Public workshop on transportation set for April 1
By Steve Herring
Published in News on March 16, 2009 1:46 PM
The public will have an opportunity Wednesday evening, April 1, to voice comments and concerns about existing and future public transportation services in the county.
The workshop, to be held 4 to 7 p.m. in the large meeting room on the second floor of the Goldsboro City Hall Annex, is part of a state study examining GATEWAY's performance and organization.
It will be the first of two public meetings during the study.
The study is expected to take five to six months to complete.
People may stop by the three-hour session at anytime.
There will be interactive booths with both English- and Spanish-speaking staff to listen to comments.
A brief presentation detailing the project will be held every half-hour starting at 4 p.m.
The Goldsboro-Wayne Transportation Authority operates the GATEWAY public transit services in the county offering urban fixed-route bus services within the city limits and rural on-demand van services within the county.
The state is footing the bulk of the $142,000 study cost. GATEWAY's portion is $15,000 and includes $8,700 for the rural side of the bus system and $6,300 for the urban portion.
Normally, the two are separate.
However, GATEWAY operates both rural and urban routes.
A kickoff session for the study was held last month when local and state officials as well as representatives of Martin Alexiou Bryson, the consulting company conducting the study, met at City Hall to lay the foundation for the study.
A steering committee comprised of representatives of local agencies was formed at the meeting.
During that meeting organizers said it was important to involve the people who use the system, since they are the ones affected by any changes.
Along with the meetings, a survey is being prepared for the people who use the system.
Any person requiring special assistance, such as sign language services or mobility assistance, or more information about the study , workshop, or GATEWAY should contact Greg Saur at 919-289-0328 or send e-mail to transit@mabtrans.com.