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 Bridge and Intersection Improvements Project Update 

Work is complete on the textured architectural concrete walls for the bridge overpass that supports the CSX railroad over Carpenter Fire Station Road. The textured walls are reminiscent of the architectural features located within and adjacent to the Carpenter Historic District. Work on this project is 65% complete. In February, staff hosted a public listening meeting to share project progress and seek feedback on the project’s potential roadway connections, street closures, and street renaming. 

This quarter, work to improve several intersections along High House Road near Jenks Carpenter Road continued. This included installation of a new landscaped median and signal at the intersection of Carpenter Upchurch Road and a new left turn lane at the intersection of Widdington Lane. To the east, Cary completed and opened new and extended turn lanes at Cary Parkway and Waldo Rood Boulevard. These improvements are already making a noticeable impact in terms of safety and traffic flow. New traffic signals at these intersections and construction at the intersections of Waldo Rood Boulevard at MacArthur Drive and Kildaire Farm Road at Advent Court are anticipated in Q4. 

At the request of downtown visitors, contractors installed white crosswalk lines along the outside of the brick crosswalk on South Academy Street at Charlie Gaddy Lane. When originally installed, white brick marked the crosswalks along South Academy Street. Frequent foot traffic between the Downtown Park and adjacent parking lot increased the need to improve crosswalk visibility. In addition, contractors installed a double yellow centerline on Mayton View Lane, and Public Works installed “No Parking” signs along this street. This work will help facilitate construction on the Downtown Park, allows the street to become reconfigured, and improves delivery service and trash pickup access to the Mayton Inn. 

Finally, a contractor installed pavement markings next to the railroad tracks on North Harrison Avenue north of the Cary Depot to help drivers avoid turning onto the tracks, particularly at night. Since 2014, an increasing number of drivers have turned onto the railroad tracks and gotten stuck. Cary has been working with the North Carolina Department of Transportation and Norfolk Southern to find solutions to this challenge, and Cary and NCDOT will continue to monitor this crossing. 

As Piney Plains Road continues to redevelop, it provides an opportunity to evaluate the existing transportation network. The Piney Plains corridor from Southeast Cary Parkway to Dillard Drive transitions from a three-lane to five-lane street as it continues north. Cary is exploring ways to right-size and improve the road, including number of lanes, bike facilities, pedestrian facilities, access, and aesthetics. This quarter, staff surveyed area neighborhoods on two street design options and received overwhelming support from more than 500 people. Project commencement is contingent on the impacts of a nearby North Carolina Department of Transportation project near Crossroads; therefore, Cary will continue to partner with NCDOT through project design. Full survey results can be found at bit.ly/pineyplains. 

GoCary added three new routes in January, completing its first major service expansion since 2007. GoCary Routes 1 through 7 now meet at the Cary Depot, making it easier for passengers to connect to other local and regional transit services. Route 7 provides new daily service to Weston Parkway via Park West Village. The new Route 8 operates Mondays and Thursdays, connecting senior living communities with medical and recreational facilities, grocery stores, and other shopping options. The Apex-Cary Express (ACX) offers a new connection between downtown Cary and downtown Apex during the morning and evening commute. In addition, a new GoCary Ride Guide, which can be found at www.GoCary.org, provides detailed route maps and schedules in both English and Spanish. This information has been shared with the community through the GoCary “Better transit. More connections.” marketing campaign.

Cary’s Spot Improvement Projects are intended to be small projects that can be delivered quickly to benefit residents. In recent years, staff in Traffic Engineering designed several projects to improve vehicular and pedestrian safety but have struggled to find private contractors to complete them. Due to an influx of regional projects, many contractors have not been interested in smaller projects, leaving many construction-ready projects sitting on shelves. In response, Traffic Engineering partnered with Public Works to utilize existing relationships with local contractors. By designing and managing projects in house, Cary can be more agile in project delivery. 

Current Spot Improvement Projects under construction include a greenway trail crossing on Green Hope School Road with a median pedestrian refuge and flashing beacons, a median refuge for pedestrians crossing Louis Stephens Road near Heritage Pines, and a new crosswalk for students traveling to Turner Creek Elementary School. 

Cary’s newly-established Transportation Working Group held a kick-off meeting March 16. The group, which includes nine members, spent time learning about the group’s mission and focus areas, including advocacy, planning, policy, and engagement in emerging technology, for future discussion topics. Moving forward, the group plans to meet monthly.

Last year, when the North Carolina Department of Transportation fell below its state-mandated cash floor, many state and federally-funded projects paused. Now that NCDOT is above its cash floor, all Cary’s LAPP projects are proceeding, including the redesign of Crossroads Junction, or the Interstate 40/Interstate 440/U.S. 1/U.S. 64 interchange. However, there may be some schedule impacts moving forward.

Cary’s Traffic Management Center partnered with SAS in a machine learning exploratory project. The goal is to analyze high-definition video feeds and turn raw data into useful intelligence. Video analytics will provide real-time traffic statistics, traffic efficiency, and incident management thus enhancing mobility. During the initial meeting, Cary shared traffic camera locations from the Traffic Management System that allowed SAS to select locations for an optimal outcome. Ten locations were chosen and programmed to record for 30 hours of high-definition video. Cary submitted the video to SAS for analysis and is awaiting results.

White Oak Creek Greenway Boardwalk Redecking Project 

I have to let you know what a wonderful job you and your TEAM at TOC have done on this project. 
We have lived here 22 years and have so enjoyed the last 12 years (I think) this bridge has been open! We use the greenway daily on bikes or running, walking, etc.
Please pass along how nice and polite your crew is when we pass them during construction and or maintenance on the greenways!! Share this information as it is so important!!!
Stay well and THANK YOU AGAIN!
­– From Citizens Sheila and Doug Augustine