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Who's Going To Do Something About This Traffic? You Can! · Mind Your Business - A Podcast Series produced by the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_04: The Roadless Travel or more travel.
• 0:03
  SPEAKER_04: Transportation projects from roads to greenways require planning.
• 0:07
  SPEAKER_04: And this week we share details about the way your voice can shape the future of connectedness.
• 0:13
  SPEAKER_04: From the Blue Area Chamber of Commerce, this is Mind Your Business.
• 0:19
  SPEAKER_03: Mind Your Business.
• 0:20
  SPEAKER_03: Brought to you by Appalachian Commercial Real Estate, providing professional commercial real estate services.
• 0:26
  SPEAKER_03: Visit Appalachian CRE.com.
• 0:31
  SPEAKER_04: Hello and welcome into Mind Your Business.
• 0:32
  SPEAKER_04: I'm David Jackson, President and CEO of the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce.
• 0:36
  SPEAKER_04: Thanks for joining us once again this week, whether on the airwaves of WATA here in Boone, or as a subscriber of the podcast version of the program, which is made possible each week by our good friends at Appalachian Commercial Real Estate.
• 0:49
  SPEAKER_04: If you haven't yet to subscribe, not a problem at all.
• 0:52
  SPEAKER_04: Just make sure you search for Mind Your Business wherever you get your podcast.
• 0:56
  SPEAKER_04: There you can gain access to full archives, occasional bonus content, extended episodes, and plenty more.
• 1:02
  SPEAKER_04: As we connect you with the business news that you can use from right here in the mountains of Western North Carolina.
• 1:12
  SPEAKER_04: Raise your hand if you have been stuck in traffic.
• 1:16
  SPEAKER_04: Keep both hands on the wheel, please.
• 1:17
  SPEAKER_04: It goes without saying the transportation network in Watauga County could use a little improvement.
• 1:23
  SPEAKER_04: There have not been many changes to how people move around in this community for decades, actually.
• 1:28
  SPEAKER_04: Sure, we've seen road widenings over the years, and those are important projects, especially in the gateway areas around East Boone, Blowing Rock, and even Ash County, and how that impacts how workforce commuters can travel between work and home.
• 1:43
  SPEAKER_04: We hear the complaints all the time, and it usually starts like this.
• 1:46
  SPEAKER_04: What they ought to do is, and sometimes those solutions cross competing jurisdictions, would require a mountain to be flattened or a stream removed, and are just simply not viable.
• 1:58
  SPEAKER_04: And occasionally there's even some confusion about who is responsible for what.
• 2:02
  SPEAKER_04: The town should build a road out in Deep Gap, a suggestion made to us earlier this week, in fact, thinking about east side congestion, that's been high lately.
• 2:12
  SPEAKER_04: Well, problem there, Deep Gap is not in the town of Boone.
• 2:16
  SPEAKER_04: Or sometimes we hear the county needs to widen this road.
• 2:20
  SPEAKER_04: Well, the county does not do that type of work.
• 2:23
  SPEAKER_04: NCDOT handles that.
• 2:25
  SPEAKER_04: It can seem sometimes that there is so much confusion about the process that no one believes there's actually a process.
• 2:33
  SPEAKER_04: What if I told you there was indeed some method to how roads and other transportation initiatives get considered?
• 2:39
  SPEAKER_04: And better still, what if we told you how you can be a part of the solution?
• 2:44
  SPEAKER_04: Well, that's exactly what we intend to do this week.
• 2:48
  SPEAKER_04: Back on Monday, NCDOT and the High Country Council of Governments opened a survey for local residents and commuters to have a voice in the revision of the Watauga County Comprehensive Transportation Plan, or CTP for short.
• 3:02
  SPEAKER_04: This plan was last updated in 2013, and Watauga County is now due for its normal revision.
• 3:08
  SPEAKER_04: While a CTP is reviewed every 12 to 13 years or so, the planning period for these documents actually cover a much longer window, 25 to 30 years to be exact.
• 3:18
  SPEAKER_04: The projects that eventually become the roads and greenways, runways, bike lanes, and pedestrian access that we enjoy here in the area come from the CTP.
• 3:28
  SPEAKER_04: This revisioning is an opportunity to discuss what features are most important from a transportation planning standpoint, so they can get into a document that local governments will then use to pull and prioritize projects for funding consideration.
• 3:43
  SPEAKER_04: That sounds awfully complicated, right?
• 3:46
  SPEAKER_04: Well, it kind of is.
• 3:48
  SPEAKER_04: But while it might be complicated, it's simple and how it's informed, and your voice matters quite a bit.
• 3:55
  SPEAKER_04: We'll tell you how that process works and how your vision from a variety of points throughout the county can be very helpful to plan for how the county's overall transportation network can ultimately be improved.
• 4:08
  SPEAKER_04: This week we're joined by David Graham of the High Country Council of Governments and Ruben Crummy of NCDOT, and they will give us some background on transportation planning, how the CTP is used by the town of Boone, Watauga County, and other municipalities, and ultimately how a project becomes a usable asset, and maybe most importantly, how public comment and input will help inform the next version of the Watauga CTP.
• 4:35
  SPEAKER_04: You'll learn some more acronyms like CTP, maybe some details about who builds roads and why, and also why it takes so long for a project to become reality.
• 4:46
  SPEAKER_04: Also, it's starting to get closer to festival season here in the high country.
• 4:50
  SPEAKER_04: We need those roads working, right?
• 4:52
  SPEAKER_04: We've got details on a few of those that are coming up, including First Friday in downtown Boone, going on as we speak.
• 4:59
  SPEAKER_04: If you are listening in Radioland, that is, we've got the scoop on those details and plenty more coming your way.
• 5:05
  SPEAKER_04: You are listening to mind your business.
• 5:08
  SPEAKER_01: Are you a young professional looking to expand your network?
• 5:10
  SPEAKER_01: The High Country Young Professionals, affectionately dubbed the High Country Young Pros, is a dedicated group of 200 plus professional young adults under the age of 40 serving in various industries across the High Country.
• 5:23
  SPEAKER_01: Join us for our casual networking event on the first Tuesday of each month from 5 to 7 p.m.
• 5:29
  SPEAKER_01: As we visit locations across the high country.
• 5:31
  SPEAKER_01: Events are free of charge, however, donations are appreciated.
• 5:35
  SPEAKER_01: Not a chamber member?
• 5:36
  SPEAKER_01: That's okay.
• 5:37
  SPEAKER_01: No membership needed to join us.
• 5:39
  SPEAKER_01: You have to be under 40.
• 5:40
  SPEAKER_01: Learn more about High Country YoFroads at Boonchamber.com slash H C YP.
• 5:49
  SPEAKER_04: Welcome back to Mind Your Business.
• 5:50
  SPEAKER_04: I'm David Jackson.
• 5:51
  SPEAKER_04: Before we talk about the finer points and procedures involved with transportation planning, let us talk about a business that has the roadmap already set for your next journey toward great business space.
• 6:03
  SPEAKER_04: That's James Milner and Appalachian Commercial Real Estate.
• 6:06
  SPEAKER_04: They solve simple and complex commercial real estate problems in and around the Boone area and beyond.
• 6:11
  SPEAKER_04: Whether you own or lease commercial real estate, regardless of the property type, have an advocate on your side, along with the expertise and experience to assist you and your business.
• 6:21
  SPEAKER_04: For more information, check them out on the web, Appalachian CRE.com.
• 6:26
  SPEAKER_04: Connectedness exists in many areas, relationships, communities, and the pathways that help us travel from place to place.
• 6:33
  SPEAKER_04: As the Watauga County Comprehensive Transportation Plan is under review, an important survey is available for local residents and commuters to take to help identify current transportation realities in a way that can inform future plans.
• 6:48
  SPEAKER_04: David and Ruben are guests this week who are leading us down the road toward progress.
• 6:53
  SPEAKER_02: My name is David Graham.
• 6:54
  SPEAKER_02: I'm the transportation planner with the High Country Rural Planning Organization at the High Country Council of Governments.
• 7:02
  SPEAKER_00: And I am Ruben Crummy with the North Carolina Department of Transportation's Transportation Planning Office.
• 7:08
  SPEAKER_04: Well, thank you, gentlemen, for coming and talking about what is a very important period of time here in Watauga County's transportation history.
• 7:17
  SPEAKER_04: And we'll get into the survey and how people can put their public thoughts into a document that's going to help shape the transportation network moving forward.
• 7:26
  SPEAKER_04: But I think it's also appropriate to go back to the beginning a little bit.
• 7:29
  SPEAKER_04: And, you know, we travel on roads every day that had to have a plan to get them built.
• 7:35
  SPEAKER_04: So, David, maybe you can kind of take us through what it takes to get a road or get a project delivered.
• 7:42
  SPEAKER_02: Well, uh, David, uh, thank you for that question.
• 7:45
  SPEAKER_02: As I mentioned before we uh started this podcast, uh, there's a lot of information to cover here.
• 7:51
  SPEAKER_02: But what I'll say is a comprehensive transportation plan or a CTP for short is a state-mandated plan.
• 8:00
  SPEAKER_02: Um, it is a plan that requires um all local governments to have a current land use plan that's um uh less than five years old.
• 8:10
  SPEAKER_02: It's developed cooperatively between NCDOT, municipalities, counties, the RPO, community stakeholders, and of course the the public.
• 8:21
  SPEAKER_02: Um and then once this plan is uh is completed, it's adopted by local governments, the RPO, and the Board of Transportation.
• 8:31
  SPEAKER_02: And the CTP and the development of the CTP is the first step in funding transportation projects in the state transportation improvement program.
• 8:42
  SPEAKER_02: So there's the background in regards to your your pointed question, how does, you know, how does this um how do transportation projects uh actually come to fruition?
• 8:53
  SPEAKER_02: Well, as I had just said, uh through the CTP process.
• 8:58
  SPEAKER_02: And then uh once those uh projects are identified in the CTP, uh local governments then submit them to the uh high country RPO in this case uh for funding consideration in the state transportation improvement program.
• 9:14
  SPEAKER_02: You know, we're competing with uh municipalities and counties throughout the state of North Carolina for dwindling funds, I'll just leave it at that, uh, to try to uh get these vital uh projects uh built in our in our region and in our counties.
• 9:33
  SPEAKER_04: I I think also important to understand, too, is the timing there.
• 9:36
  SPEAKER_04: How long do projects typically live inside a planning document?
• 9:41
  SPEAKER_04: And and how are need changes addressed over that time?
• 9:46
  SPEAKER_04: And and I think in a community that's had a lot of growth, people wonder, you know, hey, if this is a five-year document, a 10-year document, 20-year document, whatever it is, um, what are the what are the things that help you know local governments, NCDOT anticipate changes due to growth, traffic patterns, or whatever there may happen to be?
• 10:05
  SPEAKER_02: Right.
• 10:05
  SPEAKER_02: I'll I'll take this one as well.
• 10:07
  SPEAKER_02: Ruben, uh I'll let you talk eventually.
• 10:09
  SPEAKER_02: So uh so uh the CTP is a 25 to 30 year uh planning document.
• 10:16
  SPEAKER_02: So uh the goal here uh through this planning process is to identify all those transportation needs in Watonga County uh that that are going to be needed uh by that period.
• 10:29
  SPEAKER_02: So there's a lot of projections that will be uh taking place throughout the uh the process.
• 10:35
  SPEAKER_02: And um, you know, once uh those are identified, and as I had mentioned before, they're submitted for funding consideration in the STIP.
• 10:44
  SPEAKER_02: Um they they take a long time, David, uh to be frank.
• 10:48
  SPEAKER_02: Uh so you know, once a project does uh get in a committed status in the state transportation improvement program, it can take up to 10, 15 years before the first uh shovel of dirt is turned on it.
• 11:03
  SPEAKER_02: And that's uh in a best case scenario.
• 11:06
  SPEAKER_02: There's just so much studying and surveying that has to take place in order uh for these uh projects to move forward.
• 11:16
  SPEAKER_04: Once a project comes through a plan, uh, you know, it goes through the CTP, it gets uh selected by local government, and it is prioritized and then put in front of the state for consideration.
• 11:27
  SPEAKER_04: Let's say it's selected.
• 11:28
  SPEAKER_04: What what does that process look like?
• 11:30
  SPEAKER_04: How does that come to the state's transportation planning office?
• 11:33
  SPEAKER_04: And and what are some of the things out of that plan that you all consider as you you begin to build uh a scope for a project?
• 11:40
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, okay.
• 11:40
  SPEAKER_00: So I guess it goes through the uh BOT project delivery process, and with that, um it starts in the CTP, um, which is the needs-based document.
• 11:52
  SPEAKER_00: And it's a seven-step process.
• 11:54
  SPEAKER_00: And um like um Um David was saying, you know, it can take up to 15, 20, even 30 years.
• 12:02
  SPEAKER_00: Some projects have taken longer, but it starts in the CDP and then it works its way through the prioritization, um, which is where the data and local input is involved in the scoring, and then it goes through the funding, which is the project development um part of DOT, and then the project planning, um, which they try to minimize the impact to the existing transportation system.
• 12:30
  SPEAKER_00: And then with the project design, um, it's designed and acquiring right-of-way.
• 12:35
  SPEAKER_00: And then with construction, um, building the uh facility, and then the maintenance and operations which we try to maintain the facility.
• 12:44
  SPEAKER_00: So those um seven steps is the process, but the long-range transportation plan is um the beginning of an actual project.
• 12:56
  SPEAKER_04: David, I wonder if you could elaborate on, you know, that there's probably more than one or two projects in a in a CTP.
• 13:02
  SPEAKER_04: Um how are those how are those types of projects ultimately gathered into a document?
• 13:08
  SPEAKER_04: And what kind of volume is there when you look at a a county's transportation need across a big municipality like Boone, but even some of the pocket areas of the community that have their own struggles at times?
• 13:20
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, so uh projects are uh end up in a CTP uh through uh the guidance of a local steering committee that we are currently working with now.
• 13:31
  SPEAKER_02: Um which thank you by the way for your service on that, David.
• 13:35
  SPEAKER_02: We appreciate that.
• 13:37
  SPEAKER_02: Um so uh yeah, that and then of course, um and we'll probably talk about this here in a little bit, uh public input is is a vital component to this.
• 13:49
  SPEAKER_02: Uh and and that you know the steering committees, uh local knowledge, uh the public input uh are the key considerations outside of, of course, uh NCDOT's uh data sets that they use, as well as the projections.
• 14:07
  SPEAKER_02: So all of that combined are what help uh develop these recommendations in the comprehensive transportation plan.
• 14:18
  SPEAKER_02: And I'd say um I like to mention that this is a multimodal plan.
• 14:24
  SPEAKER_02: This is not we're not just talking highway, we're talking uh bicycle, pedestrian, public transportation, all modes are being considered uh when this uh analysis is taking uh um effect uh with the CTP.
• 14:40
  SPEAKER_02: So a lot of recommendations uh are in the CTP.
• 14:45
  SPEAKER_02: Uh generally, I'd say uh from a highway standpoint, 25 recommendations, bike ped uh can probably uh be just as many.
• 14:58
  SPEAKER_02: Uh public transit doesn't usually have as many as your highway and bicycle and pedestrian modes, but uh there's usually some um public transit recommendations as well.
• 15:10
  SPEAKER_02: Again, all guided by the steering committee and uh public input.
• 15:15
  SPEAKER_04: One interesting element of this process for Wataga County is that simultaneously there has been a lot of data collection on more of the regional transportation impact.
• 15:24
  SPEAKER_04: And I would imagine that when you have a community like Boone that draws so many people into it daily from other places, it matters so much what transportation looks like in Ash County and Wilkes County and in the surrounding areas to help understand how Boone functions.
• 15:40
  SPEAKER_04: Uh, Ruben and David, I'm sure you both have an answer to this, but just kind of curious about how you compile that data and what you're looking at.
• 15:47
  SPEAKER_04: Is it just transportation volume, or are you trying to project a region's business growth and homeowners and that kind of thing?
• 15:55
  SPEAKER_00: Well, actually, it's a combination of those things.
• 15:58
  SPEAKER_00: With uh this study on the Wataga County CTP, um the region, the RPO is using what they call the travel demand model.
• 16:07
  SPEAKER_00: And with this travel demand model, um the uploads into this computer generating simulator, um, this model looks at um the actual um CO certified um um occupancy and employment, and um it looks at um the existing and future travel patterns and the deficiencies within the transportation system.
• 16:37
  SPEAKER_00: So it involves, you know, also school enrollment, public transit, all those things help the model.
• 16:43
  SPEAKER_00: And that this is like the I'd say um fourth model um in North Carolina as far as the RPO areas, and there's another model in uh um the Southwest RPO that was just completed not too long ago, the travel demand model.
• 17:00
  SPEAKER_00: And so this model for um this area for high country um is scheduled to be completed by December.
• 17:08
  SPEAKER_00: So with the um social economic data that's um put into the model, um, we're looking at what's going on now and then projecting into the future.
• 17:19
  SPEAKER_00: So the model looks at the deficiencies and some of the, I guess, intersection improvements, um, the uh widenings, um, congestion.
• 17:29
  SPEAKER_00: It looks like a lot of things to actually determine what um is going on with the actual transportation system within that planning area.
• 17:38
  SPEAKER_00: So, and that's really what we're doing when we look at the model, when we're in phase three.
• 17:42
  SPEAKER_00: Right now we're in phase two, where we're looking at the goals and objectives.
• 17:46
  SPEAKER_00: And those have already been completed with the vision statement and the goals and objectives, because that helps us to determine when we with the survey what the locals are saying about this transportation system.
• 18:00
  SPEAKER_00: So um with that survey, which is live right now, it started um September 1st.
• 18:06
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, we're looking to hear the input of those who use the transportation system, whether you live in the area or you're a visitor.
• 18:14
  SPEAKER_00: And it closes September 30th.
• 18:16
  SPEAKER_00: I don't know if I've moved um further ahead than what you wanted me to.
• 18:20
  SPEAKER_04: And oh no, well, we yeah, we'll we'll get into the the survey here in just a second and and certainly talk about what exactly you're trying to get in terms of input and and how people can can do that.
• 18:31
  SPEAKER_04: And spoiler alert, that survey is listed in your chamber report.
• 18:34
  SPEAKER_04: If you're listening to this and you're a Boone Chamber member, uh that'll be an easy thing for you to go back and access.
• 18:39
  SPEAKER_04: But before we get back to the survey, I I do want to mention it, it's been fascinating to see this all kind of develop in real time when you look at a a model that is considering all of the different inputs for an area.
• 18:49
  SPEAKER_04: And that for this area is is complicated, right?
• 18:52
  SPEAKER_04: You've got tourists, you've got the student population, you've got seasonal shifts in traffic patterns, you've got 11,000 people immigrating to work every day, you've you've got all of these components.
• 19:04
  SPEAKER_04: And then that model is also predicting for a plan that could still, as David mentioned, take decades to see a project move forward.
• 19:12
  SPEAKER_04: So, how do you try to balance out what you collect in the here and now and then play the game of all right, if if A plus B equals C, then 15 years from now, this is what we think this will actually look like when we begin to build these things out and see them for the relief they need.
• 19:29
  SPEAKER_04: I'm sure that's not an easy assignment.
• 19:31
  SPEAKER_00: Right.
• 19:32
  SPEAKER_00: I think in the travel demand model, um, which is part of the four-step process um where you look at the number of trips in the planning area, what we do is to try to have a snapshot of the existing, and then we get input from the local areas, the counties and municipalities of where they're expecting their growth through their land use plans or development plans.
• 19:53
  SPEAKER_00: And with that in the travel demand model, once they do the snapshot of what's existing and then look at the growth and where it's expecting expected, then we also try to look at in the model the actual travel patterns, where the congestion is taking place.
• 20:10
  SPEAKER_00: And then when recommendations are made, when we've gone through the model, where we've done the uh base year and future year um, you know, uh deficiencies and issues, then we go through a process where we decide what are the resolutions, what are the resolves, but we involve the steering committee, and um also, like I said, with the survey, um, sometimes with the survey you may get um input that the local government may not be aware of.
• 20:38
  SPEAKER_00: So, you know, the input from the locals is very important.
• 20:42
  SPEAKER_00: Um and with uh Watago, with the school, um Um Appalachian State University, and um the youth with the transit, the pedestrian, um, and bicycle, we're trying to make um the best transportation system that we can have for the area.
• 21:03
  SPEAKER_00: And it it works better when the locals are included in the process, as opposed to we just get the data, we project, and this is your these are the your results.
• 21:14
  SPEAKER_00: We want to have that public involvement to say, hey, what's really going on in your area?
• 21:18
  SPEAKER_00: You live in the area, so tell us what's going on.
• 21:21
  SPEAKER_00: And that that's why that um that survey helps so much in us moving forward.
• 21:26
  SPEAKER_00: And public involvement is really um throughout all seven phases of um the CTP process.
• 21:33
  SPEAKER_00: We focus more on phases two through um six, but um, their input is very important.
• 21:42
  SPEAKER_04: We'll pause for a moment more of our conversation with David Graham and Ruben Crummy coming up right after this.
• 21:48
  SPEAKER_04: You are listening to mind your business.
• 21:50
  SPEAKER_03: Appalachian Commercial Real Estate provides professional commercial real estate services in the Boone area.
• 21:56
  SPEAKER_03: They provide sales, leasing, consulting, and appraisal services.
• 22:00
  SPEAKER_03: To owners and users of commercial real estate.
• 22:02
  SPEAKER_03: For more information, go to their website at Appalachian CRE.com.
• 22:08
  SPEAKER_04: Welcome back to Mind Your Business.
• 22:09
  SPEAKER_04: I'm David Jackson.
• 22:10
  SPEAKER_04: We continue our conversation with David Graham and Ruben Crummy as we discuss how to get your voice into the conversation around the future of transportation in Wataga County.
• 22:20
  SPEAKER_04: Excellent opportunity now to talk public input.
• 22:22
  SPEAKER_04: And I'll take it even back before we talk about the survey and say this is why things like Boone Next and the Watauga County plan for land use is so important because sometimes the seeds of what we see in these types of things, planning transportation networks, absolutely come from those municipal documents.
• 22:41
  SPEAKER_04: So when you see these meetings and opportunities to put your input, put your input in there because it will all come back around into the things that we need to see executed when it comes to transportation.
• 22:51
  SPEAKER_04: So, David, if you could talk a little bit about survey creation, you've got the steering committee.
• 22:56
  SPEAKER_04: Um, when you're looking at a community like Wataga that's got some unique pockets to it, um, and and a couple of unique assets like Apple Cart and uh Greenway uh access that that is important for some people to move around from a pedestrian standpoint.
• 23:14
  SPEAKER_04: What are you asking people to provide uh from an experience standpoint?
• 23:19
  SPEAKER_02: You know, I would kind of lean in on the the first survey question that is asked, and it's uh it says, what is important to you?
• 23:29
  SPEAKER_02: And it it lists safety, shorter travel times, modernized roadways, growth and development, local and regional connectivity, community character and the environment, uh public and shared transportation, walking, bicycling, and then of course resiliency.
• 23:48
  SPEAKER_02: We all are very familiar with how a certain storm wrecked our transportation network in not only Watalga County, but the greater high country region.
• 23:59
  SPEAKER_02: That is uh becoming more and more of an emerging concern uh for the transportation system.
• 24:07
  SPEAKER_02: So um that's what we're we're asking.
• 24:10
  SPEAKER_02: That's the first question we ask.
• 24:11
  SPEAKER_02: And then, of course, we have all these supporting questions uh in the survey, but I felt like in response to your uh your comment upslash question, David, that's what we're trying to get at is what is most important to the folks who um are regular users or seasonal users of Watauga County's transportation network.
• 24:32
  SPEAKER_04: We know that there are a lot of people say uh in the mornings that travel up Boone Mountain from areas near Vilas and Zionville and areas like that.
• 24:40
  SPEAKER_04: And David raises his hand at that point in time, proud West Sider over there.
• 24:44
  SPEAKER_04: Um, but then also uh within East Boon, we know some of that traffic is coming from out of the county, just like on the west side, some of that traffic is coming from out of the state, even.
• 24:54
  SPEAKER_04: So as people are considering different stages of their commute, how can they best articulate that uh within the survey itself?
• 25:02
  SPEAKER_02: Uh there's opportunities uh for comments uh in the survey.
• 25:07
  SPEAKER_02: Uh um there's particularly this uh mapping function uh where you can you know basically identify areas where uh you get slowed down trying to go to work.
• 25:19
  SPEAKER_02: And I know um the areas that I deal with, uh that's called Boon Mountain trying to get in to work uh every day.
• 25:28
  SPEAKER_02: Um so it gives uh the survey user an opportunity to pinpoint these key locations uh in the county that impact their commute and try to say, hey, maybe you know, widening of this roadway may help me uh from a travel time savings standpoint, uh not only to get to work, but just to uh improve mobility overall in the Watagh County.
• 25:53
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah, and and as we consider some of the non-roadway uh issues for people that are users of Apple Cart, or maybe there are people I just saw somebody the other day over near Brown's Chapel hopping off the road and onto the greenway to ride in a town on an e-bike.
• 26:09
  SPEAKER_04: You know, those are all uses that are different than traditional vehicular traffic.
• 26:13
  SPEAKER_04: Um, is there a certain criteria that you're looking for to make sure that you're getting a wide sample of all of that?
• 26:19
  SPEAKER_04: Or is it really just what the survey data uh presents?
• 26:23
  SPEAKER_04: That's what you're gonna proceed with.
• 26:24
  SPEAKER_02: Well, we're gonna be evaluating, and Ruben, feel free to chime in at any time, you know, uh highway improvements.
• 26:31
  SPEAKER_02: And coupled with that, David, um those areas where uh pedestrian and bicycle improvements can also be made.
• 26:40
  SPEAKER_02: Like so if if there's like a road widening, for example, that would be uh beneficial to uh bicycle and pedestrian modes of travel, then that's going to be captured in the uh comprehensive transportation plan as a project, not only to improve widen the roadway, but to include those facilities for bicycle pedestrian projects.
• 27:04
  SPEAKER_02: And if possible, and Craig will appreciate this, Craig uses it, Applecart, uh stops or pullouts for AppleCart to uh better um serve uh the public in Mataga County.
• 27:18
  SPEAKER_00: Um I guess to add to that, um when a lot of times people look at the highway element, but including the other elements, the bike and pedestrian and transit, um, those intersections, um you know, they a lot happens when people are crossing the roads or getting off buses.
• 27:39
  SPEAKER_00: You know, safety is the number one priority for what we do.
• 27:43
  SPEAKER_00: And if if there's a lot of congestion going on, it needs to be organized and controlled in a way in which we minimize that.
• 27:52
  SPEAKER_00: So uh we need to know where those deficiencies are, where those areas where there's a lot of um activity going on so that we can control it better or at least resolve it, you know.
• 28:06
  SPEAKER_00: So um those are some very important things that we look at all the modes of transportation, not just the highway.
• 28:13
  SPEAKER_00: So, and then trying to minimize that.
• 28:15
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 28:16
  SPEAKER_04: As as people are considering their responses on the transportation survey, and and I know we've talked about this, uh, some understanding features like the Blue Ridge Parkway, or let's say uh US 421, that's that's a U.S.
• 28:30
  SPEAKER_04: highway, that's King Street.
• 28:32
  SPEAKER_04: You know, uh, are there are there areas that you'd rather not hear about, or is the connectedness of everything in the network the the vital importance that you're looking for to see how those things all play together, if that makes sense?
• 28:46
  SPEAKER_00: Well, we're not trying to stay away from anything or not hear about anything.
• 28:51
  SPEAKER_00: We have to look at the full transportation system.
• 28:54
  SPEAKER_00: And then using this travel demand model, um, which has the most updated information that we're using when we run the model, that's where we'll determine where these deficiencies are.
• 29:04
  SPEAKER_00: What happened in the current model might have been 10, 12 uh, 15 years ago.
• 29:09
  SPEAKER_00: Things have changed.
• 29:10
  SPEAKER_00: Um, AppState has increased, what, 10,000 more in student population.
• 29:17
  SPEAKER_00: And so um there's growth that's taking place.
• 29:20
  SPEAKER_00: So we need to know what's going on now, and then what's going on now, what may have changed with the land use plan and where the growth is taking place, so that when we use this travel demand model, it will assist us in making the best decisions, reasonable decisions for the transportation system, especially with dealing with through traffic.
• 29:41
  SPEAKER_00: So, you know, we can't just say, well, this is in the existing um CTP, so this is what we're gonna do.
• 29:48
  SPEAKER_00: No, we're looking at what is the model telling us?
• 29:52
  SPEAKER_00: What issues and um um improvements are needed, and then we will move forward.
• 29:58
  SPEAKER_00: So there may have been some problems in the past, and we're trying to stay away from problems, but we're also looking at problems to resolve them, and we're trying to look for the best way to resolve them.
• 30:10
  SPEAKER_04: I I like that that clarifier of reasonable considerations.
• 30:13
  SPEAKER_04: So no gondola between Howard Knob and Blowing Rock is what you're saying, or at least not on DOT's time.
• 30:20
  SPEAKER_00: We're mutually working together.
• 30:23
  unknown: Yeah.
• 30:25
  SPEAKER_00: That's awesome.
• 30:26
  SPEAKER_04: That's awesome.
• 30:27
  SPEAKER_04: Um, all right.
• 30:27
  SPEAKER_04: So we we've got language in our chamber report that will point people to the survey.
• 30:31
  SPEAKER_04: We have printed copies at the chamber in both English and Spanish for people to come and pick up.
• 30:36
  SPEAKER_04: Uh, I would highly encourage if you are uh adept enough to do so, using the online feature is fantastic because of the pin drops that David mentioned a moment ago, and being able to place exactly where you know there are bottlenecks.
• 30:50
  SPEAKER_04: That can be really fun as you go through and kind of consider things.
• 30:54
  SPEAKER_04: Uh, two final questions for you guys.
• 30:57
  SPEAKER_04: One around projects that may be a little bit, I'll call it out there, you know, that that may be not talked about all the time, an alternative that someone may consider while they're sitting in traffic.
• 31:07
  SPEAKER_04: Do you welcome that kind of feedback?
• 31:09
  SPEAKER_04: Um, knowing that not everything may be possible from an engineering standpoint, but it's probably helpful to get some user input on areas where an alternative is necessary.
• 31:20
  SPEAKER_04: Is that is that right?
• 31:21
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, we do welcome that.
• 31:24
  SPEAKER_00: Um, that's why with the survey and steering committee, we welcome the input from the local um public, or the public and the locals, so that um we can determine um where the needs are and what's going on based on their usage of the transportation system.
• 31:42
  SPEAKER_00: And then when we go through the process of um alternatives, recommendations, we use the steering committee.
• 31:49
  SPEAKER_00: And um, of course, we use our data-driven information, but we also have the input to determine um which alignment is the best alignment.
• 32:00
  SPEAKER_00: Um, environmentally sensitive areas.
• 32:02
  SPEAKER_00: If there's mountains where you cannot put a roadway or you know, some natural um sensitive areas, um restrictive areas.
• 32:12
  SPEAKER_00: So with the environmental maps, um, we're aware of where the challenges are.
• 32:18
  SPEAKER_00: So when we look at that, we're limited as to what we can and cannot do.
• 32:24
  SPEAKER_00: But like I said, with it being reasonable, you know, where we try to do our best to say, here's an alignment.
• 32:30
  SPEAKER_00: There could be three or four or five.
• 32:32
  SPEAKER_00: I know with that uh Daniel Boone Park where there were several, several alignments, and they narrowed it down to seven.
• 32:39
  SPEAKER_00: And then from the seven, um, they came up with the one.
• 32:43
  SPEAKER_00: So, but um moving forward, this uh travel demand model and um what we're doing with this CTP now, it will be determined through that model what our data is saying where the transportation issues and deficiencies are.
• 33:01
  SPEAKER_04: Well, and and that that teased up, David, you for the last question that I've got, because I think sometimes people confuse planning with process uh or or procedure as as things get approved.
• 33:13
  SPEAKER_04: Once this comprehensive transportation plan is authored and and Wataga County's got an updated version, um that doesn't necessarily mean that all of these things are going to happen.
• 33:24
  SPEAKER_04: Quite frankly, they probably won't.
• 33:26
  SPEAKER_04: But if you can just kind of walk us through one last time that the the number of approvals for a project usually that comes out of the CTP and gets delivered and you're driving on it, uh or walking on it, how many public checks are there along that process uh and governmental checks to make sure that A, that project is wanted, B, it can get funded, and C, it can ultimately be delivered?
• 33:49
  SPEAKER_02: And yeah, great question, David.
• 33:52
  SPEAKER_02: So uh once uh the CTP document is is finished, uh Ruben and I will be requesting local adoption from all of Wataga County's local governments, the county and the municipalities.
• 34:07
  SPEAKER_02: Umce we get that, um the High Country RPO will endorse the plan.
• 34:13
  SPEAKER_02: Uh and then once that's done, uh it will be taken to the North Carolina uh Board of Transportation uh for their adoption.
• 34:22
  SPEAKER_02: And so once that occurs, all of Wataga County local governments have this plan in their hand.
• 34:30
  SPEAKER_02: So when uh the prioritization uh next prioritization cycle happens where local governments can submit transportation projects for funding consideration, those projects should come from this document because uh the the public has weighed in um and uh all of the deficiencies have been identified and those recommendations are are in there.
• 34:56
  SPEAKER_02: Um and so once I get that uh uh I will take it and uh prioritize it through uh with all of the rest of our transportation projects, whether it be highway, bicycle, pedestrian, have a few aviation uh actually airports in our region, so there's aviation projects in there, and those will um uh be scored and uh sent to NCDOT for uh funding consideration in the state transportation improvement program.
• 35:27
  SPEAKER_02: And the the goal here through this process is to is to try to get those transportation projects uh and and I'll just speak to highway at this point, um right-of-way or construction scheduled within the first five years of the state transportation improvement program.
• 35:46
  SPEAKER_02: This is a 10-year document.
• 35:48
  SPEAKER_02: If we can get uh right-of-way or construction within the first five years, that project is considered a committed transportation project for funding and will be built unless something bad happens um financially.
• 36:04
  SPEAKER_02: Um and so that's how it goes.
• 36:07
  SPEAKER_02: Hopefully I wasn't too long-winded there, David, but that's uh that's the process.
• 36:13
  SPEAKER_04: That is uh a great description of what is not a short process, but I think also illustrates the fact that there are that there are multiple steps along the way for public input.
• 36:24
  SPEAKER_04: Uh, just because a document shows or a uh uh a feature shows up in this plan doesn't mean that it's absolutely going to happen and you need to start boxing up your house and moving away.
• 36:33
  SPEAKER_04: It's it's far from that.
• 36:34
  SPEAKER_04: But in order for something to come into consideration, it's got to be in the plan.
• 36:38
  SPEAKER_02: So yeah, well, let me uh David, I'm glad you glad you mentioned that.
• 36:42
  SPEAKER_02: So when a project does get to that stage where it's it's committed in the first five years, uh NCDOT's public involvement team is gonna start reaching out to the public to show you know concepts of how a roadway is gonna be improved.
• 37:01
  SPEAKER_02: So there, as you had just mentioned, there's gonna be numerous opportunities for the public to provide feedback once a project gets into that committed state.
• 37:11
  SPEAKER_02: Um so it's it public feedback is a constant from the CTP process uh to it getting funded uh to the design, and frankly, all the way down to maintenance uh of the facility.
• 37:26
  SPEAKER_02: So thanks for mentioning that.
• 37:29
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah, well, uh this is uh certainly uh a long process that that requires many steps, but uh can't underscore the importance of this step of making sure that the public is aware that they've got an opportunity uh to put their thoughts together.
• 37:43
  SPEAKER_04: So again, the survey is LinkedIn Chamber report.
• 37:45
  SPEAKER_04: It lives on our website.
• 37:46
  SPEAKER_04: We've got hard copies at the office.
• 37:48
  SPEAKER_04: Happy to get that to you in any way possible and really appreciate you guys coming on uh and and trying to explain what what is again cumbersome but very necessary.
• 37:57
  SPEAKER_04: And I think the more we talk about it and and normalize some of this language, the more people will understand and and see their places to be able to plug in.
• 38:04
  SPEAKER_04: So appreciate your time and I'm I'm sure we will get this group together again soon and and talk about what comes next.
• 38:11
  SPEAKER_04: Sounds good.
• 38:12
  SPEAKER_04: Thanks for having us.
• 38:13
  SPEAKER_00: Awesome.
• 38:14
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you, David and David.
• 38:17
  SPEAKER_04: Thanks to Ruben and David for their time.
• 38:19
  SPEAKER_04: And for you chamber members out there, you can find a link to that important survey in your chamber report this week.
• 38:25
  SPEAKER_04: And we have the survey on our website and social channels wherever you best follow our work.
• 38:30
  SPEAKER_04: I can't say this loud enough.
• 38:32
  SPEAKER_04: This is an incredibly important part of the transportation planning process.
• 38:37
  SPEAKER_04: If ideas are not in the CTP, they are not eligible for consideration at the local level.
• 38:42
  SPEAKER_04: Hopefully, this discussion helps provide some insight into how all of this work and how local input truly matters.
• 38:50
  SPEAKER_04: We all know that there are congestion points throughout our community.
• 38:54
  SPEAKER_04: Jurisdictions for those are not always what you'd think.
• 38:57
  SPEAKER_04: I mean, how many of you think of King Street as a U.S.
• 39:00
  SPEAKER_04: highway?
• 39:01
  SPEAKER_04: Well, it is, and projects that impact our area go through a lot of scrutiny to get engineered and delivered.
• 39:07
  SPEAKER_04: They have to be in the comprehensive transportation plan first, and that's for project needs in Boone, Deep Gap, Meat Camp, Cove Creek, or anywhere else throughout the county.
• 39:17
  SPEAKER_04: So if you see something on your daily commute, if you have a crazy idea about how to get somewhere faster, say something.
• 39:25
  SPEAKER_04: Take the survey, and that will get the conversation started with as broad an audience and potential impact as possible.
• 39:33
  SPEAKER_04: You are listening to Mind Your Business.
• 39:35
  SPEAKER_04: Each fall, the Boon Area Chamber of Commerce leads a celebration of community, the people and businesses that make us unique, the leaders that make the high country strong.
• 39:45
  SPEAKER_04: This celebration captures the spirit of Boon.
• 39:48
  SPEAKER_04: Join us Thursday, September 24th from 5:30 to 9 o'clock in the Brandview Ballroom at Kid Brewer Stadium as the chamber hosts Spirit of Boon.
• 39:57
  SPEAKER_04: Connect and network with nearly 400 fellow business and community leaders.
• 40:01
  SPEAKER_04: Enjoy a delicious dinner, proof to the live sounds of Watanga County's own Adam Church, and help us celebrate the accomplishments of the Chamber's annual Community Award on a Reeves.
• 40:12
  SPEAKER_04: Spirit of Boon is the Chamber's largest fundraiser of the year with event proceeds that fuel our mission-driven work, programs, and projects.
• 40:21
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• 40:25
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• 40:29
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• 40:32
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• 40:40
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• 40:41
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• 40:52
  SPEAKER_04: News and notes time from around the high country.
• 40:55
  SPEAKER_04: It is September.
• 40:56
  SPEAKER_04: The first App State Football home game is upon us.
• 40:58
  SPEAKER_04: 3 30 kickoff at the Rock Saturday.
• 41:00
  SPEAKER_04: Make your travel plans accordingly.
• 41:02
  SPEAKER_04: If you are listening to this and traveling to the High Country for the weekend, make sure you check out the First Friday Art Crawl in downtown Boone.
• 41:10
  SPEAKER_04: There's a new gallery installation and reception at the Jones House from 5 o'clock to 7 Friday night.
• 41:15
  SPEAKER_04: Artist interactions at various businesses, perfect strolling weather, plenty of great food and beverages available nearby.
• 41:23
  SPEAKER_04: First Friday Art Crawl this week and every First Friday.
• 41:27
  SPEAKER_04: This a program of the Wataga County Arts Council and the Downtown Boone Development Association.
• 41:33
  SPEAKER_04: Speaking of the arts, Busker's Fest returns to Downtown Boone Saturday, September 12th from 1 o'clock until 5 in the afternoon.
• 41:41
  SPEAKER_04: Back for its fifth year and Boone Toberfest, yes, that's a thing.
• 41:45
  SPEAKER_04: It joins alongside for the second straight year.
• 41:48
  SPEAKER_04: I just like Toberfest, thrown on the back of any word possible.
• 41:53
  SPEAKER_04: Since its launch in 2021, Busker's Fest has grown into a vibrant open-air celebration of creativity in all its forms, going beyond the traditional street performances.
• 42:03
  SPEAKER_04: The festival brings together live music, performance art, local makers with incredible work, original artwork.
• 42:11
  SPEAKER_04: All of this activity makes Busker's Fest one of the area's most cherished cultural events.
• 42:17
  SPEAKER_04: This year, Boon Toberfest brings Boone's breweries together for festivities throughout the day.
• 42:23
  SPEAKER_04: You could bounce from brewery to brewery while enjoying music, seasonal food, and brews.
• 42:27
  SPEAKER_04: There's a Steinholding Cont for all ages.
• 42:30
  SPEAKER_04: And additionally, Fizz Ed will get into the act by hosting Wienerfest, where you can make your own Wiener Dog art.
• 42:38
  SPEAKER_04: Come for the Buskers, stay for the brews, and discover the talents of hundreds of local artists, performers, and makers as Downtown Boone comes to life with creative energy.
• 42:46
  SPEAKER_04: Again, that is Buskers Fest and Boon Toberfest, Saturday, September 12th from 1 to 5 p.m.
• 42:53
  SPEAKER_04: in Downtown Boone.
• 42:54
  SPEAKER_04: Again, another event brought to you in partnership with the Watauga Arts Council and the Downtown Boone Development Association.
• 43:01
  SPEAKER_04: Or since we're so into acronyms, the DBDA, you can check out more information at Watauga-Arts.org.
• 43:08
  SPEAKER_04: Speaking of the Town of Boone, congrats goes to the staff for being the latest Family Forward Certified Employer in the area.
• 43:16
  SPEAKER_04: The Town of Boone joins Combs Tenant Carpenter and Life Store Bank as the newest family forward certified businesses in Watauga County, which number eleven now in total, including the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce.
• 43:29
  SPEAKER_04: Family Forward NC is a program of the North Carolina Early Childhood Foundation and works with North Carolina's businesses to prioritize the well-being of their employees and families.
• 43:39
  SPEAKER_04: Offering family friendly benefits is essential to attract and retain top talent.
• 43:44
  SPEAKER_04: I've been talking to multiple business owners about this, in fact, just this week, thinking about how benefit cost rises and your ability to control those as businesses can actually be one of the best retention strategies you have.
• 44:00
  SPEAKER_04: Plus, this type of activity boosts productivity and morale.
• 44:03
  SPEAKER_04: Family friendly policies lead to healthier, happier employees, resulting in lower health care costs and fewer workplace absences.
• 44:12
  SPEAKER_04: With these results, your customers get a better product or service.
• 44:15
  SPEAKER_04: And as you talk about certified businesses here in Wataga County, not only did many of our businesses already exhibit these traits, but others, and ours included in this, made positive changes to benefits and policies by just simply taking the time to review the language.
• 44:30
  SPEAKER_04: You don't always look back at the things that your staff might take weeks, maybe even months to refine.
• 44:36
  SPEAKER_04: It goes in the folder on the shelf.
• 44:38
  SPEAKER_04: This process helps you get those back out and make sure that they are still viable and relevant for your staff.
• 44:45
  SPEAKER_04: Let's be honest, this is a task that often goes overlooked, sometimes for years at a time.
• 44:51
  SPEAKER_04: Family Forward Employer Certification is not just about the badge.
• 44:54
  SPEAKER_04: It's a marker on your journey to create a family-friendly workplace and sends the message very clearly.
• 45:01
  SPEAKER_04: You care about your employees, their families, their children, and the future workforce of North Carolina.
• 45:07
  SPEAKER_04: Take it from our team.
• 45:08
  SPEAKER_04: This is a worthwhile exercise.
• 45:11
  SPEAKER_04: You can visit familyforwardnc.com if you're interested in learning more, or just call us here at the chamber.
• 45:16
  SPEAKER_04: We'd be happy to share our experience.
• 45:18
  SPEAKER_04: Think about that impact of absenteeism as we move into such a busy time of year.
• 45:23
  SPEAKER_04: These types of resources do matter.
• 45:26
  SPEAKER_04: You are listening to mind your business.
• 45:28
  SPEAKER_03: Appalachian Commercial Real Estate provides professional commercial real estate services in the Boone area.
• 45:34
  SPEAKER_03: They provide sales, leasing, consulting, and appraisal services to owners and users of commercial real estate.
• 45:40
  SPEAKER_03: For more information, go to their website at Appalachian CRE.com.
• 45:49
  SPEAKER_04: Registrations continue for Encore.
• 45:51
  SPEAKER_04: That's the next class offering under the Watauga Leadership Institute umbrella, and it gets underway later this month.
• 45:56
  SPEAKER_04: Encore is a four-class cohort-style leadership experience.
• 46:01
  SPEAKER_04: One class per month, about two hours per meeting, and the type of content that is great for those looking to continue their leadership journey.
• 46:08
  SPEAKER_04: For more information and to register, visit Boonchamber.com.
• 46:12
  SPEAKER_04: Seats are limited, so make sure you get signed up today.
• 46:16
  SPEAKER_04: Speaking of getting signed up, Spirit of Boon is about three weeks away.
• 46:19
  SPEAKER_04: Less than 50 tickets remain.
• 46:21
  SPEAKER_04: Get those seats while they last at Boonchamber.com.
• 46:24
  SPEAKER_04: Again, thanks to Skyline Sky Best for serving as the title sponsor this year, and we look forward to helping them cap off their 75th anniversary year later this month.
• 46:33
  SPEAKER_04: This is the chamber's largest annual fundraiser.
• 46:36
  SPEAKER_04: It's also a great opportunity to celebrate the businesses and individuals that have been doing great work in the community this year.
• 46:43
  SPEAKER_04: And we have a musical guest, Adam Church, Watga County's own.
• 46:47
  SPEAKER_04: We're right out there on Winklers Creek.
• 46:50
  SPEAKER_04: Playing our show.
• 46:51
  SPEAKER_04: We feel so special once again.
• 46:53
  SPEAKER_04: Adam Church, back at Spirit of Boone, here in 2026.
• 46:57
  SPEAKER_04: Tickets, details at Boonechamber.com.
• 47:00
  SPEAKER_04: That'll do it for this week's Mind Your Business, this program written and produced by the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce each week.
• 47:06
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• 47:15
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• 47:18
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• 47:19
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• 47:29
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• 47:31
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• 47:34
  SPEAKER_04: Until next week, so long, everybody.