DOT presents downtown traffic study; recommends sidewalk widening, one-way street pairs and short-term curb buffers

The North Carolina Department of Transportation presented a downtown transportation study to the Town of Smithfield Council on May 6, saying crash history and pedestrian safety — not roadway capacity — were the primary problems identified for Market Street and adjacent blocks.

DOT deputy division engineer Sam Lawhorn said the downtown corridor’s crash record was the main concern and that “the downtown section is 3 and a half times what we consider the critical rate,” based on five years of reported crash data. DOT staff told the council the study found 514 reported crashes over five years, with more than half involving parked-vehicle strikes or sideswipes.

DOT offered two engineering alternatives: keep on-street parking on one side (which would yield narrow lanes and keep parked vehicles next to sidewalks) or remove on-street parking and widen sidewalks by moving the curbline. DOT staff said the latter is higher cost because it requires relocating drainage and…