This section offers Cary residents an update on the projects funded by the Shaping Cary’s Tomorrow Parks and Transportation Bonds overwhelmingly approved in a 2019 referendum.

Street Improvements Project

This spring, Cary will begin resurfacing more than 11 miles of streets in four neighborhoods (Oakwood Heights, Briarcliff, Pirates Cove, and Harbour Towne), as part of its Street Improvements Project for 2024. Preventive maintenance, including patching and rejuvenation, will be conducted on 
more than 22 miles of streets. Work is expected to be complete by winter 2024.

This year’s project will feature several new initiatives aimed at continuous improvement of the program. The work will incorporate a trackless tack product to reduce vehicular tracking of the asphalt tack coat, high-visibility pavement markings at all crosswalk locations, green pavement markings on bike lanes at major intersections, and a pilot project using asphalt made with 40% reclaimed asphalt pavement. 

Carpenter Fire Station Road

Utility relocation to allow for the widening of Carpenter Fire Station Road began this quarter to provide space for additional lanes. This project includes widening Carpenter Fire Station Road from Cameron Pond Drive to N.C. 55 and installing a 10-foot-wide street-side trail on the south side of the street, a 5-foot sidewalk on the north side, and new traffic signals at Cameron Pond Drive and Highcroft Drive. Utility relocations are expected to continue for about a year with street widening anticipated to start in 2025. 

Black Creek Greenway Renovations and Cary Parkway Sidewalk

The Black Creek Greenway Renovations and Cary Parkway Sidewalk at Black Creek Greenway projects saw lots of activity this quarter with several major milestones met. At its March 14 meeting, Council approved awarding the construction bid to Crowder Construction. Staff coordinated with the N.C. Native Plant Society to perform a plant rescue to relocate potentially impacted plants from within the clearing limits, including Christmas ferns, trout lilies, and painted buckeyes. Construction is expected to begin this summer following public outreach and will be divided into three phases to minimize impacts on greenway users. The first phase, between West Dynasty Drive and North Cary Park, is anticipated to take a year to complete. 

This quarter, Cary upgraded four signalized intersections to improve safety for all modes of transportation and optimize traffic flow.

N.C. 55 at O’Kelly Chapel Road 

To assist pedestrians attempting to cross N.C. 55, Cary added: 

• Pedestrian signals with push buttons on the southern leg.
• High-visibility markings to the crosswalks on the southern and eastern legs.
• Emergency vehicle preemption to reduce response times.

Davis Drive at Airport Boulevard

Cary added a green arrow to create a safer left turn onto Airport Boulevard from westbound Davis Drive. Residents requested this improvement in response to the changing traffic patterns in this area due to recent development. Further improvements, including the addition of a signalized pedestrian crossing, will occur in the coming months.

Cary Parkway and Chatham Street Intersection

Cary added a leading pedestrian interval for crosswalks at the intersection, providing several seconds of all-red time to allow pedestrians to use the crosswalks while no vehicles have a green light.

Cary Parkway at Old Apex Road

Based on resident feedback and following staff analysis, Cary collaborated with N.C. Department of Transportation to remove the merge lane on eastbound Old Apex Road just after the intersection.

Cary’s commitment to pedestrian safety manifests itself in many ways, influencing projects large and small. This quarter, that was on full display with the completion of several modest projects and the achievement of notable milestones in more significant traffic safety projects.

Yates Store Road

Cary added signage and markings to pedestrian crosswalks at the junction of Morris Branch and Amberly Lake greenways. This greatly improves visibility at these crossings with the goal of increasing driver awareness of pedestrians. 

Ederlee Drive

To improve pedestrian visibility at this crosswalk near the Symphony Lake Greenway, Cary added centerline markings to mimic a median island and provide space for in-street warning signs. This improvement serves to narrow travel lanes, creating a traffic-calming effect and reinforcing the yield signs and markings that were also added. 

McCrimmon Parkway

Cary completed the scoping design for McCrimmon Parkway, west of Highcroft Drive, which provides several options to improve pedestrian mobility near Panther Creek High School, including a new traffic signal, pedestrian warning beacon or signal, and median modifications to improve sight visibility. 
This scoping design is being reviewed by N.C. Department of Transportation and will subsequently be presented to the nearby community for input. 

The GoCary Bus Operations and Maintenance Facility has reached the final design phase. This facility will accommodate administration, operations, and maintenance functions for GoCary fixed-route and door-to-door transit service. It allows room for service expansion, the incorporation of solar panels, and provides space for alternative fueling infrastructure. Construction for the facility is expected to begin this fall and will take about two years.

This quarter, Cary added two new electric vehicles to its fleet.A Ford E-Transit vehicle will be used for facility maintenance, while a Tesla Model Y will serve the Western Wake Water Reclamation Facility. To further support clean technology, Cary participated in the Clean Transportation Demonstration Days hosted by the N.C. Clean Energy Technology Center. Cary showcased a Ford Lightning, a Tesla Model Y, and a Tesla Model 3 as examples of electric fleet vehicles. Members of Cary’s fleet staff also shared insights on electric vehicle fleet best practices. 

Cary has kicked off its Greenway Safety Campaign to educate and engage the public and include a technical evaluation of Cary’s greenways. Citizens love the nearly 100 miles of trails. With electric-assist bicycles now allowed on the greenways, Cary seeks to be proactive with a safety campaign that will emphasize key greenway rules and etiquette. The campaign aims to foster respect among the different greenway users, so it’s fitting that the tagline for the campaign will be Many Journeys, One Path. Look for messaging along the greenways, on social media, and at engagement events this spring.