Hearing will help shape local road construction

The Rural Transportation Advisory Committee of the High Country Rural Transportation Planning Organization will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, Dec. 17 at the High Country Council of Governments building located at 719A Greenway Road, Boone, NC 28607.

The Rural Transportation Advisory Committee (RTAC) will conduct the public hearing at 11 a.m. prior to the start of the RTAC meeting. The RTAC will receive public comments on the Priority Needs List for the 2011-2017 NCDOT Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). The Priority Needs List is a listing of local priorities for transportation improvements that is submitted to the state of North Carolina for their consideration in development of the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).

The High Country Rural Transportation Planning Organization (RPO) is a collaborative effort between Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Mitchell,

Watauga, Wilkes, and Yancey counties; the incorporated municipalities in the seven counties; the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT); and the High Country (Region D) Council of Governments.

The High Country RPO is involved in all aspects of transportation planning in the region, and operates through the actions of two committees - The Rural Transportation Coordinating Committee (RTCC), comprised of county, municipal, and NCDOT staff; and the Rural Transportation Advisory Committee (RTAC), comprised of county and municipal elected officials.