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

Design efforts to widen Carpenter Fire Station Road between N.C. 55 and Cameron Pond Drive are approaching the right-of-way acquisition milestone. Following approval from the North Carolina Department of Transportation, Cary can begin property appraisals and negotiations. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2022.

What are Cary citizens’ priorities and needs along Chapel Hill Road? That question and many more were posed this quarter. The Chapel Hill Road Mobility Study seeks to identify the “right-size” for Chapel Hill Road inside the Maynard Loop, one that balances the needs of all users and serves as a gateway into downtown. Public engagement is a key element of the study, and throughout the quarter, several milestones occurred, including meeting with focus groups and stakeholders, publishing an online survey, and holding the study’s first virtual public meeting.

More than 60 people attended the study’s first virtual public meeting on September 30, and more than 1,400 people responded to an online survey that gathered citizens’ priorities and needs for the area. The 10-question priorities and needs survey allowed participants to answer questions, mark problem areas on an interactive map, and leave comments on how they would improve Chapel Hill Road. Almost every written comment referenced pedestrians and the need for sidewalks or improved crossings.

Cary staff and the project consultant also met with nine focus groups and stakeholders to learn how they use the street today, their transportation needs, and their priorities for a future street design. The focus groups and stakeholders included bike and pedestrian advocates, schools, emergency services, downtown businesses, the Cary Chamber of Commerce, developers/real estate
agents, transit agencies, neighborhood leaders, and faith-based organizations. Some recurring themes emerged, including a need for pedestrian improvements and a general consensus that Chapel Hill Road is a “forgotten corridor.” Moving forward, the project team will review public input and identify the overarching themes and future dates for a virtual project charette.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation is revising project schedules throughout the state as part of its ongoing financial strategy. Within the region, 77 projects will be impacted with an average project delay of two to three years. Several notable Cary projects and revised schedules include: 

• Widening Aviation Parkway from I-40 to N.C. 54 with right-of-way acquisition planned for 2029 and construction starting in 2031.
• Redesigning Crossroads Junction, or the I-40/I-440/U.S. 1/U.S. 64 interchange, to relieve congestion. Right-of-way acquisition and construction are planned for 2026.
• Holly Springs Road intersection improvements at Ten Ten Road, Penny Road, and Cary Parkway with right-of-way acquisition planned for 2029 and construction after 2032. 
• Constructing a grade-separated railroad crossing at Northeast Maynard Road with right-of-way acquisition planned for 2025 and construction starting in 2028.
• Widening Ten Ten Road from Apex Peakway to Kildaire Farm Road with right-of-way acquisition planned for 2027 and construction starting in 2030.
• Constructing a grade-separated railroad crossing at Trinity Road with right-of-way acquisition planned for 2025 and construction starting in 2028.
• Improving U.S. 64 from U.S. 1 to Laura Duncan Road with potential pedestrian and bicycle improvements. Right-of-way acquisition is planned for 2026 with construction starting in 2029.

This quarter, staff asked citizens via online surveys where they want to ride their bikes and how Cary can make it easier. Through the second survey, which kicked off this summer, Cary received more than 1,600 responses. Staff learned the majority of residents consider themselves to be “interested but concerned” riders, meaning they enjoy riding their bikes on greenways but not necessarily on the road. Responses indicate that when they do ride on the road, they prefer a bike lane with some type of barrier between them and cars. Staff also asked citizens about their destination when riding their bike, and the most frequent places identified include natural areas, parks, and recreational areas. Identifying the most popular routes will help staff target future improvements to close gaps and improve system connectivity. This public input, stakeholder feedback, and industry guidance will help staff develop a context-appropriate design guide for bike facilities around Cary. Bike Cary public outreach will continue through 2020 as staff explores how to connect and enhance the bike network for all ages and abilities.

Wake Transit BRT, or bus rapid transit, moved into a new phase with the creation of a branding advisory committee. A consistent brand identity will help riders navigate the system by making BRT easily identifiable. Public feedback gathered during virtual meetings, listening sessions, and surveys will be used to develop a recommended branding plan, which will be provided to council later this year. As the plan is developed, there will be additional opportunities for public participation and feedback, including station design elements and the incorporation of public art.

An independent engineering firm analyzed the dynamic left turn intersection, one of the first in the nation, at Cary Parkway and Tryon Road to determine the impact of the new concept. Per the findings, the cost savings from reduced driver delay is estimated to be $85,000 this year. With an initial cost of $35,000, the installation has more than paid for itself in fewer than six months. The engineering firm also studied how well drivers complied with the new intersection type. The compliance rate was 83%. The study found no significant cause or pattern to explain the remaining 17%, but the firm recommended increased enforcement. Cary Police will monitor the intersection to help educate drivers on the traffic pattern during off-peak times.

Two intersections in western Cary are seeing improvements in the form of new traffic signals. Construction of temporary, wood pole traffic signals at McCrimmon Parkway/Highcroft Drive and Green Hope School Road/Green Level Church Road commenced in September. They are expected to be complete at the end of October with a permanent, metal pole traffic signal planned at McCrimmon Pkwy/Highcroft Drive.