FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                      March 30, 2007

CARY TO START TRANSPORTATION SURVEY THIS WEEKEND

CARY, NC – Beginning Saturday, March 31, consultants working for the Town of Cary will start contacting more than 400 Cary residents asking them to state their opinions on a variety of transportation issues in the town; the effort is part of the Town of Cary’s Comprehensive Transportation Plan update and was requested by the Town Council at its March planning retreat.  Topics will include streets, transit, sidewalks, and pedestrian issues, both today and in the future.  The scientific poll will be conducted via telephone through April 15, with citizens being asked to spend about 18 minutes answering about 30 questions. The survey’s margin of error will be +/- 5 percent.  All responses to the survey will be anonymous, and demographic information will only be used in the aggregate. 

“We hope that those who are called will take the time to give us the feedback we need by participating fully in the survey,” said Town of Cary Principal Planner Juliet Andes . 

The Comprehensive Transportation Plan was originally adopted by Town Council in April 2001. The multi-modal plan consists of four elements: roadway, bicycle, pedestrian and transit.  The purpose of the Comprehensive Transportation Plan is to update the official Thoroughfare Plan that is used by local, regional, state and federal decision-makers. The plan provides for land reservation for future transportation corridors and helps guide decisions on setbacks and transportation improvements as development occurs today and into the future.

For nearly a decade, the Town of Cary has been leading most North Carolina local governments in conducting valid, scientific research to assist in the decision-making process.  The Town’s Biennial Citizen Satisfaction Telephone Survey dates back to 1998.  Other research topics have included growth management, amphitheater programming, and transit ridership.

“Just like Gallop, Nielsen, and other national and international pollsters, our consultation is utilizing long-standing, scientifically tested sampling techniques and statistical analyses that allow the survey results to be generalized over the entire population even though not everyone in Cary is being called,” said Town of Cary Public Information Officer Susan Moran . 

Cary has contracted with BKL Research of Salem, VA to conduct the Comprehensive Transportation Survey at a cost of $20,000.  The survey report is expected in early May.

Results from Cary ’s previous research efforts are available online in the Research section of www.townofcary.org.

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