Smart Roads Meeting (February 8, 2011)

Hello Everyone!

Next Smart Roads meeting, Tuesday, February 8th 6:30 @ City Lights.

Smart Roads gave a presentation to the Planning Board January 11th. We were not successful in convincing them to remove the By-Pass from the County's priority list. However, they did manage to put it at the bottom of their list.

But really, the Planning Board's list is only a recommendation for the Commissioners. The Commissioners are going to create their own priority list. To help the Commissioners prioritize, Smart Roads is attempting to get onto their agenda for their Feb. 21st meeting at 6pm.

I know you all have been real supportive in the past, but this is a new Board and we have to again show them how this community feels about the By-Pass. Again we are asking everybody to show up for the Commissioner Meeting Monday, February 21st at 6pm whether we are on the agenda or not and we'll just have to present our ideas during the public input session that now follows the regularly scheduled meetings.

Here is a link to the Tuckreader article that covered the Planning Board Meeting and their priorities.

http://www.tuckreader.com/planning-board-dot-priorities/

This is a copy of the recommendations we are presenting to the Commissioners.

Smart Roads recommends these projects from the Jackson County Comprehensive Transportation Plan become the top projects for the County.

1. ID No. Jackson 01: NC 107 – Proposed improvements from US 23 to 4-lane divided cross-section south of Lovedale Road .

2. ID No. Jackson 18: US 74 and US 23 Business - Additional ramp to accommodate traffic from US 23 Business desiring to go west on US 74.

Smart Roads recommends expanding the study location for this Western Ramp to include the section of Cope Creek that runs parallel to US 23/74. This will help accommodate west bound traffic from either Cope Creek or US 23. For example, for traffic going west, cars could either take Cope Creek, turn left onto the Cope Creek parallel road and board the western on ramp; or cars traveling on Asheville Hwy could turn right onto the same parallel road and approach the US 23/74 west bound on ramp. There’s an advantage to expanding the study area because NCDOT is reluctant to build a west bound on ramp directly off of US 23. The topography of the area is restrictive. If the study area is expanded a west bound on ramp could become more feasible.

3. ID No, Jackson 03: Us 64 in Cashiers – proposed improvements from NC 107 to SR 117, widening from 2-lanes to 3-lanes with a round-a-bout at the NC 107 intersection.

4. ID No. Jackson 02: Asheville Highway, US 23 Business – Proposed improvements from Hospital Road to NC 107, widening to a 4-lane divided boulevard facility.

5. ID No. Jackson 13: US 441 and NC 116 intersection – Proposed interchange in the area of Cagle Branch Road and Hall Town Road .

Smart Roads also advises that Municipal Drive be added to the CTP. There was a lesson learned when Municipal Drive was closed when they were expanding the Fire Station. Back Street became deficient during peak hours without Municipal Drive which accommodates west bound traffic through Sylva.

Hope to see you all there!

You may RSVP to the meeting: CLICK HERE

Jeannette

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