The committee hopes to develop ways to ease and improve pedestrian and bicycling travel within the city.

One opportunity for public input comes today at City Hall beginning at 9 a.m. This morning’s session is being held in conjunction with the “Clash of the Carts” soapbox car race being put on by Roxboro Uptown Development Corp. (RUDC) on Lamar Street.

According to a release issued by Andy Oakley, the city’s director of public services, the public will be able to “talk directly with Steering Committee members and project consultants.

“Maps will be provided for writing comments and identifying places you would like to get to by foot, areas that you think are unsafe, and ideas for trails,” Oakley added.

Members of the Pedestrian Plan Steering Committee include Oakley, City Manager Jon Barlow; Roxboro Fire Chief Kenneth Torain; Roxboro Police Chief Jeff Insley; LeighAnn Creeson, Person County Human Services; Carolyn Turner, Person Memorial Hospital; Bess Whitt, Person County Cooperative Extension; Kay Rudd, Person County Recreation, Arts & Parks; Ruth Burch, community volunteer; and Bridget Shaw, Person County Board of Education.

“The Pedestrian Plan Steering Committee was selected for their useful expertise and interest in related fields,” Oakley said.

A second public input opportunity will be offered later this summer at a date to be announced.

“This will be an opportunity to learn about the main components of the Draft Pedestrian Transportation Plan and to comment on initial recommendations,” Oakley noted in his release concerning the second public input opportunity.

Citizens can also offer input on the plan by visiting the city’s Web site at www.cityofroxboro.com and filling out a survey, which Oakley estimates can be completed in five minutes.

The Roxboro Pedestrian Transportation Plan is part of a statewide matching grants program from the North Carolina Department of Transportation that is designed to support local communities in their efforts to plan for bicycle and pedestrian improvements.

Greenways Inc. is serving as the consultant for the project and has reportedly completed several such plans with other communities in the state and has worked with over 150 towns, cities and regions in 35 states.

During a kickoff meeting last month, members of the committee identified “connectivity” as its biggest priority.

“Connections from residential areas and new development into Uptown and to destinations such as Huck Sansbury Park were of significant interest,” Oakley explained. “The committee was very interested in providing more active living opportunities in terms of pedestrian facilities and programs.”

Oakley added, “Committee members also identified major roads and intersections which posed a concern for pedestrian safety and require improvements.”

Oakley noted, “More specific goals will be established as public input is gathered, and as the steering committee contributes further to the development of this plan.”

The final plan should be ready for adoption by the City of Roxboro by this fall.

“It is critical that the final plan be adopted in order for its recommendations to be carried out,” Oakley said. “Also, the adoption of the plan will send a clear message to outside funding sources that the City of Roxboro has a well thought-out and planned set of pedestrian improvements, making them more likely to fund projects.”

Oakley added that citizens could contact him via mail at 779 Mountain Rd., Roxboro, N.C. 27573, via phone at 336-503-0489, or via email at aoakley@cityofroxboro.com for more information.