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Council approves FY26 CIP; East Main Street sidewalk connector to include adjacent parking lot, staff says construction likely in 2026
Summary
Council approved the FY2026 Capital Improvement Plan and staff said the East Main Street sidewalk connector will be combined with a nearby parking-lot project, pending easements and agreements with the railroad; earliest construction start is late 2025 but likely 2026.
The Clayton Town Council voted to approve the town's fiscal year 2026 Capital Improvement Plan and heard staff describe plans to combine an East Main Street sidewalk connector with a nearby parking lot to limit parking losses on Main Street and reduce overall project costs.
Councilmember Casey, who pulled the CIP item for discussion, asked about a parking lot linked to the East Main Street sidewalk project. Town staff explained that the parking lot (CIP item 54) will be incorporated into the East Main Street sidewalk connector project (item 2) and that the town has been coordinating design and easement work with the railroad and North Carolina Department of Transportation. Staff said the team "do[es] have a path forward on the design for that parking lot now" and that the goal is to finish easement acquisition and agreements "later this summer" so the project could be bid with construction starting at the absolute earliest late this year and most likely in 2026.
Why it matters: Combining the parking lot with the sidewalk connector would reduce duplicative work and help preserve parking on the downtown Main Street corridor while advancing a pedestrian connector the town has prioritized in its CIP.
Details from staff: Town staff said DOT is open to incorporating the parking lot into the larger sidewalk project, which provides a cost advantage and the opportunity to link easement and railroad agreement work. Staff described the CIP as a "living document" that will be updated annually and prioritized as grants or partnership opportunities arise.
Action: The council approved the FY26 Capital Improvement Plan by motion and second and the motion carried. Staff said item 54 will be adjusted on the CIP list to reflect incorporation into item 2 and will return to council as design and easement work advance.
Ending: Staff said the earliest realistic construction window for the combined East Main Street sidewalk and parking lot is late 2025 at the soonest, with 2026 more likely pending final agreements and bidding.
