Updates from SaxFWD
Follow Up from Meeting on September 21, 2023
We had a great meeting last Thursday! Thank you to all who participated! Read on for updates.
Plans, Plans, Plans: Allison Blank
The team met with Chuck Edwards, District Engineer in Graham, to address safety concerns and identify possible next steps (see details here).
One of our biggest challenges is that this community is not incorporated. Many of these projects require a municipal authority or an MPO (see https://bgmpo.org/).
STIF (Statewide Transportation Improvement Fund) is available for long range planning and funding. The chances of our community being eligible for STIF are slim, but it is good for us to know about it. You can learn more here: https://connect.ncdot.gov/projects/planning/pages/state-transportation-improvement-program.aspx
We would do well to reach out to Tanya Caddle, the Alamance County Planning Director (https://www.alamance-nc.com/countyline/services/planning/). As the county continues to grow, her department needs to know the impact of growth and change in our community.
It is ultimately up to the DOT to plan for and implement any projects. AND the DOT is seeking our input.
Saxapahaw Forward: Nonprofit Status
Lorraine McNamara has been taking active steps toward setting up a nonprofit and is working with a lawyer to ensure that this nonprofit has the “teeth” necessary to help our teams accomplish their purposes.
Steve Carter, one of our County Commissioners, was present. He raised a concern about whether a nonprofit can take on some of the responsibilities of a municipal authority, like an HOA does for a subdivision. He will check with county attorney and ask questions to see if there is capacity for the state government to negotiate with a nonprofit.
Amy Beth Kessinger emphasized that the goal of this nonprofit is to recognize ways in which the community can be strengthened and put some strategy and thoughtfulness behind it to continue to make this a great place to live, almost like a community development association.
Asphalt Art Initiative (https://asphaltart.bloomberg.org/):
Is there someone who would like to take the lead on this project?
There are some challenges with this initiative as it still requires a DOT maintenance agreement.
Beautification Team: Megan Jett
A group of people have been working together regularly to beautify Saxapahaw with the idea that traffic will slow when the community looks more like a neighborhood and is more aesthetically appealing.
Much of the work has been done around the Paperhand Puppet building.
Additional projects include planting native plants, and maybe adding picnic areas.
The team would like to expand on idea of “Welcome to Saxapahaw” with additional signage that could be helpful for visitors and hikers alike and pleasing to those who live in the community.
John Jordan has purchased and is offering 200 redbuds and dogwoods for anyone in the community, in memory of his mother, Katherine Jordan, who planted the many redbuds and dogwoods along Sax-Beth many years ago.
These projects are all achievable apart from the DOT.
Coordination with the Upper Mill Business Association: This is on our radar and Amy Beth Kessinger has been in contact with them.
Regulations: Stephen Brown is asking all sorts of questions. Details to follow. For example:
What are road width requirements for through trucks?
How do other communities in Alamance County fund radar speed signs?
Radar Speed Signs: Brandon White is exploring options.
Places like Duck, NC have them every 500 feet or so along Highway 12, slowing down traffic significantly.
Rumble Strips: Steve Carter talked to Wright Archer about adding rumble strips, especially at the curve on Sweps-Sax Rd. The concern is that thy are noisy, but they do slow down traffic.
The remainder of the meeting was spent prioritizing projects. The details on this prioritization will be shared with Chuck Edwards at the DOT and with you in the upcoming weeks.
Y’all, this sounds like a great discussion with lots of forward progress and momentum. Thank you for your work. Hope to see you at the next meeting!