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.