PITTSBORO -- The Chatham County Board of Commissioners approved a new Transportation Advisory Board at its meeting Monday, and is seeking applicants for the new volunteer board.
The board's purpose is to identify and study issues and make recommendations to the county commissioners on transportation and related issues. The long-term goal is to have a sustainable transportation system that offers access to various modes of transportation for people and goods.
"This is a critical issue for Chatham County because we have so many residents who commute long distances to work or school and who live in remote areas with few transportation options," said Sally Kost, who chairs the Chatham County Board of Commissioners.
"We also know that it is vital to economic development to have good access to transportation, but this can be done using options that also protect our environment and natural resources at the same time," Kost added. "Given these long-standing issues, we have needed a new advisory board to help us review and be more strategic in our transportation planning."
The board will have 11 voting members, with at least one member from each of the five county commissioner districts and at least one member having knowledge of each of the following transportation groups:
- Nonmotorized transportation, such as bicycling and walking.
- Public transportation, such as transit systems.
- Personal motor vehicles, such as cars and motorcycles.
- Large, slow-moving or commercial vehicles, including agricultural and commercial product transport.
- Transportation and the economy.
- Transportation and the environment.
- Transportation and community.
- Transportation and public safety.
This composition means that it is possible for a voting member to represent both a commissioner district and a specific transportation group, such as public transportation. Some members may have qualifications in more than one area of transportation.
The board also will include five nonvoting members selected to represent Chatham County and the towns, which could include town/county managers, elected officials or other designees. Another nonvoting seat will be designated by Chatham Transit Network.
Advisory board members will serve four-year terms, but the terms are staggered so that about half of the members will be appointed every two years.
Residents interested in applying to serve on the Transportation Advisory Board should complete and submit an official application form by 5 p.m. March 26. Applications are available on the Chatham County Web site at www.chathamnc.org/Index.aspx?page=1323. You also may call Melissa Guilbeau at 545-8337 or Elizabeth Plata at 542-8200 to obtain a copy.
All applications will be reviewed by a selection committee and formal appointments will be approved by the Board of Commissioners in April. The advisory board is expected to hold its first meeting in May.
The adopted bylaws for the new Transportation Advisory Board can be found at: www.chathamnc.org/Index.aspx?page=1323.
