Town staff outline pedestrian safety improvements near Clayton schools; council and residents press for quicker actions

The Clayton Town Council heard a staff presentation on proposed pedestrian safety infrastructure near area schools during the Sept. 16 meeting and discussed possible quick wins tied to private development and longer‑term assessments.

Assistant Engineering Director Kenzie Holton summarized the town’s approach: prioritize opportunities that arise from school redevelopment and adjacent private development, use on‑call transportation engineering consultants to assess remaining schools and create a town‑led package of improvements that can be implemented through development agreements or town projects. Holton said the immediate focus includes the Clayton High School redevelopment frontage, sidewalks and two proposed crosswalks, and pedestrian connections tied to the Athletic Club commercial project that is bringing an 8‑foot multiuse path to Pritchard.

Why it matters: Residents and councilmembers repeatedly raised concerns about student pedestrian crossings at Riverwood Elementary and Middle School, carpool stacking, and sections of road with no sidewalks. Council and staff acknowledged jurisdictional limits (many roads are NCDOT routes) and the need to coordinate with school officials, NCDOT and developers.

Staff presentation highlights - Approach: Combine improvements negotiated through private redevelopment…