Apex Wants to Become a More Bike Friendly Community
As we’re no doubt used to hearing by now, Wake County is one of the fastest growing regions in the country. Indeed, it’s been reported that, on average, roughly 63 people move to Wake County every day. And while there’s little question that population growth generates many great new opportunities for an area, it’s apparent that rapid growth brings new challenges and difficulties to a region, too.
Consider traffic and congestion, for instance.
As our population has grown in recent years, so too has the number of cars on our roads and highways. In 2005, the number of Wake County residents who commuted to work using a private car stood at around 348,000. However, by 2017, that number had risen nearly 41% to 490,000. Moreover, our daily commutes to work in our private cars have been getting longer and longer each year. In 2005, only about 32% of residents in Wake County needed 30 minutes or longer to drive to work, but by 2017, this was true of 37% of residents.
It’s little surprise then that, as traffic throughout the region worsens, more and more residents throughout Wake County are demanding options and alternatives on ways to get around. We see evidence of this in voters’ support for the Wake Transit Plan, which seeks to expand bus service throughout the region, implement Bus-Rapid Transit (BRT) to and from Downtown Raleigh, and build a Commuter Rail across the county from Garner to Durham. We see it, too, in residents’ enthusiasm for the City of Raleigh’s recently unveiled Bike Share program and subsequent plans to provide multimodal transportation options downtown.
But even though Raleigh is by far the largest municipality in the county, it is not the only community in the area that is experiencing rapid growth. Nor is it the only municipality working to get more people out of cars.
Our smaller municipalities, such as the Town of Apex, are stepping up and doing their part, too.
Between 2010 and 2016, Apex grew by roughly the same rate as Wake County — 17% growth for Apex vs. 16% growth for Wake County (for comparison, the rest of North Carolina grew by a mere 4% over the same time period).* And in direct response to this growth, the Apex Town Council voted unanimously earlier this year to adopt the town’s first comprehensive bicycle plan.
Dubbed Bike Apex, the plan seeks to “create safe and connected routes for bicycling in Apex, with connections to surrounding communities.”
Bike Apex is the result of a yearslong planning process that began in late 2017 after the Town was awarded a grant from the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s Division of Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation. The plan evolved from collaboration between residents, Town staff, and elected officials, and was built from extensive data collection and analysis of existing roadway conditions, public input surveys, public meetings and workshops, and input from the project’s Steering Committee.
The Bike Apex plan is ambitious in scope, and you can download and read the entire document by going to the Town’s website. But at 128 pages it can be a slog to get through, and we wouldn’t blame you for not wanting to tackle it!
So, in keeping with our theme for this month of Mobility May, this post is dedicated to providing a brief overview of the plan’s major highlights and proposed projects.
We hope this will be useful for giving residents an idea of what the present bicycling conditions are like in Apex and how those conditions might hopefully improve in the not-too-distant future.
Apex Residents Want A Bike Friendly Community, But there Will Be Challenges Ahead
In recent years, residents have expressed overwhelming support for expanding bicycle facilities in Apex. According to the 2017 Advance Apex survey, which sought input from 1,235 people, 85% of respondents agree that it is “very important to improve bicycling conditions in Apex.”
At present, Apex only has within its town limits about 1.5 miles of total bicycle lanes and wide outside lanes, and most residents agree this is inadequate. Indeed, a full 85% of surveyed residents rated overall bicycling conditions in Apex as either “Poor” (41%) or just “Fair (44%).” Meanwhile, a mere 14% rated current bicycling conditions in the town as “Good.”
Survey data from the Town also reveal that safety concerns are a major obstacle to bicycling in the area. For instance, 42% of survey respondents indicated that when they do not ride a bike, it’s mainly because they do not feel safe doing so. The next most frequently cited reason for not riding a bike more often is mere lack of interest (23%).
But concerns about safety and lack of interest are not the only hurdles the Town will have to overcome on its way to developing a more interconnected network of bicycle facilities. There’s also the matter of the existing transportation culture in the area.
As is true throughout Wake County, private automobiles reign supreme in Apex. According to survey data, the vast majority of households in Apex own at least one vehicle, and approximately 70% own two or more. In addition to this, over 80% of residents commute to work each day by driving alone.
Moreover, when residents choose to ride a bicycle, the vast majority (91%) indicate that they do so merely for exercise and recreation. Only 13% of residents report ever using a bicycle as a form of actual transportation to destinations such as restaurants or shops.
To fully realize the recommendations of the Bike Apex plan, Apex is going to need to capitalize on its unique, existing attributes and develop creative strategies for overcoming challenges that might otherwise keep residents off bikes.
Listed below are a few of the most critical of the Town’s existing attributes, labeled according to whether they pose a likely opportunity or challenge for moving forward on improving bicycling in the area. The listing below was adapted from Table 2.2 on pages 21-22 of the Bike Apex plan.
Existing Opportunities and Challenges for Apex
- Overall Transportation Network (Opportunity)
- The majority of streets in Apex see relatively little traffic, with several notable exceptions. US 1, US 64, NC 540, and NC 55 are the main arterial roadways that carry high volume of traffic through the area.
- Designated Bicycle Routes (Opportunity)
- Three of North Carolina’s designated State Bicycle Routes pass through or begin in Apex, including NC Bike Route 1, NC Bike Route 2, and NC Bike Route 5. However, these routes are currently designed only through signage.
- Existing Bike Lanes (Challenge)
- Dedicated bicycle facilities in Apex are currently limited, with less than 1.5 miles of bicycle lanes and wide outside lanes combined within the town limits.
- Existing Greenways (Challenge & Opportunity)
- Apex currently has over 10 miles of maintained public greenways. There are currently 23 greenway projects that are either under construction or approved by the Town as part of development plans and Town-funded projects. It is anticipated that 7-10 miles of greenway will be built within the next year. Notable facilities in Apex include Beaver Creek, Haddon Hall, and the Apex Community Park Lake Trail System. The town is also host to a sizeable segment of the American Tobacco Trail (ATT). However, the greenway system is presently geared mainly towards recreational riders. Although some bicycle commuters might be comfortable riding on greenway trials, such trails are not ideal for faster-moving bicyclists. Indeed, the Greenway is also frequently used by pedestrians, people with strollers, and people walking dogs, among others.
- Ownership of Public Road Right-of-Ways (Challenge)
- The roadway network in Apex is a combination of locally-owned and state-owned roads. The ownership of the public right-of-way is important for determining, among other things, the types of bicycling facilities that can be constructed in or along a roadway.
- Size and Scale of Apex for Bicycling (Opportunity)
- If Apex were completely flat with no obstacles, it would be about a 15 minute bicycle ride over about 3 miles from the center of town to the town limits (as the crow flies; based on 12 MPH average). Apex is well suited for bicycling in terms of its size and scale; consider Raleigh, for example, which is 20 miles across at its longest, end to end.
- Major Infrastructure/Physical Barriers to Bicycling (Challenge)
- As in most small and suburban towns, major highways and railroads prohibit bicycle travel in and across many parts of Apex. As a result, Apex possesses many “bikeable islands,” which are confined largely to residential areas.
- Most Residents Commute out of town for Work/Expanding Transit Options Countywide (Challenge and Opportunity)
- According to Advance Apex, most Apex residents (92%) commute out of town for work, and 47% travel between 10 and 24 miles to work each day. Even though these distances are achievable for bicycle commuting by some people, it is also time-consuming, further discouraging it as a commute option. However, with a completed bicycle network, these times and distances are certainly feasible. Furthermore, when bicycle trips are integrated with transit, longer commute distances can become much more feasible.
Proposed Priority Projects
Based on input from a variety of sources — including public input from surveys, workshops, and public comment forms — several specific projects were selected for inclusion in the Bike Apex plan, with eight projects designated as “high priority.”
Across all projects, the plan recommends a variety of bicycle facilities, from shared lanes (sharrows) and separated/buffered roadside bicycle lanes, to roadside multi-use paths and additional greenway trails.
For each project, recommendations are included on the type of bicycle facility that might work best to ensure rider safety or, at a minimum, be most feasible given unique constraints and challenges.
You can view Apex’s full Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Equestrian Map, which includes the recommendations of the Bike Apex plan, by clicking on the image on the right.
The high priority projects recommended for earliest installation are detailed below.
Note that the cost estimates that accompany each project are for planning purposes only. As such, these figures are likely to change as more information is gathered during the subsequent design phase. Costs are also expressed in terms of 2017/2018 dollars, with no adjustment for inflation. The project descriptions themselves were taken directly from the Bike Apex plan.
- Priority Project #1: Beaver Creek Greenway from Downtown Apex to the American Tobacco Trail (ATT)
- This project was one of the most frequently discussed connections during the planning process, during Steering Committee meetings and public meetings alike. With large portions of the connections already well established, this project focuses on the remaining gaps that would connect bicyclists of all ages and abilities from Downtown Apex to the ATT. Town residents would have direct access to the largest network of contiguous greenway trails in North Carolina (including the combined greenway systems of Durham, Cary, and Raleigh, mainly connected by the East Coast Greenway through the Triangle). This connection would also link trail users from throughout the Triangle to the heart of Apex, generating a positive economic impact for the Town.
- Proposed Facility Types:
- Greenway trail, side path, sharrows & signage
- Project Length & Estimated Cost:
- 1.5 miles / $3,230,000
- Priority Project #2: Salem St./Old US 1 Bike Lanes and Shared Lanes, from Downtown Apex to Pleasant Park
- This project features a combination of bicycle lanes and shared lanes. Public input from Apex’s more experienced on-road bicyclists indicated a need for this corridor (which serves as US Bike Route 1/NC Bike Route 1) to accommodate bicyclists on-road. A side path is envisioned as a future extension of this project, and would start at Pleasant Park, heading south to Richardson Rd Ext./Bosco Rd, and connecting to the area identified on the 2045 Future Land Use Map for a future linear Park. Ideally, this priority project would be completed in coordination with the opening of Pleasant Park.
- Proposed Facility Types:
- Bicycle Lanes, sharrows & signage
- Project Length & Estimated Cost:
- 1.2 miles / $70,000
- Priority Project #3: Olive Chapel Rd Bike Lanes, from NC 55 to New Hill Olive Chapel Rd
- Bicycle lanes for the majority of this project (from Apex Peakway to Richardson Rd) will be included during the construction of the planned future cross section for this roadway, which will be four-lanes, with a divided median and bicycle lanes. Given the fast-paced growth along this corridor, much of this new cross section with bicycle lanes could be provided with new development, as it occurs.
- Other parts of this project corridor could be implemented more proactively. East of Apex Peakway, to NC 55, is already built curb to curb, varying from four to five lanes. This section would have to be restriped to accommodate bicycle lanes independent of the new cross section work for the rest of the corridor. Similarly, the proposed bicycle lanes west of Richardson Rd, to New Hill Olive Chapel Rd, would also need to be developed separate from the new cross section construction.
- Proposed Facility Types:
- Bicycle lanes
- Project Length & Estimated Cost:
- 0.3 miles / $64,000
- Priority Project #4: Hunter St. Sharrows, from Apex Peakway to Williams St./NC 55
- This project runs through the heart of the Historic Downtown, connecting Town Hall, parks, schools, and multiple shopping areas. Shared lane markings are recommended as opposed to bicycle lanes due to right-of-way constraints at railroad crossings, along certain turn lane locations, and for car pool areas.
- Proposed Facility Types:
- Sharrows & signage
- Project Length & Estimated Cost:
- 1.2 miles / $51,000
- Priority Project #5: Apex Peakway (North) Side Path, from Center St. to Beaver Creek Greenway
- The long-term future cross section of the Apex Peakway is a four-lane median-divided thoroughfare with a side path. It is anticipated that the side path will be built incrementally, as the future cross section is developed. However, the project is still considered a priority because of its strong role in potentially connecting so many places. Cost estimates are provided below in case the Town decides to proactively build the path, independently and ahead of the full future cross section. Costs would be lower if built in conjunction with the new sections.
- Proposed Facility Types:
- Side path
- Project Length & Estimated Cost:
- 2.8 miles / $2,600,000
- Priority Project #6: Davis Dr./N Salem St. Greenway, Side Path & Sharrows from Apex/Cary limits to Downtown Apex
- This project will provide a critical connection to regional destinations north of Apex, including the Town of Cary, the East Coast Greenway, and subsequent destinations connected by the East Coast Greenway, such as Umstead State Park, the City of Durham, and the City of Raleigh.
- Proposed Facility Types:
- Greenway trail, side path, sharrows & signage
- Project Length & Estimated Cost:
- 1.9 miles / $1,600,000
- Priority Project #7: Laura Duncan Rd Side Path and Sharrows, from Apex High School at US 64 to Downtown Apex at Center St.
- This side path project is unique, as it is proposed in a location where there is already sidewalk. The benefit of upgrading to a side path is that it would create a bicycle facility that is separated from motor vehicle traffic, in a corridor serving children at Apex High School. Additionally, there is already side path to the north of US 64, and this would provide a continuous facility connecting Apex Community Park, Laurel Park Elementary, shopping areas, and Downtown Apex. The Town of Cary also has proposed trails that would connect this side path to Bond Park and the East Coast Greenway.
- Proposed Facility Types:
- Side path and sharrows
- Project Length & Estimated Cost:
- 1.2 miles / $910,000
- Priority Project #8: Apex Peakway (South) Side Path, from Beaver Creek Greenway to Center St.
- The long-term future cross section of the Apex Peakway is a four-lane median-divided thoroughfare with a side path. It is anticipated that the side path will be built incrementally, as the future cross section is developed. However, the project is still considered a priority because of its strong role in potentially connecting so many places. Cost estimates are provided below in case the Town decides to proactively build the path, independently and ahead of the full future cross section. Costs would be lower if built in conjunction with the new sections.
- Proposed Facility Types:
- Side path
- Project Length & Estimated Cost:
- 3.0 miles / $2,900,000
In addition to the high priority infrastructure projects described above, the Bike Apex Plan also calls for the creation of several new complementary programs to help promote bicycling safety and provide education and outreach.
However, before these programs begin, the plan recommends the Town form a Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission (BPAC) to champion the recommendations of Bike Apex and serve as a communications link between residents and Town government.
Essential recommended programs include the following:
- Bicycle Facility Maintenance to keep bike lanes free of litter and various forms of debris.
- A Safety Campaign, such as the Watch for Me NC campaign administered by the NCDOT’s Division of Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation, to educate motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians about common safety issues.
- A Map or Mobile App with Bike Routes and Greenways to help show residents where to walk and bike and how to reach enjoyable routes and destinations.
- Open Streets Events to create temporary safe and attractive spaces near downtown for physical activity and casual socializing.
- Signage and Wayfinding to make it easier for people to find destinations and to encourage walking, rather than driving, to nearby places in Town.
- Greenway Trail Maintenance to promote and maintain greenway trails as a quality outdoor option for recreation and transportation.
- Signal Detection and Actuation for Bicyclists to ensure that bicyclists are reliably detected at traffic signals.
After substantial progress has been made on the projects and programs described here, the Town hopes to be able to apply for and receive official recognition as a Bicycle-Friendly Community by the year 2022.
Final Thoughts
Overall, it’s encouraging to see Apex aspire to become a more welcoming community for bicyclists of all ages and abilities. And although the Bike Apex plan could have been more ambitious — by recommending more protected bicycle lanes and fewer painted lanes and sharrows, for instance — for a town with less than 2 miles of existing bike lanes, this is unquestionably a good start.
Of course, as noted above, the Town still has a lot of challenges to overcome, both in terms of structure and culture. But we hope that everyone involved in the eventual implementation of Bike Apex — from residents to Town staff and elected officials — will realize the importance of safe, active transportation as a long-term investment.
Indeed, to invest in active transportation is to invest in our environment, our local economy and — most importantly — our public health.
As the Bike Apex plan underscores, no other single investment could do more to improve the quality of life and general well-being of Apex’s residents.
*Data from the US Census Bureau, as cited in the Bike Apex Plan
Brian Kurilla, Ph.D. is the Policy Analyst for WakeUP Wake County and an Experimental Psychologist and Data Scientist.