I-40/Aviation Parkway Interchange

NCDOT’s I-40 / Aviation Parkway Interchange project is under construction. The project’s purpose is to reduce congestion by providing additional capacity for motorists exiting and entering the interstate. The project will replace the bridge on Aviation Parkway over I-40, add through lanes and sidewalks and improve several ramps. Cary is participating in improvements by funding sidewalks and brick pavers in the median. Construction is expected to be completed in 2021.

I-40/Airport Blvd Interchange

This NCDOT project will relieve traffic congestion and improve traffic flow at the I-40 / Airport Boulevard interchange. In 2018, NCDOT presented two alternative designs to the public and local jurisdictions for comment: 1) Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI) and 2) Partial Clover Interchange. Following public review and comment, NCDOT chose the DDI design as this alternative has a smaller footprint and does not impact existing businesses. The project includes the construction of an auxiliary lane between Airport Boulevard and Aviation Parkway and a center median on Airport Boulevard that will alter driveway access to right-in/right-out movements, thus improving safety. Pedestrian and bicycle improvements include a 10-foot street-side trail on the west side of the road and a 5-foot sidewalk on the east side. Cary will participate in a 50-50 cost-sharing agreement with NCDOT to pay for the sidewalks within Town limits. All sidewalks and trails on the interchange bridge are fully funded by NCDOT. Construction is scheduled for 2019. 
For more information on this project, check out NCDOT’s project page at https://ncdot.publicinput.com/2254.

Maynard Road Grade Separation

NCDOT is developing a project to construct a grade-separated railroad crossing at Maynard Road near E. Chatham Street to improve traffic flow and safety. Approximately 70 people attended the project’s first open house at the Herb Young Community Center in October 2018, including a large population of primarily Spanish-speaking residents. An interpreter was on-site to facilitate discussion and ensure that resident concerns were heard. Two alternatives are being proposed: 1) an option that takes Maynard Road under the existing railroad tracks and realigns E. Chatham Street outside of the railroad corridor, and 2) an option that realigns Maynard Road over the railroad tracks and E. Chatham Street on a new alignment east of the existing intersection. In addition to the open house, 18 local business owners within the project area met with the NCDOT project team to provide input on the draft concepts. 

The NCDOT project team is working to schedule a meeting in February with residents of Mobile Estates. Wake County Western Region Community Advocacy Committee-Affordable Housing Action Group and the NC Congress of Latino Organizations reached out to include the community. A second round of public meetings is tentatively planned for late summer or fall. At that time, NCDOT will present its preferred alternative. Right-of-way acquisition is set to begin in 2022 with construction to follow in 2024.

US-64

NCDOT is studying options to improve US 64 between US 1 in Cary and just west of Laura Duncan Road in Apex. The need to improve this corridor is demonstrated by the increasing traffic volumes and the subsequent number of crashes being nearly double the state average for similar facilities.

In addition to two public meetings, NCDOT’s project team and Cary staff met with representatives from local homeowner associations in October to understand resident concerns with the current conceptual designs and their impacts. There are concerns about noise, access and potential loss of vegetation. Staff also held two follow-up meetings with the NCDOT on aesthetics. NCDOT presented revised corridor concepts to Cary staff for review and discussion in December. The noise analysis is expected in February. Updated public outreach will include newsletter and website updates as well as follow-up meetings with local homeowners’ associations. The environmental document is scheduled to be complete in spring 2019. Following project design, right-of-way acquisition is expected to begin in 2020 and construction in 2022. For more information, check out NCDOT’s project page at https://ncdot.publicinput.com/2246.

Ten Ten Road

NCDOT is proposing a traditional widening approach to improve the existing street from two lanes to four to six lanes. Improvements include a median, striped bike lanes, a multi-use path and sidewalks between Kildaire Farm Road in Cary and the Apex Peakway. A super-street widening option was previously considered but eliminated based on public input. At this time, the project is estimated to relocate 17 homes and six businesses along the corridor. Approximately 170 people attended the second of two public meetings on the Ten Ten Road widening project in October 2018. The project will be constructed in two phases, and the timing will be determined at a later date based on available funding. The project’s environmental document is being finalized. Right-of-way acquisition is scheduled for 2021 and construction in 2023. NCDOT information may be found at https://ncdot.publicinput.com/2324.

I-40/I-440/US1/US64 Interchange

NCDOT has started two projects for improvements at the I-40/I-440/US1/US64 interchange. Project development, environmental and engineering studies for the proposed two projects will include: 

• I-40/I-440/US1/US64: Reconstruct the interchange to improve traffic operations. Given the proximity to Walnut Street, revisions to the US1/US64 interchange at Walnut Street are being considered. The project has a design-build anticipated schedule of 2022.
• I-40: Construct additional lanes between I-440/US1/US64 and Lake Wheeler Road. Right-of-way acquisition is expected to begin in 2020 and construction in 2022.

Given the proximity and overlap of these two projects, NCDOT is considering adjusting the project schedules to allow concurrent construction letting schedules. The planning and environmental documents are scheduled for completion in late 2019. Public outreach is planned for 2019, including a public meeting to discuss concepts and, later, a public meeting to discuss design details. Based on advice from Cary officials, the project team plans to schedule meetings with key businesses and neighborhoods prior to the first public meeting.

Louis Stephens Drive

NCDOT plans to extend Louis Stephens Drive from O’Kelly Chapel Road in RTP to Poplar Pike Lane in Morrisville. This project is adjacent to Cary town limits and will be regularly utilized by our citizens traveling to RTP and Parkside Town Commons. The project includes building half of the future four-lane, median-divided road (the two northbound lanes) to be utilized as the interim two-lane roadway. Plans include a 10-foot street-side trail on the east side of the road. Morrisville staff asked if Cary would consider contributing to the Louis Stephens 10-foot street-side trail. Staff has requested a cost estimate from NCDOT and will discuss with Council at a future date. Cary has a 12-inch waterline project that will also be coordinated as part of the Louis Stephens Drive project, eliminating the need for a separate construction period and lessening the impact on Cary and Morrisville residents. Right-of-way acquisition is underway, and construction is scheduled to begin this  spring.

While the Louis Stephens Drive Extension will provide vehicular connectivity to Parkside Town Commons, staff anticipates there will also be frequent pedestrian and bike activity between Cary and Morrisville residential neighborhoods and the shopping center. Cary, Morrisville and RTP staff met to discuss future pedestrian facilities on O’Kelly Chapel Road between the shopping center and Louis Stephens Drive. RTP planning staff indicated they will design this missing link to complete the pedestrian network.

Complete 540

NCDOT has awarded the first of three contracts for the Complete 540 project in southeastern Wake County. On November 30, a $403 million contract was awarded for the first phase which consists of the extension of the Triangle Expressway from US 401 to I-40, a six-lane facility. NCDOT expects to bid and award phases 2 and 3 (extending the current NC540 from its current terminus in Holly Springs to US 401) in the summer of 2019.

Complete 540 is a design-build project. This is a different process than typical roadway projects. The design-build process allows NCDOT to hire a team of designers and contractors who will be responsible for the design, right-of-way acquisition and construction of a project. The design-build process allows construction to begin on one portion of the project while design and right-of-way acquisition are still underway on other portions of the project. Working on these stages in parallel usually results in faster completion.

In December, staff provided feedback on sidewalk and greenway upgrades to ensure consistency with Cary’s standards and the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Master Plan. 

Construction may begin in 2019 and is expected to be open to traffic in 2023. https://ncdot.publicinput.com/2286.

Downtown Multimodal Transit Feasibility Study

The Technical Review Committee (TRC) for the Downtown Multimodal Transit Facility Feasibility Study continues to meet regularly as this project moves forward. The TRC is made up of stakeholders from the Town of Cary, City of Raleigh, GoTriangle, CAMPO, NCDOT, NCRR and Amtrak. The group is tasked with determining the criteria for site selection, facility functional needs, BRT routing alternatives, and ultimately, concept design of the facility. A public meeting later this spring will also give the community a chance to provide input on these elements. A final report for the study is expected this fall, at which time right-of-way acquisition will begin before entering the design phase.

Transit Ridership

After holding steady in the first quarter of FY 2019, ridership is on the rise for GoCary. Ridership increased by 8.1 percent in Q2 with an overall increase of 4.5 percent for the first half of the year, despite several weather-related closures. October marked the first month that ridership exceeded 20,000. Service changes proposed for later this spring will improve on-time performance and provide access to more areas in Cary, attracting new riders and improving overall productivity.

GoCary.org

GoCary.org has a new look! The GoCary website coordinates with other transit agencies in the Triangle, providing a seamless experience for riders as they plan their travel throughout the region. Staff is exploring options for online ticket purchases and mobile fare payments as part of a regional technology study funded by the Wake County Transit Plan.

In October, staff and the Town’s contractor completed installation of a Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) warning system for the American Tobacco Trail crossing on O’Kelly Chapel Road. These devices use LED lights that strobe when push buttons are pressed by the trail users. Given the concerns about speeding on O’Kelly Chapel Road, four warning devices were installed: two at the crossing and two 450 feet in advance of the crossing. Any trail user that activates a push button will turn on all four flashing beacons.

Cary has worked closely with Chatham County and the Rails to Trails Conservancy to improve safety of the roadway crossings for the American Tobacco Trail in Cary. In particular, the crossing of O’Kelly Chapel Road has been a source of concern for both motorists and trail users. Between NCDOT and Cary, several safety projects have been implemented for this crossing on O’Kelly Chapel Road, including center line rumble strips, wider pavement markings and advanced warning signs. Both parties will continue to monitor this crossing to determine the impact of the devices.

A major milestone was achieved on the Cary Parkway and High House Road Intersection Improvements Project when the new left and right turn lanes were opened to traffic on December 13, 2018. An immediate reduction in congestion has occurred due to these upgrades.

With the opening of the new turn lanes, aesthetic enhancements, including the decorative, stamped brick crosswalks, bus shelter, landscaping and pedestrian level decorative lighting are being installed. These features will add unique visual elements to this intersection. The project is expected to be completed this spring.

Staff is moving forward with the condemnation process to secure right-of-way and easements needed for the construction of the Reedy Creek Road widening. Staff is also working with Wake County Public Schools to show how the roundabout design could help with internal flow within the school property during student drop off times. Staff is also working with private utility companies to coordinate necessary relocations. Construction is anticipated to begin in fall 2019.

Private utility companies are relocating their utilities at the intersections of Evans Road at Cary Parkway, Kildaire Farm Road at Cary Parkway and Maynard Road at High House Road. Construction has begun at the Evans Road at Cary Parkway intersection and is expected to be completed in the summer. Construction should begin on Kildaire Farm Road at Cary Parkway and Maynard Road at High House Road this spring and be completed this fall.

Construction is close to 40 percent complete, but progress has been slowed due to rainy weather. Construction of Morrisville Parkway, between Twyla Road and Highcroft Drive, is approaching completion with the exception of the final layer of asphalt. Concrete paving at the ramp and loop tie-ins to NC 540 are finished. Twyla Road has been rerouted to allow for grading operations east of NC 540 that will support the eastern bridge approach and roundabout. Grading operations will continue this winter in advance of additional roadway work scheduled for the spring. The project is expected to be completed by next  winter.

In December 2018, staff mailed more than 100 letters to surrounding property owners, citizens and business stakeholders regarding the anticipated construction start date of January 14. Utility construction work (water and sewer) will be the first items of work on the project. Grading of the railroad track detour is expected to begin this spring. The developer has fulfilled the obligation to permanently close the existing Carpenter Fire Station Road railroad crossing.

MacArthur Segment

The White Oak Creek Greenway–MacArthur project, a short but challenging section that includes a 102-foot tunnel under the railroad and 916 feet of boardwalk, will close the last gap in the trail between Bond Park and the American Tobacco trail. When the three construction bids received on October 17 were over previous estimates, Cary staff member Luana Deans, liaison to the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO), worked to obtain an additional $1,850,000 in grant funding for this critical segment. On December 13, Town Council awarded the bid to Crowder Construction Company for $6,223,043, contingent on concurrence by NCDOT as grant funding administrators. Construction is planned to start in spring 2019.

Green Level Church Road to the American Tobacco Trail

Construction of the White Oak Creek Greenway from Green Level Church Road to the American Tobacco Trail is complete and open to the public. The Town of Apex is currently maintaining this segment of trail in accordance with our Interlocal Agreement. Apex is requiring several new connections along the trail from neighborhoods that are currently under construction. Staff is working with the Town of Apex on the completion of these developer-built neighborhood connections and signage. This greenway is a vital link to the East Coast Greenway and is funded by CAMPO’s Locally Administered Projects Program (LAPP), Wake County, Apex and Cary’s 2012 Community Investment Bonds. Staff is planning a dedication this spring.

This project will renovate the trail from Maynard Road to the dam of Lake Crabtree. It will also include construction of a new section that will allow users to bypass the extremely steep street-side trail along Dynasty Drive and connect the last gap in the Black Creek Greenway. Black Creek is one of the Town’s oldest greenways and has sustained repeated flood damage during storms. This project will widen the trail to 10 feet, re-route or elevate some sections to reduce exposure to flooding and replace asphalt with concrete in flood-prone areas. NCDOT, as administrator of federal grant funding, is currently reviewing the 65 percent plans. The Town is preparing to start acquisition of easements which will take about a year.

Town Council members from Cary and Morrisville and Wake County Commissioners joined members of the public and staff to celebrate Crabtree Creek Greenway’s completion with a dedication ceremony on November 4. This scenic greenway runs 1.7 miles along the southern shore of Lake Crabtree, linking to Black Creek Greenway via a 730-ft boardwalk, and connecting across Evans Road to another 2.7 miles of trail constructed by Morrisville.