Environmental assessment marks beginning of Hwy. 107 master plan

Environmental assessment marks beginning of Hwy. 107 master plan
By Jennifer Garlesky • Staff Writer
Smoky Mountain News
April 30, 2008

The N.C. Department of Transportation last week unveiled the process it
will use in developing a plan to relieve traffic congestion on N.C.
107.

DOT told Jackson County's Transportation Task Force on April 23 that an
environmental assessment of the roadway will help it determine if
alternatives—like a two-lane connector road — will relieve congestion.

"It's an evaluation of how the road project should be designed," said
Ko & Associates engineer Mark Reep. "The assessment will specifically
look at one centralized area, in this case it's N.C. 107."

DOT hired the Raleigh-based consulting firm to develop a master design
plan for N.C. 107. Included in that assessment is a determination of
the impact a two-lane road may have upon the environment. Roads in
Jackson are currently under review by DOT in the county's Comprehensive
Transportation Plan. DOT is gathering information about specific areas
in the county expected to grow in population and employment.

Information from both studies will help DOT develop a countywide
roadway plan, which will include suggestions such as building more
sidewalks or bike lanes to relieve congestion.

The process

The environmental assessment is the first phase of the planning
process, Reep explained. Officials will examine N.C. 107 traffic
capacity and who uses the road to develop a planning boundary.

Officials have a list of items they must identify and address while
conducting the assessment: purpose and need, establishing an agreement
on alternatives, coming up with the preferred alternative that will
have the least impact to the environment, mitigation for environmental
issues, and final design.

Since the study area is set, officials will develop a list of
alternatives to relieve congestion. Each alternative will be examined
to determine what type of impact it will have upon the environment,
Reep explained.

If officials are unaware of the impact an option may have upon the
environment, then an assessment will be conducted to get more details,
he said. If part of the proposal does adversely affect the environment,
officials must determine what mitigation will be needed.

All information from the study will be presented to the Federal Highway
Administration. Reep says during the assessment process the FHA will
listen to public opinion. Community workshops will be held throughout
the assessment process. Members of the Southwestern Commissions
Transportation Advisory Committee, a group of local officials from
Western North Carolina, will be involved.

Timeline

The assessment for N.C. 107 just started taking shape three weeks ago,
Reep said. Currently workers are looking at what features — like a bike
lane or sidewalks — can be added to N.C. 107. The study will also
identify narrow roadways and sharp curves. Reep says his firm will
gather information until February 2009. Officials will start
identifying alternatives in December 2009 and plan to have a final
recommendation in 2012. A design plan will be selected in 2013 and DOT
plans to start acquiring right-of-way in 2014.