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

Carpenter Fire Station Road Widening 

Right-of-way acquisition and negotiations with property owners began for the Carpenter Fire Station Road widening project, which will expand the road between Cameron Pond Drive and N.C. 55 to a four-lane, median-divided street. In addition, staff is coordinating with the multi-family development in the southwest corner of Carpenter Fire Station Road and N.C. 55 to minimize impacts. As part of the project, a street-side trail will be installed on the south side of the street and pedestrian fencing installed across the Carpenter Fire Station Road Bridge over N.C. 540. These improvements will help enhance safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers traveling through the corridor and to the future park near Highcroft Drive. Installation of the pedestrian fencing is anticipated to be complete this summer, and the road widening project is anticipated to begin summer of 2023. 

Street Improvements Project 

Construction began on the 2022 Street Improvements Project in June. This year’s work covers Norwell Boulevard and includes new bike lanes and ADA-compliant curb ramp updates to support a detour of the Black Creek Greenway. About 21 miles of street repaving are scheduled for this year with construction expected to be complete this winter. The 2023 Street Improvements Project is in the planning and design phase with bidding expected this fall and construction next spring.  

Cary’s commitment to pedestrian connectivity and safety is reflected in the 40 sidewalk projects under way. More information can be found at townofcary.org/sidewalks. 

Construction Starting:

• Northwest Maynard Road, west of North Harrison Avenue
  

90% Design Complete, Beginning Real Estate Negotiations:

• Byrum Street from Kildaire Farm Road to Walnut Street
• Ederlee Drive from Richelieu Drive to Avenue of the Estates
• Summerwinds Drive from Tryon Road to Summerview Lane
• South Walker Street from First United Methodist Church parking lot to East Park Street

60% Design Complete, Beginning Utility Relocations/Environmental Permitting:

• Laura Duncan Road from town limits to Southwest Cary Parkway
• Northwest Cary Parkway from Sheldon Drive to Waltonwood Silverton Planned Development District
• Highfield Avenue from N.C. 55 to Batchelor Branch Greenway
• Maynard Road from Chapel Hill Road to Maynard Creek Court
• West Lake Road from Fairview Ridge Lane to Larboard Drive
• Old Apex Road from Murphy Drive to West Chatham Street

Survey Complete, Beginning Design:

• West Chatham Street from Old Apex Road to Fallsworth Drive
• Northwest Cary Parkway from Saddle Creek Lane to town limits
• Wrenn Drive from Kildaire Farm Road to Bargate Drive

ARPA-Funded Sidewalk Projects

The RFQ process is complete and negotiations are ongoing with the selected engineering firms for the 14 American Rescue Plan Act-funded sidewalk projects previously approved by Council. Surveying is expected to start later this year. A full list of ARPA-funded sidewalks can be found at townofcary.org/arpasidewalk.

GoCary is one of 7 systems in the state and 177 systems nationwide committed to President Biden’s Sustainable Transit for a Healthy Planet Challenge. This includes working with the Federal Transit Administration to develop climate action, sustainability, and fleet transition plans with a goal of achieving 50% reduction in greenhouse gases from public transit by 2030. This effort involves increasing the use of solar energy and increasing ridership to reduce the number of single-occupancy vehicles on the road. Cary is leading the way with a record year of ridership as numbers exceed pre-COVID levels. In addition, pole-mounted solar lights are being installed at bus stops that do not have adequate street lighting. By the end of summer, 90% of Cary bus stops will have some form of security lighting, with 38% powered by solar.

Cary kicked off two bike-related pilots during National Bike Month in May. The first, an e-bike pilot, will allow electric-assisted bicycles on Cary’s greenways through the end of the year. E-bike users must obey Cary greenway rules, including the 15-mph speed limit, and must be pedaling in order to engage the electric motor. Enhanced educational signage along the greenways reinforces these key messages and provides a survey link so that staff can gather feedback from all greenway users during this pilot. Staff anticipates analyzing findings from the survey and additional research in late fall. 

Cary also launched a bike rental program in May that ended July 5. Citizens were able to rent bicycles from a docking station located by the Boathouse at Bond Park using an app managed by the bike rental company. As of June 28, 338 rides were taken on the bikes. The e-bike and bike rental pilots complemented additional activities during Bike Month in May and National Trails Day on June 4. Cary hosted a Love to Ride competition, a Find Your Greenway scavenger-style hunt, and a bike ride on White Oak Creek Greenway. Every year, Cary takes advantage of National Bike Month and National Trails Day to highlight, educate, and engage citizens about Cary’s 90-mile greenway network and the opportunities afforded by cycling in Cary. 

May marked a significant milestone in the evolution of Cary’s Traffic Calming Program with Council’s approval of revisions to Policy Statement 124. The updated policy supports the expansion of the Traffic Calming Program to include additional road classifications in response to citizen requests for action on the streets that serve their neighborhoods. Additionally, the policy now provides for a more streamlined citizen engagement process and expands Cary’s flexibility in responding to citizen concerns on roads where excessive speeding is confirmed by data. The amended policy now fully aligns with Cary’s commitment to providing a transportation system designed to function for all residents inclusive of all preferred modes of travel, whether that be driving, walking, or biking.