Draft Walk‑Bike Woodfin plan recommends sidewalks, bike lanes and greenway links; committee raises safety and equity questions

Town staff and a consultant presented the draft Walk‑Bike Woodfin comprehensive bicycle and pedestrian plan at the July 9 committee meeting. The plan, prepared by McAdams and funded through NCDOT’s integrated mobility program, identifies priority sidewalks, bike lanes, shared‑street treatments and local connector greenways.

Staff said the plan used a 17‑point prioritization system focused on safety (up to 8 points), connectivity (up to 3), equity (up to 3) and public support (up to 3). The report lists seven priority projects: sidewalks on Merriman Avenue / Weaverville Road; improvements on Elk Mountain Road (near- and long-term options including bike lanes and targeted sidewalk gaps); Jonestown Road sidewalk and crossing upgrades; a Riverside connectivity package (three subprojects linking parks, crossings and City View Drive); and local connector greenways including Beaver Dam Creek and Sixth Street to the community center. The draft includes cost estimates and separates state (NCDOT) roads from local roads when prioritizing.

Adrian, a town staff presenter, told the committee the draft will go to the Town Council next week for review and possible approval.

Committee members and residents raised questions about feasibility and neighborhood impacts. Speakers noted that sidewalk construction frequently uses public right-of-way that homeowners perceive as private front-yard space and that some residents will resist losing landscaping or portions of yard. Members discussed trade-offs between single‑side sidewalks and multiuse paths; staff said NCDOT and stormwater costs often influence material choice and alignment and that multiuse paths (wider, typically 10 feet) can be more economical for long corridors but require different standards.

Safety on Riverside Drive was a recurring concern. Committee members described the road as heavily used by bicycles and trucks and asked about enforcement and DOT crossings; staff said the state DOT manages Riverside Drive and that pedestrian crossings generally require a sidewalk or multiuse facility on both sides to justify signalized crossings. Staff also said DOT work and greenway planning remain central to longer-term improvements.

The committee offered specific location feedback: making Brookdale Road/North Woodfin a higher priority to connect mobile-home neighborhoods and a convenience store to the Beaver Dam Creek greenway, and pushing connectivity across I‑26 (Elk Mountain Road crossing) so residents can cross the interstate safely. Staff indicated they will forward committee feedback to the consultant and report back after the council review.