Comments on the community survey

On behalf of Smart Roads we wish to make the following observations re:
the current course of the task force. We assume the recent
transportation survey has been developed by NCDOT and the RPO, and
there exists a genuine interest in reaching the public for "input."
 
We find the deadline [March 31, 2008] for completed surveys to be
somewhat arbitrary. Smart Roads
is planning a transportation "display" at the Public Library in April;
we are also planning to table at the "Greening of the Mountains"
Festival in Sylva [in April], an event that draws thousands of people.
Thus we feel the survey could reach significantly more people if the
deadline were extended until April 31, 2008. Perhaps this could be
discussed and voted on via emails among task force members.
 
A more pressing problem exists: the task force [and the community
survey] are proceeding as if there is no controversy over the southern
loop. Is the task force going to proceed until June[?], 2009 with a
comprehensive transportation plan that totally ignores the "elephant in
the room?"
 
We have been told by DOT officials for the past year there is clear
public support for the southern loop; this was later "qualified" by DOT
as "indirect public support." However no official DOT documentation
supports this.
 
The survey should at least make some attempt to determine
public support or non-support for constructing a "multi-lane freeway."
This could be done in the spirit of a somewhat feckless and general
survey question, something comparable to question # 10-e.g. such as:
"Are there any specific transportation issues that you are particularly
concerned with that are NOT addressed by this survey?" Such a question
might actually give the public an opportunity to deal with real issues
[without mentioning the southern loop].
 
The current survey is professional, predictable, and serves the purpose
of confirming we have traffic problems.
 
We feel the addition of such a question is important enough to merit
discussion at the next task force meeting on March 12. If the surveys
have been printed and circulated, then we propose the deadline be
extended until April 31 to allow for a 1/8-1/4 page insert be added for
such a question [in hard copy]. This would be no problem with
electronic surveys. Additional questions should be approved by the task
force.
 
It is time the DOT/RPO proceed in "partnership" with the county task
force. Please don't tell us it is too early in the "process" to address
this issue.
 
Respectfully,
 
Susan Leveille
Roger Turner
Smart Roads Alliance