The installation of new brick sidewalk and landscaping has been competed along South Walker Street near East Park Street. These 200 feet of sidewalk complete the last remaining sidewalk gap on South Walker Street, increasing walkability downtown and providing ADA-compliant access for the new Downtown Cary Park.

Following a three-month closure, South Harrison Avenue reopened to traffic between Chatham Street and Faculty Drive in August after successful completion of infrastructure investment along the corridor, including water, sewer, stormwater, curb and gutter, sidewalk replacements, street reconstruction, and paving. This area was initially targeted for water main replacement to improve fire protection and reduce service interruptions. The new water mains have an estimated service life of 100 years. Cary’s infrastructure investment project continues on South Harrison Avenue from Faculty Drive to Heater Street and along Page Street. This section is expected to reopen to traffic in December.

This quarter, Cary put the finishing touches on the Kildaire Farm Road Improvements Project, including landscaping the newly installed median between Byrum Street and Walnut Street. This project improved intersection safety at Walnut Street, enhanced corridor aesthetics with buried utilities and decorative streetlights, and installed new water lines to support redevelopment and ensure reliability. The design and construction were completed in coordination with other downtown developments. Together these projects create a better experience for motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists, including increasing mobility in the growing downtown area. 

Final pavement markings were added to the newly constructed street improvements along Lake Pine Drive on the border of Cary and Apex in August. Apex and Cary have been working collaboratively through a Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Locally Administered Project Program grant to improve Lake Pine Drive from east of Pine Plaza Drive and MacGregor Plaza Drive to the Apex/Cary town limits, northeast of Versailles Drive. This jointly funded project added turn lanes, bike lanes, sidewalk, street-side trails, and a pedestrian refuge island to increase safety and mobility in this corridor.

This quarter, GoCary ridership continued to grow. July and August saw 1,202 average daily boardings, compared with 827 from the same period last year. As demand for transit increases, GoCary continues to look for flexible options to serve Cary. Microtransit can fill in service gaps and connect people to the larger fixed route network. To that end, Cary released a Request for Qualifications for a microtransit study in September, with work expected to begin this fall. This study will identify locations that may support connection nodes as Cary’s fixed route system evolves. Design continued for 48 new bus stops needed for two new fixed routes planned to begin in FY 2025, expanding regional connections to Raleigh and Apex. A Transit Oriented Development Study of station areas along the western Bus Rapid Transit corridor also kicked off this quarter. Staff will analyze land use and urban design policies needed to encourage transit-supportive development along the corridor connecting downtown Cary with downtown Raleigh.

Cary completed another successful Powell Bill Program submission. As an annual state fiscal aid source, the Powell Bill Program funds local municipalities that submit funding requests based on population and maintained street mileage. The state funds primarily support the repair, maintenance, and construction of municipal streets that are not part of the state’s highway system. Staff efforts produced a certified statement and certified GIS map attesting to 514 miles of streets within corporate limits, resulting in $4.5 million to support maintained streets. 

This quarter, Cary completed street improvements in the Reserve, Wellsley, Highcroft, Landsdowne, Saratoga Park, Charleston Woods, and Bond Pointe communities as part of its annual street improvements project. Facts about this period:

• More than 20,000 tons, or 1,000 truckloads, of asphalt were placed. 
• Nearly 200 curb ramps were upgraded and 500 feet of sidewalk were repaired to bring them to current ADA standards. The street improvements program is one of the main ways Cary keeps sidewalk facilities accessible to all users.
• About 2,000 feet of curb and gutter were removed and replaced, addressing stormwater issues and keeping roads in good condition.