N.C. Department of Transportation presents sidewalk and crossing projects for Whiteville; staff seeks council resolution

Ken Clark, an engineer with the N.C. Department of Transportation, presented a package of pedestrian-safety projects to the Whiteville City Council, asking the council to adopt a resolution identifying a primary project on U.S. 701 and related sidewalk extensions so NCDOT can apply federal funds and begin right-of-way purchases.

Clark told the council the first project is to extend sidewalks and install a midblock crossing treatment on Lewis Street to connect with existing sidewalks near the high school and on Williamson Street. He said the proposals include a fence in the median between Wibbs and Birkhead to direct pedestrians to the signalized crossing. "This is for pedestrians to use the mid block crossing that signal right there," Clark said. He described the projects as part of the department's "vulnerable user" funding program, intended for locations with large numbers of children or older pedestrians.

Clark said the work on U.S. 701 would tie new sidewalks to recently built segments on J.K. Piles Boulevard and MLK Drive and also extend sidewalks on Washington Street and along a route near McDonald's and Leech Creek. He described engineering measures such as curb bulb-outs and resurfacing on Franklin Street to close a persistent gap between pavement and sidewalk and to create a buffered parking area that separates pedestrians from multiple travel lanes.

On funding and timing, Clark said the projects rely on federal funding that requires a local match; he stated the project has a 20 percent local match and that NCDOT expects to need some right-of-way purchases to complete the work. "It is federal funding. There is a 20% match," he said. He asked the council for a formal resolution that would specifically identify the 701 project and the other sidewalk projects so NCDOT can move forward on acquiring any required right of way.

Council members asked clarifying questions about sidewalk widths and whether the recently installed signalized crossings at the courthouse would remain unchanged. Clark said the courthouse beacons operate independently of the proposed 701 crossing treatments and described recent field observations that the new devices are prompting drivers to slow.

The presentation noted the town may see increased demand for sidewalks from multifamily development in the southern part of town and that the package is intended to connect existing segments to emerging housing areas. Clark said NCDOT has received and installed pedestrian equipment and that the department will coordinate design and right-of-way steps with city staff.

No formal council vote to adopt the requested resolution is recorded in the transcript; Clark explicitly asked for a resolution and the staff said they would prepare one for council consideration.

The council discussion moved next to other agenda items.