<< Back 8/28/02 Groups to discuss traffic design SMN Two local Jackson County grassroots organization are spearheading an effort to create a “human-friendly” traffic design for the county. The Tuckasegee Community Alliance and the Jackson County Sustainable Business Community are co-sponsoring, “Planning for a Livable Traffic Design in Jackson County,” Sept. 3 at 7 p.m. in room 203 of the Jackson County Justice and Administration Building on Grindstaff Road. One of the recurring themes from the 2000 series of “Smart Growth” community meetings held throughout Jackson County was the preservation of a rural and natural setting and clean environment. Central to this vision, according to TCA and JCSBC, will be the designing of communities with the person — not the automobile — in mind, creating communities that are walkable and livable. Speakers for the program will include Reuben Moore of the Sylva office of the N.C. Department of Transportation, Brownie Newman, executive director of the WNC Alliance, and Andrew Powell, Waynesville town planner. Moore will discuss traffic safety and congestion issues on N.C. 107, including the advantages of a four-lane median divided road over a five-lane with a center turn lane. Traffic on N.C. 107 is expected to reach 30,000 vehicles a day in the near future. Studies done by DOT in Wilmington from 1997 to 2000 found the total accident rate of a four-lane divided road was two to six times less than a five-lane with a center turn lane. Newman and Powell will discuss how urban and rural communities have worked with the DOT to create community friendly roads in Asheville and Waynesville. Newman will discuss how plans for a massive eight-lane I-26 connector through Asheville spurred the creation of a Community Coordinating Committee to work with DOT in the planning and design of the project. Powell and the town of Waynesville are studying options for creating a people-friendly corridor along busy Russ Avenue (U.S. 276) that would be enjoyable for pedestrians, bicycles and autos. Traffic on the roard averages 32,000 vehicles a day. Waynesville has held various community design workshops to explore how Russ Avenue can enhance the natural beauty of the mountain community and still be a viable corridor for commerce and growth. Some of those meetings were held as part of the town’s creation of a long-range land-use plan. The public is encouraged to attend. For more information contact WNC Alliance at 828.258.8737 or 828.524.3899.