Walkability is in demand among all ages, according to the most recent survey by the National Association of Realtors.
Walkability in a community or neighborhood is affected by a number of factors, including:
- Zoning and land use planning; i.e., whether people live close to everyday destinations like school, work, grocery stores, and entertainment
- Street design and regulations like parking minimums
- People-centered infrastructure, like streetlights, sidewalks, crosswalks and bike lanes
- Convenience and accessibility of public transit or other mobility options
WakeUP knows that walkability (and bikeability) is not only desirable for enhancing quality of life, but also boosts the local economy, reduces our impact on the environment and climate, and improves equity outcomes. While Wake County still has a ways to go towards more car-free infrastructure and walkability investments, the good news is that many of our cities and towns have detailed plans and policies to improve safety and accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists (find our list here). Below, find more information on some of the major projects and initiatives happening in your area to improve pedestrian and bicycle connectivity:
Greenways
Wake County is celebrated for its parks and greenways. In fact, 2023 was North Carolina’s Year of the Trail, celebrating the state’s vast network of trails, greenways, and blueways. Most of Wake’s municipalities have their own master plans for greenway improvements and extensions, which are part of a larger county-wide plan and regional network. Here are some of the greenway projects happening now:
- Cary has several greenway improvement projects in the works, including the Batchelor Branch Greenway to connect locations like Thomas Brooks Park, Duke Health, Green Level High School, and several neighborhoods; and the Walnut Creek Greenway, which will add 6 miles of corridor in five phases (see the plans here)
- Fuquay-Varina created a video tour of its greenways to celebrate the Year of the Trail in 2023
- Morrisville’s Stirrup Iron Creek Greenway: the Town is working on proposed alternatives for the Stirrup Iron Creek Greenway as well as potential connectivity to the Mills Spring Greenway
- Raleigh’s projects include construction of a 10-ft-wide asphalt trail from Lake Boone Trail (road) to House Creek Greenway and the Big Branch Greenway Trail project to connect the existing Crabtree Creek Trail to Sandy Forks Road; these improvements are part of the City’s Neighborhood & Community Connections Program
Vision Zero
North Carolina adopted the Vision Zero program in 2015 with the goal to eliminate traffic fatalities in the state. NC Vision Zero is a resource hub for NC communities to adopt localized programs of their own. So far, Apex and Raleigh have adopted Vision Zero goals:
Apex’s Vision Zero framework takes a “Five E Approach” to traffic safety: Engineering, Education, Encouragement, Evaluation, and Enforcement
Raleigh has undertaken a number of traffic safety improvements like adding signage and streetlights, with more to come as the City works on developing a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan
Safe Routes to School (SRTS)
This program is funded through a grant from the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) and is being implemented in many of Wake’s municipalities; in addition to providing support for the implementation of pedestrian-friendly infrastructure like sidewalks and crosswalks, the program also funds education around pedestrian and bicycle safety for elementary-aged students. See some recent and upcoming projects below:
- Apex has a number of upcoming SRTS projects including:
- Downtown connections for Baucom Elementary and Thales Academy K-5
- Hunter St Sidewalk
- Saunders St and Hinton St Sidewalk
- Laura Duncan Rd Sidewalk
- W Chatham St Sidewalk
- N Hughes St Sidewalk
- S Mason St Sidewalk
Raleigh’s Leesville Road project installed new sidewalks and bike lanes along O’Neal Drive, Pride Way, and Country Trail; additional improvements included curb ramps and painted crosswalks with pedestrian signals at O’Neal Drive and Leesville Road