Project Overview

Cary has been awarded a $1.9 million LAPP grant through the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) to construct Higgins Greenway Phase IV. This project will connect to Higgins Greenway Phase III, which is scheduled to begin construction in 2024, and extend along Kildaire Farm Road into downtown Cary. The project begins at Shirley Drive and ends at the Cary Arts Center. Corridor enhancements include:

• Burying Overhead Utilities
• Replacing Aging Water Mains
• Landscaped Medians and Hardscape Elements
• Pedestrian Crossings
• Public Art

Project Goals

1. Serve All Ages and Abilities: Create a greenway, suitable for users of all ages and abilities, that will serve the diversity of people enjoying downtown Cary’s civic anchors.
2. Connect to Civic Anchors: Connect the Higgins Greenway (Phase 3) to the Downtown Cary Park, Cary Elementary School, the Cary Arts Center, and the Cary Regional Library.
3. Create a Signature Urban Greenway Segment: Develop a greenway treatment that appropriately responds to the unique context of Downtown Cary and creates a recognizable and intuitive route for greenway users.
4. Prioritize Pedestrians & Bicyclists in Downtown: Calm traffic on Kildaire Farm Rd., especially in proximity to potential pedestrian/bicycle crossings.
5. Integrate Placemaking & Public Art: Incorporate opportunities for placemaking, wayfinding, and public art that celebrates and enhances the character of Downtown Cary.
6. Support School Safety & Operations: Maximize safety and security for the students, staff, faculty, and parents of Cary Elementary School while minimizing potential operational impacts on the school.

Project Schedule

• Planning – Winter 2022
• Design – Spring 2023 to Fall 2024
• Right of Way Acquisition –Fall 2023 to Fall 2024
• Water Line Construction – Begins Winter 2024-2025
• Greenway Construction – Begins 2025

Public Meeting

A public meeting for Higgins Greenway Phase IV took place on November 29 from 5 - 7 p.m. at the Cary Arts Center. Attendees had the opportunity to speak with staff and learn more about Cary's first downtown greenway. View the public meeting boards from the session.

Feedback received during the public meeting included concerns regarding the intersection of Dowell Drive and Kildaire Farm Road.  In response to citizen input, the design team has incorporated an extended landscaped median island (as shown in the image to the right) to enhance safety through the corridor. 

Contact

Kyle Hubert, PE
Project Manager
Transportation Department
kyle.hubert@carync.gov