Aerial Photography & Topographic Maps
Engineering has aerial photo maps with topography overlay. Maps are black and white. Most are 100 scale with 2 foot interval contour lines. The maps were created in March 1988. Recent color aerial photos in digital format are also available.

As-Builts
As-Builts are available for sites and subdivisions; however, the Town did not require As-Builts to be submitted before 1988. Any site or subdivision constructed before 1988 will not have As-Builts on file.

Bids for Construction Projects
Bids for Engineering Division Construction Projects are advertised in the weekend editions of the Cary News and the News and Observer.

Easements
An easement is a legal interest in property for a specific purpose, such as giving a company access to run a telephone line underground. Utility easements that are dedicated to the Town of Cary cover water and/or sanitary sewer lines and are typically 20 feet wide. After the easement is granted, the property owner continues to maintain the easement just like the rest of the yard. Ground covers or grasses may be planted within an easement.

No trees or shrubbery of any size shall be placed within any Town utility easement because of the need for access by utility maintainers and line damage that tree and shrub roots can cause. Fences and landscaping improvements installed within the easement are subject to disturbance or damage during the Town's use of the easement and may be removed if the Town needs access for maintenance or utility line repair. Please send questions concerning easement locations or improvements to the Public Works and Utilities Department at (919) 469-4090.

Flood Zone
Flood zone determination for higher risk areas is made by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) The purpose of this determination is to designate areas in which flood insurance is required. For flood zone information, please email Terry Warren, Staff Engineer, at terry.warren@townofcary.org or phone at 469-4076.

Office Hours and Location
The Engineering office is typically open from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday; however, a few staff are in the office from 7:00 AM until 5:30 PM. Our office is located at 316 North Academy Street. Academy street is the north-south street that intersects Chatham Street at the clock and clover design in the center of downtown.

Pot Holes
For requesting street repairs or reporting pot holes, contact the Public Works and Utilities Department at 469-4090.

Roadway Widening
The North Carolina Department of Transportation and the Town of Cary have identified roadways that are expected to require widening in the future. A Thoroughfare Plan map displays these roadways and their expected width. As development occurs along these roadways, widening of the roadway adjacent to the section developed is generally required. Although the Thoroughfare Plan shows which streets are proposed for widening, it does not mandate the timing of the proposed improvement.

The Engineering Division, in coordination with the North Carolina Department of Transportation, performs design services and develops contract plans for various roadway widening projects throughout the Town.

Sidewalk Installation
To request a sidewalk along a street, you can contact the Planning Division. Each year, the Division establishes a priority list from requests that have been made. Items including proximity of schools, parks, shopping centers, and greenways as well as current pedestrian use (worn path) are used to establish the priority list. In accordance with the Town of Cary Code of Ordinances Section 17-31, sidewalk can not be installed when the edge of the street does not have curb and gutter or when there is less than six (6) feet of right-of-way from the back of curb to the adjoining property.

Sight Distance
The Town has regulations regarding sight distance lines along streets and at all intersections and commercial drive entrances. These sight distance lines also govern left turn traffic movements in median-divided roadways such as Cary Parkway. Motorists should have an unobstructed line of sight along streets and at each intersection. Sight distances are generally based on the design speed of the roadway. Intersections that are felt to be in non-compliance should be brought to the attention of the Engineering Division. The Town will correct obstructions in the street right-of-way and will rely on property owners to correct obstructions on private property.

Street Light Installation
Town of Cary Policy No. 13 requires that street lights in residential areas be placed at all intersections, at the 'neck' of cul-de-sacs over 200 feet long, and every 400 to 600 feet. To request installation of additional street lighting in areas not meeting this standard, you can email Sandra Stepney, engineer, at sandra.stepney@townofcary.org or phone at 462-3834.

Street Light Outages
Progress Energy maintains street lights in Cary. To report a street light outage or malfunction, call the Progress Energy customer service center at (919) 508-5400 with the location or the number on the light pole.

What Information to Provide for Street Light Outages

Where is the light? It's most helpful to have the street lights pole number or "DIS" number which is located on a yellow sign on the street side of the pole about five feet off the ground. You can also count the number of lights between the bad light and an obvious landmark, such as an intersection or building. Some light locations can be described by the address of the building behind the light.

What is the light doing? If it goes out as a car approaches, or if it does not work from dusk to dawn, the light's photo sensor may need to be adjusted. If the light "cycles" between on an off, the bulb may be going bad. This information is useful when contacting Progress Energy because these lights may be working when crews arrive.

How many lights are out? A single light out usually requires a simple repair that typically can be made the next working day. Multiple lights out usually indicate damage to underground power lines which usually require a few days to repair since excavation is generally required. This is common in areas of active construction.

How long does it take to fix street lights? Progress Energy crews make simple repairs the next working day after a street light outage is reported. Underground line repairs require more time.

Street Repaving
The Engineering Department bases repaving priorities on an annual street rating. For street repaving information, please e-mail kristen.dwiggins@townofcary.org or call (919) 462-3930. For street repairs, contact the Public Works and Utilities Department at (919) 469-4090.

Thoroughfare Plan Maps
Town of Cary and NCDOT thoroughfare plan maps within Cary's jurisdiction can be viewed or obtained from Engineering.

Traffic Signalization Projects
The Town of Cary annually receives many requests to install traffic signals. These requests come from citizens, developers, governmental officials, and others, usually in an effort to provide an added measure of safety or an increased level of service at an intersection. For these reasons, the Cary Town Council has annually budgeted funds to be used for the installation of new traffic signals and the upgrades of existing traffic signals. Current (August 2000) projects include the installation of new traffic signals on Cary Parkway at Two Creeks Road/Kilarney Drive and on Cary Parkway at Holly Springs Road. Current upgrade projects include revisions to provide protected left turn phasing at the intersection of North Academy Street and West Chatham Street and the addition of metal pole and mast arm supports at the intersections of US 64 and MacKenan Drive/Chalon Drive, and on SE Maynard Road at its intersections with East Chatham Street and Walnut Street. Each of these projects is currently in the design phase.

Requirements for a New Signal
To justify the installation of a new signal or a modification of an existing signal, a location must meet certain criteria, or warrants. The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) is a traffic control guide written by the United States Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration and is the standard reference for signs, signals, markings and other traffic control devices. The MUTCD lists 11 different warrants for a traffic signal installation. At least one of these warrants must be met to justify the installation of a traffic signal. It must be pointed out that meeting warrants is a minimum requirement. An engineering study must also be conducted to determine whether a traffic signal is needed. A traffic signal will not, however, be installed if no warrants are met. Traffic signals do not always prevent collisions. In many instances, the frequency of rear-end and sideswipe type collisions will increase when signals are installed, while right angle and left turning type collisions usually decrease.

Warrants
Warrant #1 - Minimum Vehicular Volume
Warrant #2 - Interruption of Continuous Traffic
Warrant #3 - Minimum Pedestrian Volume
Warrant #4 - School Crossing
Warrant #5 - Progressive Movement
Warrant #6 - Accident Experience
Warrant #7 - Systems Warrant
Warrant #8 - Combination of Warrants
Warrant #9 - Four Hour Volumes
Warrant #10 - Peak Hour Delay
Warrant #11 - Peak Hour Volume

Development drives the need to install and/or modify traffic signals on many occasions. Where this occurs, the Town sometimes requires developers to fund and install these signals. Examples include the intersection of NW Maynard Road and James Jackson Avenue/Carrousel Lane and Kildaire Farm Road at its intersections with Ten-Ten Road and Penny Road. New traffic signals are also occasionally installed and existing signals modified as parts of highway construction projects. An example is the Davis Drive Widening Project, where signals at Waldo Rood Boulevard, High House Road and Morrisville-Carpenter Road will be modified and a new signal will be installed at Morrisville Parkway.

Requesting a Traffic Signal
See Traffic Signals page

Maintenance of Traffic Signals
See Traffic Signals page

Utility Maps
Utility maps with line sizes, manhole locations, pump stations, and fire hydrant locations are available for viewing and obtaining from Engineering.