Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/217530
F CUS On Public Meeting on New Transit Plan Improvements Scheduled City Breaks Ground on Multimodal Transit Center City residents are invited to hear about the short, mid and long-range transit improvements being proposed for the Fayetteville Area System of Transit (FAST), the City's transit agency. Meetings will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 4 from Noon to 2:30 p.m. and from 4-7 p.m. in the large activity room at the Cumberland County Headquarters Library, located at 300 Maiden Lane in Fayetteville. A study was undertaken earlier this year to update the agency's Transit Development Plan (TDP), which included a review of each route to determine where improvements could be made. The purpose of the meetings is to present the proposed improvements being recommended in the TDP and obtain feedback from citizens. An interactive exercise will also be conducted in which participants could "draw" their own visions and routes for the bus system. The format is informal and participants may drop in at any time. However, there will be a brief presentation at the beginning of each meeting (Noon and 4 p.m.), which everyone is encouraged to be present. FAST staff and consultant team members will present updated information on the project, including the proposed improvements and route changes. The study is anticipated to be complete by the end of this year, with comments and feedback considered in the final report. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications are provided upon request. Citizens who are hearing or visually impaired may request assistance with interpretation by contacting FAST by phone at (910) 433-1495 or Relay North Carolina at 711 for TTY assistance, no later than 10 a.m., Monday, Dec. 2. The City of Fayetteville and the Fayetteville Area System of Transit (FAST) broke ground on its Multimodal Transit Center Nov. 20. The site is bounded by Russell, Winslow, Robeson and Franklin streets. Mayor Tony Chavonne and State Secretary of Transportation Tony Tata spoke, with Jeff Thompson, chair of the Fayetteville Advisory Committee on Transit (FACT), serving as the MC. The Multimodal Transit Center will serve as the main hub and transfer center for FAST buses and vans. The center was made possible by a Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grant for $8 million. The project was selected on a competitive basis through the fiscal year 2012 Bus Livability Program. The $8 million funded by FTA will provide 80 percent of the cost to construct the basic transit portions of the facility, which is estimated to cost just over $10 million. The remaining phases of the project include leasable retail and office space to benefit and support transit users. The center will be attractive and convenient and will feature customer-friendly amenities and a LEED Silver minimum green design. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and is the most widely recognized and used green building certification program across the globe. The building will be energy efficient, allow for water collection and reuse. "The new FAST Transit Center is one big step in transforming the image and quality of transit services in Fayetteville," FAST Director Randy Hume said. "Our transit customers deserve a place that is convenient and welcoming, and I see this center attracting more and more people to try and use transit." Once the building opens, it will better serve areas west of downtown, which is most of the FAST service area, and will be strategically located for services related to Bragg Boulevard redevelopment. The current Old Wilmington Road Transfer Center, which has been the "temporary" base for FAST operations since 2002, will be returned to its intended use as part of the HOPE VI redevelopment. For more information about FAST, log onto www.ridefast.net. Our store is packed with name brand deals! Skip the mall & the high prices! New items arriving daily. Lily Kat's is bigger & better than ever at our new location! Women's & Children's New & Pre-Owned Fashion www.lily-kats.com 817 Elm St. • Fayetteville, NC 910-223-0170 In Eutaw Shopping Center just 5 doors down from our former location. 6 NOV. 27 - DEC. 3, 2013 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM