Public Workshop for Pedestrian Underpass in Clayton

On January 18th the NCDOT Rail Division will be holding a public workshop about the installation of a Pedestrian Underpass in downtown Clayton. This is a copy of the flyer.

WORKSHOP
Thursday, January 18, 2007
5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

CHARETTE
Thursday, February 1, 2007
5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Mt. Vernon Christian Church Fellowship Hall
300 North Lombard Street, Clayton, 27520

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) will hold a Citizens Informational Workshop on January 18, 2007 and a Charette on February 1, 2007 at the times and place indicated above.
NCDOT proposes to provide a Pedestrian Walkway Underpass in the location generally between Smith and Church Streets. This project is in coordination with the North Carolina Railroad Company (NCRR) and the Town of Clayton. The underpass will improve safety and provide better connectivity in the central Clayton area for the convenience of area residents. The walkway underpass will provide a separate pathway and insure the safety of pedestrians by not exposing them to trains. It is expected that this underpass will be a vital link in Clayton's pedestrian walkway system. The underpass is part of a comprehensive program of railroad crossing safety initiatives in Clayton, which also includes the closure of three railroad/highway at-grade crossings and other highway safety improvements at railroad crossings.
Citizen participation in both events is greatly encouraged. The purpose of the workshop is for NCDOT representatives to provide information, answer questions, and accept written and verbal comments regarding the proposed pedestrian underpass. The charette is an informal meeting to develop ideas and concepts on the function, aesthetics and specific location of the proposed underpass. We will engage & interact closely with the public to gather detailed input. Public input from these meetings is important, and will be used in the decision making process. Interested citizens may attend at any time during the above mentioned hours.
Anyone desiring additional information may contact Mr. Jamille Robbins, 1583 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1583, by phone (919) 715-1534, by fax (919) 715-1501, or by email jarobbins@dot.state.nc.us.
NCDOT will provide auxiliary aids and services under the Americans with Disabilities Act for disabled persons who wish to participate in this workshop. Anyone requiring special services should contact Mr. Robbins as early as possible so that arrangements can be made.

NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

 

Just in case I'm not the only one that never heard of a charrette:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charrette

 

I saw it in the paper... I don't think I get it.

....It's for people. walking. to cross the street. ......?

 

No, to cross the tracks. Somebody (a pedestrian) was hit by a train in that area recently.

 

my thoughts:

I grew up in an area around that had a ton of train stations and tracks. I was taught that you look both ways and only cross in an area where you have a clear view in both directions. Anyone that gets hit by a train is either drunk, high, or too stupid to be a part of humanity anyway. It's called natural selection. Now I am not blasting those that have accidents in vehicles, or people who got stuck on the tracks ot got pushed. But a little common sense can protect most folks from getting hit by a train.
TRains do not sneak up on people.
TRains follow a prescribed course
TRains are not quiet and sneaky
Trains do not lurk in the bushes and jump out at anyone

why do my tax dollars have to pay for something to potect stupid people?
I thought it was natural selection?

 

Yeah. I meant tracks.

But is it really necessary?

A few months back I saw in the obits that a guy I grew up with was killed on the tracks in Selma. Drunk, unconscious. ...then dead.

PSA for today: Don't get drunk and comfy on RR tracks.

 

See.

 

We had one across the street from where I grew up in Milwaukee, we would only use it in broad daylight and then only if we had too! Great place to go if you needed drugs or did not mind getting mugged. I think a much better idea would be an overpass.

As you guessed I lived on the wrong side of the tracks.

 

I told DH it sounded like a good place to get raped. He looked at me like I had two heads and said , Is there? a GOOD place to get raped??

Smartarse.

 

this is a concession to the folks many of whom are elderly that need to get across the tracks to go to the only grocery store in the actual downtown area -- many do not drive and there is no safe place to cross the tracks --
added thought in edit --- the elderly may have a difficult time negotiating an overpass

 

It would be an underpass.

 

I agree with peppercorns. How can you not know when a train is coming? They make alot of noise and they vibrate the ground. My DH works for CSX and you wouldn't believe some of the stories he tells me. People can be just plain stupid. One thing I would like to add to peppercorns list is no matter how fast some people think they are they are not faster than a train.

 

Unfortunately governments have chosen to take on the roll of caretaker.

 

Earlier I mentioned that an overpass would be safer than an underpass.

 

Oops, got that mixed in with you growing up on the wrong side of the tracks Both options would be very costly and both would likely not be used unless the area became controlled access (which won't happen)

 

Just wanted to bump this back up for those that are interested, the meeting is tomorrow.

 

Agreed

 

^^^Yup. The elderly might not like going thru a dark tunnel either. It doesn't sound safe to me anyway.

Frogger

 

I hope you all plan on going to the hearing and expressing your opinions. If you don't go, I don't expect to hear you complaining about them wasting tax money on this project. :mrgreen:

 

Would love too, but I will be in the Land of wasting tax money Thursday (D.C.).