SUMMARY: Staff has prepared an application to receive funding through the Transportation Enhancement Program of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21^st Century (TEA-21) to provide enhancement features, including special pedestrian crossings and landscaping, along the Walnut Street Extension south of US1/64 to Holly Springs Road.

The Transportation Enhancement Program is a federally funded program to promote diverse modes of travel, increase the community benefits of transportation, improve safety, protect the environment and public health, and to improve the quality of life of citizens. The program is a cost reimbursement program, not a grant, but requires a minimum 20% match to show the community's commitment. Applications are due to NCDOT no later than September 15, 1999 and notification of award is expected in January 2000.

The goal for the enhancement of Walnut Street is to provide additional design features such as landscape points, landscaped medians, and signature pedestrian crossings along the realigned portion of Walnut Street between its proposed new southern termination point at Holly Springs Road, north to US 1/64. These enhancements would secure the added benefits of increased property values, economic vitality, and increased quality of life.

BACKGROUND: In March 1998, the Town Council adopted the Southeast Gateway Area Plan which addresses the future land uses and design of the Walnut Street Corridor and the lands surrounding Crossroads Plaza. The Plan recommended special features for the Walnut Street "Gateway Boulevard" including: thematic street lighting, landscaped points and medians, uniform thematic signage, signature pedestrian crossings, festival banners, and ornamental traffic signals.

The Town is currently in the design phase for the Walnut Street Extension Project. The Walnut Street Extension Project is a $5.5 million dollar extension and realignment of Walnut Street between Dillard Road and Holly Springs Road, approximately 5,000 feet in length. The project will improve Walnut Street to a six lane median divided section and realign Walnut Street between Dillard Drive and Holly Springs Road. The project will include curb and gutter and sidewalks along both sides.

PROPOSED TEA-21 PROJECT: The proposed extension of Walnut Street is a piece of the overall traffic management plan for the Southeast Gateway Area of Cary; however, the road extension project does not include key enhancement features as recommended in the Southeast Gateway Area Plan. The proposed TEA-21 request will provide funding for (as indicated on Attachment A: Project Scope): (1) The construction of 15 key "signature design" pedestrian crosswalks at the four major intersections along Walnut Street (Meeting Street, Dillard Road, Tryon Road, and Holly Springs Road). The pedestrian crossings will be more than a striped crosswalk, and could include features like concrete stamped pavers. The goal of the design for these key pedestrian crosswalks is to add to the comfort and safety of pedestrians and signify to motorists that they have entered a special part of town and alert them to the pedestrian nature of the crossings. (2) The installation of special points or pockets of landscaping that include median and streetscape plantings to enhance the appearance of this major entrance way into Cary adding to the "Gateway Entrance" experience.

As this area of Cary continues to develop, Walnut Street will become an even more popular commuter route for residents, providing access to US 1/64 and the adjacent shopping centers. There will eventually be thousands of people living within a mile of the commercial heart of the Walnut Street Extension area (See Attachment B: Land Use Plan Map) making it probable that thousands of pedestrian trips each week will need to cross Walnut Street; these pedestrian trips would benefit from the provision of key pedestrian crosswalks.

In addition, special pockets of highly-visible landscaping should also be located along Walnut Street in key locations to signal the entrance into the Town of Cary. These landscape points will be established within planted medians that will be provided wherever feasible and alongside the roadway, either within the roadside planting strip or on additional public land.

REVIEW: The requested funding through the Transportation Enhancement Program (TEA-21) would provide funding for signature crosswalks along Walnut Street at Meeting Street, Dillard Road, Tryon Road, and Holly Springs Road, and landscaping of the median and planting strips.

The total project cost is estimated at $211,250 which requires a local match of $42,250.