WINSTON-SALEM — The meetings will take place one month ahead of the beginning of the full closure of a 1.2-mile section of Business 40 through downtown Winston-Salem in Forsyth County for unprecedented highway improvements.
Dates and locations are as follows:
- Tuesday, Oct. 9, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the BB&T Ball Park: 951 Ballpark Way, Winston-Salem 27101.
- Tuesday, Oct. 16, from 4:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. at the Milton Rhodes Arts Center: 251 Spruce Street, Winston-Salem 27101.
Drivers must begin considering options for commuting to and from downtown. To help you, new and improved transit opportunities have been proposed by city and regional bus systems with the help of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).
Potential opportunities for riders include but are not limited to:
Winston-Salem Transit Authority (WSTA)
- Increased Frequency to Impacted Routes 80, 85, 95, 103, 104 & 107.
- Park & Ride Locations with Express Bus Service for direct downtown access (Routes 83, 84, 87, 89, 98, 102, 105, 109).
- Rehabilitation of 17 Fixed Route Buses.
- Guaranteed Ride Home Program, as service for Park & Ride participants to access their cars in case of emergency.
Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation (PART)
- Expanded service: Route 6 Surry Express, Routes 17 and 18 Kernersville Connector;
- New service from western Winston-Salem (I-40 and U.S. 421);
- Employer/employee transit and vanpool subsidy;
- Subsidy programs for employer-sponsored business with significant reductions in bus pass and vanpool groups.
The N.C. Department of Transportation is serious about moving incidents off the road quickly to avoid major traffic backups. During the Business 40 closure, there will be "tow and recovery" contracts with specific towing companies, who will arrive at the scene and remove vehicles quickly.
Drivers are also encouraged to familiarize themselves with the "Quick Clearance" law, which allows law enforcement and the department to move vehicles involved in incidents out of the roadway as fast as possible so traffic can return to its normal flow, reducing the potential for secondary crashes.
Drivers are also encouraged to download the WAZE or other navigational applications to view real time traffic incidents.