Last Updated on June 20, 2016 8:13 pm
*To WataugaOnline.com from Jamille Robbins, Public Involvement Group Leader, NCDOT*
The state transportation department encourages the public to participate in an upcoming public meeting where they can provide feedback on potential regional and local transportation projects. The feedback will help the department determine which local projects will be included in the next version of the State Transportation Improvement Program – the 10-year plan that identifies funding for projects and schedules them for construction.
The meeting will be informal and take place from 5 – 7 p.m., Tuesday, June 21 at the NCDOT Division 11 Office, 801 Statesville Road in North Wilkesboro. DOT division staff will be available to discuss projects and answer questions. We encourage citizens to stop by to learn more about potential transportation projects and provide feedback on how they should be prioritized. If you cannot attend the meeting, you can also provide comments online through an interactive survey. We will be accepting comments until July 22. All comments will be considered in the development of the final project rankings.
Data and local input are used to determine which local projects receive funding in the 10-year plan based on a funding formula championed by Governor Pat McCrory to reduce congestion, increase safety and promote economic growth. The new the funding formula became law in 2013 and was used for the first time to develop the 2016-2025 STIP, which resulted in 300 more projects being funded, supporting 126,000 more jobs than under the old funding formula. Citizens can learn more about the funding formula and how to submit comments at www.ncdot.gov/sti.
Jamille Robbins
Public Involvement Group Leader, NCDOT
