Gazette asks about traffic

When we talk about traffic in Wake Forest we are really talking about roads, and all the major roads in town are owned by the North Carolina Department of Transportation. And when we talk about NCDOT we have to consider how it has operated in town in recent years.

The long-planned and much-needed traffic bridge over the CSX rail line on Rogers Road still has not materialized. See the Wake Forest Gazette’s April 19, 2023 issue for the full story about the five –now six – year delay.

Somehow NCDOT lost the funding for all but the first section of the change to a limited-access road for Capital Boulevard. Given their record it seems very likely that they will not succeed in purchasing the needed property for that first section – I-540 to Durant Road — during 2024 as planned.

If DOT cannot even begin projects years in the planning, it seems unlikely it will be any help with traffic congestion on Rogers, Forestville, Ligon Mill, Burlington Mill Roads.

A plan to synchronize and provide management for all the town traffic signals will help if DOT can finally find the paperwork.

Can the town find other resources to reduce traffic congestion on the major roads? Would new traffic signals help? What are your views about the congestion and possible fixes?

Adam Wright

I’m thrilled to share some updates on our ongoing efforts to tackle the traffic issues that we all grapple with. First and foremost, I’m pleased to announce that the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has successfully completed the necessary paperwork to kickstart the synchronization of our traffic lights. This crucial project is primed to begin any day now, and it holds significant promise for reducing congestion and cutting down our commuting times.

Beyond this exciting development, our town is actively exploring a range of smaller projects aimed at improving traffic flow. These initiatives are currently under careful study, and they could either be self-funded or supported through grants. Rest assured; I am fully committed to seeing these projects through to complement our larger synchronization effort.

Later this month, I have the privilege of being part of a delegation heading to Washington, D.C. We will be engaging in constructive dialogues with our state senators and regional representatives. These relationships are pivotal as we strive to secure a share of the substantial $7.2 billion in federal highway infrastructure funding allocated to North Carolina. These funds are a crucial resource to address our pressing infrastructure needs.

Moreover, during our town meeting last night, we discussed the possibility of implementing a traffic impact fee. I wholeheartedly support this proposal, as it places the responsibility on developers to contribute their fair share to alleviate the burden they impose on our infrastructure. It’s a just and necessary step to preserve our town’s quality of life.

Just like you, I navigate the same roads and experience the daily frustrations of congestion. In fact, it was one of the driving factors that led me to run for office in the first place. However, it’s important to recognize that there’s no instant solution to this issue. We need a comprehensive strategy. This includes expanding road connectivity,

fostering local job opportunities, and boosting public transportation ridership. Together, these components will form the foundation of our approach to effectively addressing our traffic challenges.

###

Tom Ballman

Well, through discussions with Town Manager Kip Padgett, it appears the Town will be taking on themselves some critical intersection improvements in and along Capital Boulevard as a direct result of the elected officials growth decisions and DOT’s lack of funding.  That cost burden will fall directly into the laps of property owners in the Town in one form or another.

How, specifically, the extent of these improvements will be paid is to be determined, let alone the costs which are being put together currently. Voters did approve Question #1 of the 2022 Bond referendum last year to the tune of $23.7 million. You can see that potential ‘opportunity’ to be flexible with this course of action, here.  https://www.wakeforestnc.gov/2022-bond-referendum/roadway-transportation

To say the Town has been left no choice, is an understatement. Providing the fundamental government duty of protecting and serving is at stake.

Longer queuing lanes for vehicular stacking, and longer deceleration lanes for turns at intersections, are Band-Aid remedies that will improve safety as traffic volumes explode due to the influx of muti-family developments.  I believe less alternative lanes (think straight and right turns) is also an opportunity. One such example is the Burlington Mills Road at Capital intersection.  There you have two dedicated left turn lanes to Capital southbound, and one straight/right lane. The straight option from Burlington Mills Road is to enter into the Ford dealership. Just one vehicle at that very long light can dramatically affect functionality of northbound Capital travelers for instance. 

The observations and suggestions noted here involve right-of-way acquisition, even at some newly created intersections (like 98/S Franklin St) and quite frankly if this involves the use of eminent domain to acquire, at this point, so be it. Planning matters, and this type of action today is in the public interest for serving and protecting our community.

###

Ben Clapsaddle

I think everyone knows that the infrastructure has not kept up with the rapid pace of growth, development, and construction. The State funding of road improvements has (for various reasons I won’t attempt to decipher) has been shifted to other State priorities. The traffic congestion in our Town also is directly impacted by commuters, shoppers, business, etc. from surrounding communities that utilize or pass thru our Town.  

Yes, I know most won’t want to hear this, but this issue will be with us for many more years as Wake County and North Carolina continues to grow. But there are several things the Town can do to address this issue and perhaps help relieve congestion.

1. During the Planning process, review all new developments in areas already impacted by the current congestion and ensure we are open to the impacts they will have on current and future congestion.
2. The Town has directed a study on the synchronization of traffic signals. This will be useful for the daily traffic flow and in the event of emergencies. The Town has directed this study in the current 2024 Budget.
3. Review Traffic studies and determine if additional or less traffic signals will improve traffic flow without increasing risk.
4. Town Engineers review and prioritize street projects. This list of proposed projects and costs can be utilized when working with the County, State and even our Congressional Representatives for specific earmarks to fund. And assist in prioritizing and/or refine Town improvement plans.
5. Work with the Dept of Transportation to target Public Service Announcements and Campaigns to encourage patience and safe driving practices.

As we continue to address this very important issue, we all need to plan for congestion due to traffic and construction. We need to Drive Defensively, be safe and be patient. We want everyone to arrive safely at their destinations.

###

Faith Cross

The traffic we are experiencing is a result of the decision to approve development before infrastructure. This is an unfortunate example of putting the cart before the horse. We can’t go back in time, so we must adjust our decisions going forward. Carefully considered growth takes into account the context of each situation. This is the context we live in as residents of Wake Forest: lack of necessary infrastructure- specifically roads, large numbers of multi-unit dwellings, lack of NCDOT funding for roads and a future with considerable traffic congestion. 

In response to this context, there needs to be a shift in thinking regarding the highest priority needs in our community. The Capital Improvements Plan (CIP) “is a five-year plan identifying the town’s capital outlay and improvement needs.” (https://www.wakeforestnc.gov/budget-management/capital-improvement-plan-cip) It is updated annually based on the changing needs of the community with each project labeled high, medium or low priority. Projects labeled high priority are ones mandated by local, state, or federal regulations, OR because the Board of Commissioners deems it so. This is where the shift has to take place. ANY project to do with roadways, infrastructure, or safety must take top priority. This is how we help the horse catch up to the cart. While new signs for the town are nice, the $800k could be used in more practical ways at this juncture.

We also need to consider a moratorium. This word seems to stir up controversy whenever it is mentioned. When asked at the forum if I would “favor” a moratorium, I raised my hand to answer “yes” – I do favor this option considering the safety needs of our community in light of our rapid development and recent lack of funding from NCDOT for road improvements. The response was that it is “illegal” to do this in NC, but this would be an inaccurate portrayal of what the word means in our state. In fact, the “use of temporary development moratoria is not rare in North Carolina” and one of the common reasons for a moratoria is “the lack of infrastructure to support development.” (https://www.sog.unc.edu/resources/legal-summaries/moratoria)

We must be careful regarding the use of a moratorium in residential development as there are exceptions- one being listed on the Town website. However, we are not breaking any laws by requesting this temporarily if the town faces safety concerns. A 2023 article on moratoria states “A moratorium for the purpose of addressing public safety or adequacy of public infrastructure, it seems, is still authorized.” (https://canons.sog.unc.edu/2023/02/hit-the-pause-button-temporary-development-moratoria-in-north-carolina/) Roads are a public safety concern considering the lack of promised funding.The context has changed, so our responses must change. Should we really be approving more high density housing right now when we are already dealing with increasingly congested and dangerous roads? I recommend looking at the NCDOT Crash Data and Maps website at our annual crash numbers. (https://connect.ncdot.gov/resources/safety/pages/crash-data.aspx)

Traffic light synchronization is something we could do while in a temporary moratoria. There is significant data to support this option as a way to “reduce congestion, reduce the number of serious accidents, reduce aggressive driving behavior, and postpone or eliminate the need to construct additional road capacity.”(https://highways.dot.gov/public-roads/januaryfebruary-2002/managing-traffic-flow-through-signal-timing)

Context matters, and increasingly so here in Wake Forest. The context of rapid growth, lack of infrastructure and funding, and increased congestion must now inform our decisions moving forward. 

###

Joe Kimray

First off – regarding Capital Blvd – as a Town, we now have to compete to get the project back into the NCDOT State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). Once we accomplish that, we will need to work to obtain funding from the Federal Government to help complete the project in a timely manner.

I’ve taken meetings in Washington twice in the last three months with the offices of our Congressional Representatives and Senators to start laying the groundwork for that ask. We will more than likely need around $1 Billion to complete the project in full (assuming cost increases over a 10+ year period). It’s unwise to walk into a Senator’s office three years from now (once the project is added back to the STIP) and ask for that kind of amount out of the blue – without taking the time to educate them and their staff on the issue.

I will be going back to Washington again later this month for more meetings that will help build the relationships that will benefit us greatly in the coming years. I am committed to growing those relationships over the coming years – so, as one of your Commissioners, I can go to Washington and be the friendly face they know that makes the ask.

We also need the implementation of synchronized traffic lights. That service has dramatically reduced travel times on Capital Blvd in Raleigh. It’s not uncommon to go South from 540 to 440 and only be stopped by two or three lights along the way. We need to encourage NCDOT to solve the paperwork issue that is bogging down that project, and bring this measure to our town as we have been promised.

Working harder to encourage more companies to come to Wake Forest to employ our citizens is another measure that can help our traffic situation. Currently, approximately 80% of our residents commute more than 30 minutes every day. If we can reduce the number of people commuting, we can reduce traffic on our roads – especially at peak times.

Improving our Public Transportation network is also necessary. Our current bus service does not adequately support the needs of the majority of our residents. It’s hard to convince someone to use the bus system when it takes 20-30 minutes to make what would be a 7-10 minute trip by car. Until we can include modes such as micro-trans it that will shorten ride times, we will not make use of the full potential of the system. Commuter Rail systems that are being planned by NCDOT can also help with the movement of commuters to lessen traffic during peak hours.

There are multiple things that can help the traffic situation in our Town – but many of them are going to take the efforts of multiple agencies and levels of government working together for the common good. Building relationships with those agencies and levels of government will be one of the most beneficial things I can do as one of your next Town Commissioners.

###

Jim Thompson

One of the challenges we have in Wake Forest is a lack of connectivity. That’s why that is one of the four pillars of my campaign. And when I say connectivity, I mean there aren’t many alternative ways to connect throughout town.

To help alleviate some of the traffic we need to develop more alternative connections throughout town. When I was on the Board previously, we supported development along Ligon Mill which led to the completion of the street from S. Main to Calvin Jones. Additionally, the same can be said for the development of the Sheetz on Rogers and Holding Village. Those developments led to the completion of Franklin Street.

We need to continue to look at ways development can help cover the cost of connectivity improvements. At the town Board meeting this week, we are seeing the partnership of the town and a developer on making Franklin a complete street and adding in much needed corrections to the Calvin Jones/Franklin St. U-turns with additional stop lights.

So, what about future developments? We can always look at traffic impact analysis (TIAs) to request additional infrastructure, but sometimes those things don’t go far enough. Development doesn’t only impact traffic near the project. It often has a ripple effect that isn’t necessarily taken into consideration from a traffic study.

I believe it’s essential that we implement effective strategies to alleviate traffic and enhance our transportation infrastructure beyond just relying on the above. And one approach that I believe holds significant promise is the implementation of traffic impact fees. These fees, when levied on new development projects, can provide a dedicated revenue stream specifically earmarked for improving our transportation infrastructure. By requiring developers to contribute their fair share to address the impact their projects have on traffic, we can ensure that growth is balanced with the necessary infrastructure improvements.

The challenge with these fees is that it’s crucial that the process is transparent and fair to all stakeholders. We should work closely with developers, residents, and local experts to establish reasonable fee structures that accurately reflect the impacts of new developments. This approach ensures that those who contribute to increased traffic also contribute to the solutions.

And it doesn’t stop there. Once we collect revenue from traffic impact fees, it’s imperative that we allocate these funds strategically. I advocate for a transparent process that involves community input in determining the projects that will benefit the most from these funds. We should prioritize projects that alleviate traffic bottlenecks, enhance road safety, and improve our overall transportation network. This would go hand in hand with our overall community and transportation plans.

Once we have things like this in place, we can also seek partnerships with regional and state agencies to secure additional funding and grants for critical transportation projects. Collaboration at various levels of government can significantly expand our resources for improving traffic conditions.

In summary, my vision for improved connectivity is one where we address our traffic challenges head-on with innovative solutions. The use of traffic impact fees, combined with transparent and strategic planning, will play a pivotal role in our efforts to enhance our transportation.

I encourage you to learn more about the other pillars of my campaign – www.JimThompsonForWF.com. And I would appreciate your vote on Nov. 7. 

###