “Caesars For Danville” referendum campaign as part of its efforts see the successful passage of a casino referendum set to be held in Danville on November 3.
The Traffic Impact Study
The purpose of the traffic impact study is to assess the changes in traffic flows that could happen as a result from the construction of a casino resort at the site of the former Dan River Mills industrial complex in Schoolfield.
The Danville City Council unanimously picked earlier this year Caesars as the preferred developer of the city’s proposed casino. The Virginia Lottery Board pre-certified the operator’s casino resort plan in July and city leaders passed a resolution earlier this month, asking a Circuit Court to allow a referendum to be held in November on whether the gambling venue should be built.
A Danville Circuit Court judge last week signed a writ of special election order, authorizing the November 3 ballot and leaving the fate of the proposed casino in the hands of Danville’s citizens.
The traffic impact study is expected to help city leaders plan for possible transportation projects if and once the casino is built. Danville city engineer Brian Dunevant explained that the assessment should assist them with “planning for future transportation investment needs and improvements around and near the site.”
EPR will use projected casino visit figures in order to determine what, if any, changes should be implemented to the surrounding roads.
Caesars For Danville
As mentioned above, Caesars launched Wednesday its Caesars For Danville referendum campaign and announced the committee co-chairs and members that will be working to inform the community about the Las Vegas gaming and hospitality powerhouse’s casino plan ahead of the November 3 vote.
The committee’s co-chairs include Virginia Delegate Danny Marshall, Danville Mayor Alonzo Jones, Dr. Tiffany Franks of Averett University, and Tammy Wright-Warren, a minority investor in the casino project.
Commenting on the launch of the Caesars For Danville campaign, Tony Rodio, strategic adviser leading the company’s referendum efforts, said that they look forward to partnering with Danville on Caesars Virginia.
Mr. Rodio went on to say that it is humbling to receive “endorsement from such respected members of the community” and thanked the committee’s co-chairs for “their work to make Caesars Virginia in Danville a reality come November.”
Caesars plans to invest $400 million into building its proposed hotel and casino resort in Danville. Caesars Virginia will feature a hotel with at least 300 rooms, full-service spa, pool experiences, a casino with slot machines, table games, and a sportsbook, a 2,500-seat live entertainment theater, 35,000 square feet of meeting and convention space, and multiple bars and restaurants.
Caesars said that it plans to break ground on the resort in late 2021 or early 2022 and to launch it in 2023.
Source: Traffic study looking at impact of casino in Schoolfield
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