With the backing of about 40 Caveness Farm residents who were in the Wake Forest Town Hall second-floor meeting room, Michael Janos laid out the case for a traffic signal where Caveness Farm Avenue meets Capital Boulevard (U.S.1).
Janos began his PowerPoint presentation to the mayor and town commissioners by describing a recent incident where a woman with three children in her minivan finally tired of waiting to make the left turn and started to cross the two northbound traffic lanes. “I jumped out of the car,” Janos said, because he was sure there would be a collision. “I don’t know why there wasn’t an accident.”
Janos said the plan originally had been for a traffic signal, “but that got put on the back burner. There is money [for the light] Eighty percent of the people who live there know they need a light.” By pushing to have the light installed, “We’re going to save a kid’s life.”
He described the congestion and frustration by having no traffic light and having to turn right in order to leave the subdivision. “People get tired of waiting five or eight minutes to merge onto Route 1. They pass you, try to push you onto Route 1.” He has counted 21 cars waiting to get on the highway.
“Residents, seniors, they are scared to use that intersection, especially if there is rain, snow or fog or during rush hour.”
He said “tens of thousands of cars pass through that intersection” in a day and most of the traffic during peak times is traveling well over the 55 mph speed limit. Also, while there is the crossover to make left turns, there are no merge lanes on either side of the highway, “no flashing warning lights about the intersection, no street lights, no speed limit signs.”
Janos ended by saying, “The level of risk is unacceptable. Why wasn’t a traffic light installed months ago?”
Mayor Vivian Jones said the town would take the questions and information to the proper officials to see what can be done.
Later during the Tuesday evening work session, the board heard from Urban Forester Evan Keto, who gave them a report on the state of the urban forest, which is good but could be better with proper care.
Keto is excited about all the responses he has had from volunteers, being able to train 40 Tree Stewards. Currently, he has more requests from volunteers than he can handle.
“We’re so glad you’re here,” the mayor told him. “Evan is doing a phenomenal job,” Ruben Wall, the parks and recreation director, said.
The board also heard from Wake Forest Area Chamber of Commerce President Marla Akridge and new chamber staff member Corey Hutcherson about the plans for Meet in the Street, which will be spread over three downtown streets the first Saturday in May: South White, Brooks and South Taylor.
Finally, Commissioner Greg Harrington asked if the board intends to have term limits for advisory board members or do away with them since they frequently waive the two three-year term limit. There were mixed sentiments and little was settled except that Jones suggested they keep the term limits “and stick to not using the waiver a lot.”
