Goldsboro finishes up citizen survey on transportation
By Matt Caulder
Published in News on June 25, 2014 1:46 PM
Traffic delays.
That's the top concern by far as the Goldsboro Metropolitan Planning Organization continues to ask Goldsboro residents what they think the top transportation issues are in their community.
Tuesday's session, held in the large conference room of the City Hall annex, was the last for participants to fill out surveys outlining their concerns as the MPO prepares to create its next transportation plan.
"Congestion is a big one, Wayne Memorial, Spence, Ash and Royall," said Jennifer Collins, Goldsboro senior planner.
Ms. Collins serves as a city representative to the MPO, adding that the community's concerns included more than just street traffic, and that the transportation plan will address a variety of issues.
"People are seeing the importance of the pedestrian," she said. "This is transportation in all of its modes for the Goldsboro community."
The MPO has collected about 300 survey responses as part of its effort to get public input in preparation for developing the new plan, which must be periodically updated to meet federal requirements.
"We just wanted to open it up to the public and get their opinions," said Garold Smith, who works with United Research Services, the company assisting the city with the update.
At the meeting, participants were asked to rate their priorities for transportation improvements.
Pedestrian, bicycle and rail transportation topped the lists.
Dave Galloway, an avid cyclist who works at Bicycle World on Ash Street, was one of those who mentioned improving transportation options for those who choose to travel the city by bicycle.
Galloway was in a bad cycling accident a few years ago. That's the reason he wants to see safer ways for vehicles and bicycles to share the road, he said.
The survey also asked residents to indicate how they wanted to pay for the improvements.
The majority of opinions fell into a self-created category -- a public-private partnership.
"I was in favor of bonds, but I think I'm gonna go with the public-private partnership," Galloway said. "The money has to come from somewhere."
Also cited were transportation bonds and impact fees.
Many participants were also in favor of finding a way to use existing funding sources to fund future transportation improvements.