This Week's Column: Littering
Some new statistics came out Monday regarding road trash -- and those who got caught junking up the highways.
More than 6,600 letters were mailed last year to drivers reported for roadside littering, state officials announced. The count marked a 10 percent increase over 2003.
And when the Highway Patrol kicked off "Operation Litter Sweep" during the last two weeks of April, it issued 143 citations.
Filing a report requires a license number and the time, date and location of the incident. It also requires a description of what you witnessed. Visit www.ncdot.org /~beautification for online reporting.
If Smokey McButts can't snuff his cigarettes in the car's ash tray or keep his Big Mac wrapper in a trash bag, he deserves to pay a fine. Or, at the very least, receive a letter from the state reprimanding him.
"There isn't any part of the state that's litter-free," said George Kapetanakis with the state's Swat-A-Litterbug program. "The main purpose of this is to inform people and educate them that littering is against the law and is a finable offense."
Judy Bolin with N.C. Big Sweep, an anti-litter organization that conducts watershed cleanups each year, pointed out a few more things.
"It hurts our economy, especially the tourism industry," she said. "Tourists don't want to stay in a trashy area."
Shoney's Curb III
The Shoney's restaurant on South Regional Road is getting a new driveway apron for the entrance to its parking lot.
As I reported two weeks ago, a contractor for Piedmont Area Regional Transit widened the road in southwest Greensboro when a new bus terminal was built across the street.
But a new driveway apron wasn't installed properly for the restaurant. Drivers jar their vehicles getting into and out of a lot that sits several inches above the road's surface.
A district engineer with the state Transportation Department got back in touch with me Thursday afternoon to say he and the contractor are now in talks to determine who is going to reinstall the apron.
Shoney's was right. And it appears the problem will be fixed in the coming months, likely from the contractor who performed the initial work.
"And I did drive it. It's quite a bump," said Lane Hall, the district engineer. "I'd like to see this repaired in three to four weeks. But I can't guarantee that time line. It's not in my control."
Fast Forward runs every Saturday. Got questions you want answered or need to vent about transportation issues? Send 'em my way at 373-7008 or etownsend@news-record.com. Be sure to leave your name and a way for me to get in touch with you.