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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:9.0pt">Member Organizations: Town of Carrboro, Town of Chapel Hill, Chatham County, City of Durham, Durham County, Town of Hillsborough,
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-size:9.0pt">North Carolina Department of Transportation, Orange County, and GoTriangle</span><span style="font-size:8.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: </b>October 29, 2021<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>News Media Contact: </b>Andrew Henry, (919) 560-4366, ext. 36419 or
<a href="mailto:Andrew.Henry@DurhamNC.gov"><span style="color:blue">Andrew.Henry@DurhamNC.gov</span></a>
<b><o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt">DCHC MPO Seeks Public Comment on Region’s Future Transportation Plan<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Input Requested by December 7</span></i><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">DURHAM, N.C. – If you’re interested in deemphasizing highway widenings and more support for public transportation as well as bicycle and pedestrian accommodations, now is the time to give your input on our region’s future transportation
system.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (<a href="http://www.dchcmpo.org"><span style="color:blue">DCHC MPO</span></a>) is seeking public input on the transportation improvements that should be included in the
2050 Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP). The 2050 MTP identifies future highway, bus, rail, bicycle, pedestrian, and other transportation projects for this region over the next 30 years.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The DCHC MPO will use the public input received on the draft 2050 MTP, call the
<a href="https://www.dchcmpo.org/home/showpublisheddocument/3734/637708613338070000">
<i><span style="color:blue">Preferred Option</span></i></a>, to identify where roadway, public transportation, bicycle, pedestrian, and other transportation investments will be needed in the coming decades. The
<a href="https://www.dchcmpo.org/home/showpublisheddocument/3734/637708613338070000">
<i><span style="color:blue">Preferred Option</span></i></a> deemphasizes highway widenings and provides more support for public transportation, bicycle and pedestrian accommodations, and roadway modernization investments to meet the region’s climate and equity
goals.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Residents and other stakeholders are asked to review the <a href="https://www.dchcmpo.org/home/showpublisheddocument/3734/637708613338070000">
<i><span style="color:blue">Preferred Option</span></i></a> on the <a href="https://www.dchcmpo.org/what-we-do/programs-plans/transportation-plans/2050-metropolitan-transportation-plan">
<span style="color:blue">DCHC MPO website</span></a> and provide comments by <a href="mailto:andrew.henry@durhamnc.gov">
<span style="color:blue">email</span></a><span style="color:blue"> </span>or by calling (919) 560-4366, ext. 36419 no later than Tuesday, December 7.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Residents who wish to provide their comments directly to the DCHC MPO Board at their virtual public hearing on Wednesday, November 10 at 9 a.m. are asked to send their request to speak by
<a href="mailto:andrew.henry@durhamnc.gov"><span style="color:blue">email</span></a> or by calling (919) 560-4366, ext. 36419.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The board meeting livestream will also be available for viewing on the
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/MPOforDCHC/"><span style="color:blue">DCHC MPO’s Facebook page</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>About the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The <a href="http://www.dchcmpo.org/"><span style="color:blue">DCHC MPO</span></a><span style="color:blue">
</span>is responsible for planning and programming state and federal transportation projects in all of Durham County and the urbanized areas of Orange County and Chatham County. To learn more, follow the DCHC MPO
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/MPOforDCHC"><span style="color:blue">Facebook</span></a> and
<a href="https://twitter.com/DCHCMPO"><span style="color:blue">Twitter</span></a><span style="color:blue">
</span>pages to stay up-to-date on news about their transportation planning efforts.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">###<span style="font-size:10.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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