MPO to meet Thursday
By Steve Herring
Published in News on July 8, 2009 1:43 PM
A follow-up to last month's long-range transportation public workshop will be held Thursday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Gertrude Weil Auditorium at the Wayne County Public Library on East Ash Street.
"It is the follow up that was promised, that we would be back within a month and a half," said consultant Mike Rutkowksi of Kimley-Horn who will conduct the meeting.
The Goldsboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is sponsoring the meeting. Only a handful attended the first session several months ago. About 70 people attended the June workshop.
The format will be different than last month's session that also lasted two hours. A 10-minute introduction will be given at 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Following the presentation, people will be able to visit one or all of five booths each devoted to a particular topic -- highways and collector streets; bicycles and pedestrians; freight and rail; transit; and land use.
"Finally, we will talk about land use and transportation under the same roof," Rutkowksi said.
The MPO and land use have been controversial issues in the county over the past several months.
Rutkowksi noted that at the June workshop some people were interested in project financing, while other were more interested in U.S. 117.
Tomorrow's format, he said, would be "more respectful of people's time." Rather than having to stay for the entire two hours, people may listen to the introduction then have their questions answered at any or all of the booths.
During his presentation last month Rutkowksi told audience members their time would not be wasted and that the information and concerns would be compiled and brought back to another meeting.