Overview of January 10th Public Information Meeting

> Dear Smart Roads Supporter:
>
> Thank you for coming to our Jan. 10 presentation on "Alternatives to
> the Southern Loop" at the Jackson County Justice Center. We estimate
> 200 people attended.
>
> We are at the beginning of a struggle that will determine whether many
> of us keep our homes, businesses, land, and rural landscape. This is
> really about the future of Jackson County, and involves all who live
> here.
>
> Our goals are achievable: to hold DOT accountable to its mission for
> community involvement (including the rejuvenation of the Jackson Co.
> Transportation Task Force) throughout its decision making process; to
> keep the public informed; and to demand DOT consider and implement
> viable alternatives to the southern loop.
>
> Walter Kulash, an independent traffic engineer, proposed one viable
> alternative on Jan. 10: by upgrading existing two-lane roadways we can
> create a "network" of roads that can alleviate local traffic on 107
> and possibly connect WCU's campus to US 23/74 without using a
> multi-lane freeway. Furthermore, Avram Friedman and Odell Thompson
> showed that public transportation can also play an important role in
> reducing traffic on 107 and meeting the future transportation needs of
> the WCU campus.
>
> We invoked the N.C. Public Records Act in Nov., 2007 to obtain all
> documents (since 2003) from District 14 DOT pertaining to the southern
> loop. We have reviewed this documentation and conclude that DOT
> followed its own agenda in placing the southern loop on a regional
> "priority" list of transportation projects. There was no public
> "process." This will be challenged.
>
> We have recently learned that DOT has authorized a $200,000
> Environmental Impact Study for eight miles of the southern loop,
> presumably the "funded" segment from US 23/74 to NC Hwy. 107. The
> beginning of this study is a flashing red light for us:
>
> $160,000 is from federal transportation funds. It is an important step
> in advancing this project. It is crucial that we make our opposition
> loud and clear to our elected representatives at the local, state, and
> federal levels NOW.
>
> In our next communication we will list the names of key officials who
> need to be contacted. Please consider writing or calling them. It is
> also important that your neighbors understand how far along this
> project has been advanced without input from the public. The southern
> loop can be stopped, but not by a small group. Our success depends on
> broad-based and clear opposition, starting with you.
>
> Thank you for being part of our great success on Jan. 10.