Town to mail out surveys

The Town of Sparta is moving forward with a pedestrian plan and is seeking the input of local residents. The planning process is being financed through a matching grant from the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

The town applied for a N.C. Department of Transportation Pedestrian Planning Grant in April 2004 and the $16,000 grant was awarded in October 2004. The town is required to provide a $4,000 local match. As part of the process, surveys will be mailed out Friday to all Town of Sparta water customers seeking input on the town’s sidewalks and other pedestrian information.

“The survey will try to find out what the citizens’ concerns are on existing sidewalks and what areas they would like to see new sidewalks (and walking areas),” said David Baird, transportation planner for High County Council of Governments (Region D). The town contracted with the High Country COG to help facilitate the survey, which may help the town choose direction for future development and be a boon for grant applications. “The planning that is taking place now will help the town when looking for other grants and the funding for the construction of pedestrian facilities,” said Baird.

As an additional benefit, improving pedestrian access may help relieve traffic congestion in Sparta in the future.

Since the survey will include a return envelope, there will be not cost involved in mailing back the answers. It is important to fill out the survey, Baird said. “We need to understand what the citizens’ priorities are for sidewalk improvements,” he noted. “For example, would the citizens of Sparta rather see more new sidewalks or improvements to existing sidewalks? How important are greenway areas and trails? These are some of the questions that we need answered to move forward with planning for the town’s future.”

Surveys will also be available for anyone interested at the Sparta Town Hall, Blue Ridge Business Development Center, Alleghany Chamber of Commerce, Alleghany Public Library, Alleghany Senior Center and the Wellness Center.

As part of a pedestrian plan for the Town of Sparta, the surveys will help the town decide where to use future resources in construction and maintenance of sidewalks, greenways and trails. The plan must take a comprehensive look at the town as a whole, not just studies of individual projects or areas, noted Baird.

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