The Walker Street project continues to make significant progress. On November 20, the intersection of Walker Street at East Chatham Street was re-opened. This milestone allows Duke Energy, AT&T and Spectrum to begin relocating their aerial utilities to underground conduits, which will help transform the project footprint into our signature Downtown streetscape appearance. The contractor has completed 60 percent of the contract, which includes water line improvements, storm drainage improvements, temporary signals and underground utilities. The contractor continues to work on the curb and gutter, brick and concrete sidewalks, driveway aprons, decorative traffic signals, sewer rehabilitation and paving. As work continues, citizens can expect to see immediate changes that will transform this intersection into an accessible and multi-activity destination that will accommodate future live, work, play and civic opportunities while also supporting storm drainage improvements. The project is expected to be complete in summer 2020.

On October 18, several Cary staff along with Council Member Ken George and representatives from CAMPO and NCDOT met to celebrate substantial completion of this project and participate in a bike ride through the project in advance of opening it to traffic. 

The NC 540 interchange at Morrisville Parkway is scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2020.

Carpenter Fire Station Road Widening West of NC 55

Feedback from the community in western Cary, including Cameron Pond residents, helped staff shape and develop design plans and concepts for a multi-modal transportation facility. Public feedback centered around implementing bicycle and pedestrian connectivity in and around the Cameron Pond subdivision and in western Cary. Based on the feedback, the design plans now include: 

• A 10-foot-wide street side trail on the south side of Carpenter Fire Station Road from Cameron Pond Drive to NC 55. The street side trail will eventually link to the future neighborhood park at the corner of Highcroft Drive and Carpenter Fire Station Road.
• Installation of two traffic signals, including pedestrian signals and crosswalks, at Cameron Pond Drive and Highcroft Drive.
• Wide outside lanes to support experienced bike riders.

A second public workshop was held on November 12 with staff from Transportation and Facilities, Planning and Development Services, Fire and Police. Staff addressed questions and shared design plans that incorporated public comments from the initial public workshop. Staff received additional comments that will be used to further transform and shape the final design and right-of-way plans. 

Carpenter Fire Station Road will be widened west of NC 55 to a four-lane, median-divided thoroughfare tying to existing widening. Designs are substantially complete with right-of-way negotiations scheduled to begin in fall 2020. Construction is scheduled to begin in winter 2022. Design and right-of-way plans must be reviewed and approved by NCDOT since Carpenter Fire Station Road is a state-maintained road.

This project was approved by Town of Cary voters as part of the 2019 Bond Referendum. Cary has also received over $2.5 million in federal funding for this project. 

Carpenter Fire Station Road Bridge and Intersection Improvements

Through collaboration with CSX, NCDOT and the contractor, bridge construction to support the existing railroad tracks over the new east-west connector roadway east of NC 55 started this fall. In early December, the contractor completed the drilled piers that will support the new bridge. At the same time, construction is underway on the new east-west roadway connector that will go under the railroad bridge and link Carpenter Fire Station Road at NC 55 with Morrisville Carpenter Road. The project is approximately 45 percent complete. Ongoing construction operations include storm drainage, earthwork, bridge construction and testing, utility construction and erosion control. Construction is scheduled to be complete in 2022.

Weatherstone Way

The installation of two traffic signals on Olde Weatherstone Way was completed in October. Signals at both termini of Olde Weatherstone Way, Maynard Road and Cary Parkway, provide better access and safety to pedestrians and motorists, especially in accessing Weatherstone Elementary School.

Weston Parkway

Work on the traffic signal at Weston Parkway and Sheldon Drive/Weston Estates Way is well underway. The new traffic signal at this intersection will include mast arm poles, a CCTV camera for remote monitoring and fiber optic cable connectivity to the Traffic Management System. Signal design will accommodate future pedestrian crosswalks and signals, but the actual installation will not feature those items initially since there is currently no sidewalk at the intersection.

Holly Springs

As the Town of Holly Springs embarked on growing their downtown district along South Main Street, they ran into an issue with one intersection in particular — Main and Ballentine. While a traffic signal was needed for this intersection, it was not cost-effective to create a traffic signal maintenance program for one signal. Holly Springs staff contacted Town of Cary staff, and a subsequent agreement culminated in the first Cary-maintained traffic signal owned by Holly Springs. The traffic signal went into operation in December with a CCTV camera and 
fiber connection.

In early 2020, Cary will begin a complete street study of Chapel Hill Road inside the Maynard Road loop. This unique corridor serves as a gateway into the Downtown Special Planning Area. Currently, the majority of Chapel Hill Road is a two-lane road, typically without curb and gutter or pedestrian and bike facilities. The Cary Community Plan (CCP) currently proposes to widen Chapel Hill Road inside the Maynard loop to a four-lane, median-divided street. 

The CCP identified a major action item in the Act chapter to “Balance Transportation Investments to Support All Modes.” Given that Maynard Road (NC 54) is an alternate route with available capacity and that the existing Chapel Hill Road corridor is home to two elementary schools, the Black Creek greenway trail, residences and businesses, the complete streets study will re-evaluate this corridor to determine a “right-sized” cross-section and a preferred alignment that will accommodate future transportation needs, serve all users and provide certainty to property owners. The study will take approximately a year and will include extensive public engagement.

As the Town’s bike system expands, Cary continues to see increased demand from the community for additional safe and comfortable bicycle facilities for users of all ages and abilities. This demand supports the Cary Community Plan’s MOVE goal to close gaps and connect people to places. This movement is aligning with shifts in national guidance toward a context-based approach to bicycle facility design. This contextual assessment guides a design that more accurately responds to the specific needs of the community based on the context of a street versus a “one size fits all” approach to bicycle planning.

Staff is currently working on a new context-based Bike Design Manual specific to Cary. Staff will be launching this effort in early 2020 with the unveiling of a new Bike Cary website, extensive community engagement, implementation of separated bike facilities in capital and development projects and bike “pop-up” projects to explore new facility types.

White Oak Creek Greenway

Work proceeded on the construction of the last remaining segment of the White Oak Creek Greenway. When completed, there will be a continuous greenway trail from Umstead State Park to the American Tobacco Trail, a distance of 15 miles.

Higgins Greenway

A second public meeting on Higgins Greenway Phase 3 was held in December with over 50 citizens participating. Attendees viewed plans and examples of the future greenway. Over a dozen staff were in attendance to answer questions regarding Hillcrest Cemetery, traffic and public safety, public art, historic preservation and greenways. Staff is reviewing the comment cards and will begin to stake easements. To meet LAPP funding deadlines, easement acquisition will occur in 2020.

Bus stop improvements are underway as transit staff prepares for GoCary fixed route service changes. Design work for bus stops and sidewalks is almost complete with Phase 1 construction of 57 new stops expected to begin soon. New GoCary bus stop signs have been delivered, and installation will begin next month, along with fresh paint and new solar lights on all bus shelters. Transit staff is working with focus groups to develop easy-to-follow Ride Guides with updated maps and schedules. A marketing consultant has been retained to develop a plan to ensure customers are fully aware of changes in
advance of implementation later in 2020.