WHITE LAKE — The town of White Lake will hold a public workshop on a proposed pedestrian plan on Thursday, Feb. 4, from 7 to 8 p.m. at the White Lake Town Hall to gather public input on the draft of the White Lake Pedestrian Transportation Plan, according to Town Clerk Brenda Clark.

In 2009, N.C. Department of Transportation sent out a call for proposals for the Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning Grant. According to Clark, in order to qualify for a PARTF grant the town will have to have a DOT program.

“We have to have the plan adopted and approved before we can go to PARTF or any other grant funding,” said Clark.

Hope Campbell, a member of the White Lake planning board, said the main goals of the pedestrian plan are to “enhance safety for those who already walk job or bike around the lake; encourage activity and to encourage others who are not currently active to enhance their health by becoming more active; and to enhance and promote the appearance the White Lake and communicate to those traveling through our area that we are a healthy, active, appealing community in which to visit, vacation, live or do business.”

Many who jog or bike along Hwy. 701 now feel as if they are risking the health they are exercising to enhance as they move along this portion of the roadway,” added Campbell. “While there were some recent federal funded improvements, separating pedestrian/bike traffic from motorized vehicles would be the best case scenario.”

A letter sent to the town by NCDOT said “the plan will include an implementation component that will give direction to the town on how to implement priority projects, programs and policies. This will include the identification of certain funding sources.”

Clark said the town board agreed to participate in the program and NC DOT contracted N.C. Greenways, Inc. to the town develop the pedestrian plan.

According to both Clark and Campbell, the draft pedestrian plan has the project divided into phases and the phases are prioritized, but the town does not have any construction plans in place yet.

Campbell added the pedestrian plan was really an outgrowth of the planning boards 2000 Land Use Plan.

The purpose of Thursday’s meeting is to receive input from the public regarding the draft pedestrian plan. Once those comments have been gathered, they will be incorporated into the draft plan to create a final plan which will then be presented to the town council for approval, said Clark.

Copies of the draft plan are available at the town hall or you can request a copy be sent to you, said Clark.