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PUBLIC IN VOL VEMENT PROGRAM <br />The early and continued involvement of the citizens <br />who may be affected by the study's outcome is a <br />vital part of the planning process for the proposed <br />project. <br />ID Public involvement provides the <br />opportunity to participate in the <br />planning process and to convey <br />comments to the Department. <br />• Public involvement provides the <br />opportunity to understand the overall <br />study process and schedule. <br />A project questionnaire and comment sheet is <br />provided with this brochure. Please answer the <br />questions on the form, identify possible locations for <br />the road, and provide any other pertinent project <br />comments. The sheet can be returned to the <br />comment box at the registration table or can be. <br />mailed to the address on the back of the form. <br />Persons indicating their name and address on the <br />comment sheet and checking the appropriate space <br />will be added to the project mailing list to receive <br />newsletters and upcoming meeting announcements. <br />In addition to this workshop, there will be two other <br />public workshops for this study. The second <br />citizens informational workshop will focus on <br />preliminary corridors identified for the study. The <br />third workshop will be held during the period of <br />detailed environmental analysis and prior to the <br />publication of the Draft Environmental Impact <br />Statement. <br />Throughout the project, small group meetings will <br />be held with interested citizens organizations, <br />neighborhood associations, business groups, and <br />civic groups. These meetings for informal <br />presentations and question and answer sessions can <br />be arranged by contacting NCDOT. <br />A toll free project hotline is available for public <br />comments, suggestions, or inquiries concerning the <br />corridor study. The hotline service is available <br />Monday through Friday during regular business <br />hours now through the third informational workshop. <br />If it is inconvenient to call during office hours, a <br />message will be recorded and delivered to the <br />appropriate study team member, who will respond to <br />the inquiry as quickly as possible. <br />Project newsletters will be published and mailed to <br />all persons on ' the mailing list periodically <br />throughout the study. The newsletters are designed <br />to keep citizens informed of the study progress <br />between public informational workshops. <br />NCDOT will be establishing a Citizens Advisory <br />Committee to participate in the planning process and <br />advise the study team on this project. The <br />committee will have representation from interested <br />local agencies, business groups, neighborhood <br />associations, and civic groups. This committee will <br />meet periodically throughout the study process. <br />Interested groups should contact NCDOT about <br />having a representative serve on the Citizens <br />Advisory Committee. <br />Finally, the public will be invited to comment <br />formally on the project during the Corridor Public <br />Hearing. Prior to the hearing, an informal Pre - <br />Hearing Open House will be held to present and <br />discuss the results of the engineering and <br />environmental evaluations. <br />Each of the above elements of the public <br />involvement program are important aspects of this <br />corridor study and the overall highway planning <br />process. The public involvement program is an <br />integral part of this study and citizens are <br />encouraged to participate fully. <br />