Randolph Park, Ride Lot Gets Approval

By Paul B. Johnson, High Point Enterprise, N.C.

Jan. 10–GREENSBORO — A regional form of mass transit for Randolph County moved a little closer to reality Wednesday. The board of trustees for the Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation approved spending $307,426 to develop a park-and-ride lot at S. Main Street and Interstate 85. The lot, the first onefor PART in the county, will allow commuters to board mass transit vehicles.

Work on the 1-acre site will begin next month, and the lot should open in May or June. The lot will include a canopied shelter for passengers.

The park-and-ride service in Archdale represents PART’s ambitious plans to extend its mass transit service in Davidson and Randolph counties during 2008.

PART has issued contracts for engineering, design and construction management of park-and-ride lots in Asheboro, Randleman and Trinity.

PART already has parkand — ride lots in Thomasville and Lexington, and wants to add lots on U.S. 52 at Hickory Tree Road and along U.S. 64 somewhere in Davidson County, said Executive Director Brent McKinney.

The mass transit agency wants to use park-andride services to cut down on the number of drivers commuting in cars, reducing traffic congestion and pollution. PART estimates that 25,000 people commute each day from Randolph to Guilford County for work, while another 28,000 travel from Davidson to Guilford and Forsyth counties because of their jobs, McKinney said.

pjohnson@hpe.com — 888-3528

Work on the 1-acre site will begin next month, and the lot should open in May or June.

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