Smart Roads Alliance


The Jackson County Smart Roads Alliance was formed in 2002 in response to a proposal by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) to build a new $132 million* highway through the middle of our most precious and beautiful rural county. Our goal since 2002 has been to work together as a community and create smart solutions to our traffic and transportation issues. (* $132 million construction cost source: NCDOT 2008)

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North Carolina Department of Transportation


NCDOT is planning to build the $132 million Southern Loop Bypass (NC 107 Connector) from US 23-74 in Balsam to NC 107 between Sylva and Cullowhee - NCDOT project STIP R-4745 is funded and construction will begin in 2016 unless the public demands other solutions.

The Resolutions

The Resolutions, unanimously signed in 2003 by the representative leaders from all four of Jackson County's incorporated towns (Sylva, Dillsboro, Webster, Forest Hills) requested that NCDOT "remove the Southern Loop Bypass from its long-range plan" and instead develop strategies for "improving existing roads as alternatives to the Bypass". A copy of the resolution and a petitions with thousands of Jackson County citizen's signatures were turned in to NCDOT at their annual State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) meetings to stop this proposed new highway. Despite public opposition, NCDOT is moving forward with this massive new highway project.

Other important articles with background information:
2009 - Smart Roads Alliance Position: Jackson County Comprehensive Transportation Plan
2008 - Construction on 23-74/107 connector could begin in 2015
2008 - Smart Roads Files Compaint Over Southern Loop
2008 - Smart Roads Event Discusses Alternatives to Southern Loop
2007 - Leaders, citizens demand input as road plan progresses
2007 - Southern Loop Opposition Mounts
2007 - Burrell, Setzer Plug Plan for Southern Loop (ignoring public outcry and towns' wishes)
2007 - Southern Loop On Priority List, Transportation Advisory Committee Disagrees
2007 - STIP Includes Funding For Portion of Southern Loop
2003 - "Who will decide the future growth of Jackson County?"
2003 - Sylva, Dillsboro Join Official Opposition to Southern Loop (The Resolutions)
2002 - Smart Roads Alliance Formed
2001 - NCDOT Division 14 Engineer Ron Watson updates EDC on 'southern loop' status
2001 - Southern Loop Feasibility Study Approved


The original proposed new highway project would have cost over $230* million to construct ($26 million per mile) and continued to US 23-441 through Webster. The Jackson County Smart Roads Alliance was instrumental in getting the Webster portion of the bypass removed from the R-4745 plan. (* NCDOT 2001 estimate)

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Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Residents hear about alternatives for Southern Loop

Residents hear about alternatives for Southern Loop
Smoky Mountain News
January 16, 2007
By Jennifer Garlesky • Staff Writer

Tom Dowell searches a large topographic map of Jackson County for his
home located along Airy Lane. He is one of the many residents whose
homes may be in jeopardy if the North Carolina Department of
Transportation gets its way and the Southern Loop is built.

The Southern Loop, a four-lane bypass that would run through Jackson
County from U.S. 441 to U.S. 23-74 near Scotts Creek, will reduce
traffic congestion along N.C. 107 out of Sylva, according to DOT
officials.

"It could be affected," Dowell said about his home of 32 years. He was
one of more than 100 residents who attended a public hearing about the
road on Jan. 10.

"I am opposed because if the problem is the traffic on N.C. 107, I
don't see how this will solve it," Dowell said. "I see no reason why
this will help."

Because of such opposition, DOT has agreed to do a traffic study to
examine alternatives to the Southern Loop. Members of Jackson County's
Smart Roads Alliance, however, want their own study done to make sure
that all alternatives are equitably considered.

An alternate route

"Finding an alternate is the best solution and best defense," Smart
Roads Chairwoman Jeanette Evans said at the Jan. 10 meeting. "It will
help us generate ideas and focus on what we are up against. It's going
to take a community to find a solution to this."

The main focus of the public meeting was to discuss alternatives to the
Southern Loop.

Guest speaker Walter Kulash, a private traffic engineer who has been
working with Smart Roads for four years, presented a potential
alternative to the Southern Loop at the meeting.

Kulash says that instead of building a multi-lane freeway like the
proposed Southern Loop, an alternative would be to build several
smaller roads. He says that new roads and upgrades to existing roads
like North River Road and King Creek Road will create a network that
will be able to handle regional traffic better.

Implementing a plan like this, however, is "much more trickier to plan
and in many ways more demanding," said Kulash.

One part of Kulash's presentation included a breakdown of the time it
takes to get to different places along N.C. 107.

"Every trip is hostage to this highway," he said.

Kulash said with the alternate solution in place you can get to places
without starting at the primary highway.

Also at the meeting was Joel Setzer, N.C. Department of Transportation
Region 14 division engineer. Setzer was invited by the Smart Roads
group but was asked not to speak or answer questions at the meeting.

Seltzer, in an interview from his office, said that both parties —
Smart Roads and DOT — agree more capacity is needed.

"This transportation problem is a real problem, and a do-nothing
approach is something that is detrimental," Setzer said.

A network of roads

By implementing a network of streets, community members will be able to
walk to stores and access the downtown district by foot or bike.
Imagine being able to walk to the Movie Gallery located along N.C. 107
by foot or bicycle instead of having to drive in the car.

Additionally, having numerous smaller streets will provide easier
access for visitors and local drivers. When one looks at the proposed
route of the Southern Loop on a map, Kulash says that it mainly
benefits those entering the town from outside the area who want to
access Western Carolina University or the retail stores.

"It's good for the extra access, but how about those local folks," he
said.

Kulash's presentation contained some information that Setzer said
features similar concepts that the DOT is considering. Setzer
references one of the connecting roads that Kulash showed during the
presentation as a "feature that DOT is looking to explore in the bypass
project."

The connecting roadway that Setzer is referencing would connect U.S.
23-74 to old N.C. 107. According to Setzer "that connection is
something that DOT is trying to do."

"I don't know if DOT is far off from what the Smart Roads is asking to
be done," he said in reference to Kulash's alternative road proposal.

Under the network option, visitors and local drivers will be able to
travel throughout the community without always using N.C. 107.

Both alternatives — the Southern Loop and a network of roads — will end
up decreasing driving time, said Kulash. According to Kulash's
predictions, a driver spends about 17 minutes commuting along N.C. 107
right now, however, the travel time can be reduced to nine minutes if
the Southern Loop is built. It will also be reduced to nine minutes if
the roads are upgraded and the speed limits are increased to 45 mph, he
said.

Another benefit of the network of roads is that it will cut down on the
number of local trips.

According to Kulash, the DOT estimates that the number of cars using
N.C. 107 will reach 56,000 per day in 2025; however, this number will
be reduced if the network of roads is implemented.

By 2025 the traffic count on N.C. 107 will reduce to 25,000 vehicles if
new smaller roads are built, which is the same number expected if the
Southern Loop is built.

Kulash's alternatives are not something that DOT is going to brush
aside.

"We do plan to hopefully talk with Kulash on Thursday to compare
notes," Setzer said. "We plan to look at some of his concepts and look
at what could be added as an alternative to this project."

The Smart Roads meeting also brought out several Jackson County public
officials. Some officials present at the meeting included Sylva
Aldermen Maurice Moody, Ray Lewis and Sarah Graham, Sylva Town Manager
Jay Denton, and Jackson County Commissioners Tom Massie and Mark Jones.

2 comments:

  1. Greetings! Very interesting, if not unexpected, turn of events. More at: http://gulahiyi.blogspot.com/2008/01/screwed-over-by-smart-roads.html

    ReplyDelete
  2. NC 107 and the Southern Loop should be addressed independent of each other.

    It is amazing what we have already accomplished since Smart Roads formed in 2002. It's not exclusive and anyone can be a part of it. New ideas and new people keep showing up every week. Anyone who cares about our community and wants to have a say in transportation issues should try to show up to the organizational meetings and take a part in creating solutions. We're working independently from DOT so anything is possible. All ideas are worth looking at and taking all factors into consideration. Last thing I want to do is tell someone else their ideas aren't worth looking at. Nobody is happy with growth and development at the rate you suggest in your post. So, what are we going to do about it?

    DOT claims the purpose of the Southern Loop is to alleviate traffic congestion on busy NC 107.

    Addressing how to improve NC 107 and connect existing interior roads already surrounding NC 107 would be a big help for our immediate needs. As for long term needs, that's why we're all here. You love this county, and so do I. What your writings illustrate is the division within our own community over something DOT wants, not you or I. We should be working together. We can discuss our plans to get DOT to heed the will of all of the people.

    Together we all have power. Divided we all lose. Let's not divide ourselves. It's early in the game.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for taking time to share your comments. We welcome any suggestions or ideas you may have.

"We are for the preservation of our communities.
We are not against growth and development,
nor a reasonable expansion of existing roads.
"

- Lydia Aydlett, Smart Roads Alliance

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful,
committed citizens can change the world.
Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."


- Margaret Mead