AARP and local volunteers report 'acceptable to mixed' walkability in Leland; urge longer crosswalk signals and targeted pedestrian improvements

AARP volunteers and local group We Live Here presented the results of two walk audits to the Leland Town Council on April 17, reporting that most streets in the audited Westgate/Gateway area rated "acceptable" for walkability while some locations were "mixed" and a few were flagged as not currently pedestrian friendly.

Barbara Eckenwall, an AARP volunteer and planning board member who helped lead the audits, said the assessment found that "most of the roads that we were in for on that day were classified as acceptable," while noting specific gaps. She said auditors observed crosswalk signal times of about 20 to 30 seconds in some locations and recommended increasing pedestrian signal timings to about 45 seconds so people with mobility challenges can cross safely.

Why it matters: Leland is growing rapidly and the council and planning staff are developing projects — including multimodal and Safe Streets initiatives — intended to improve connectivity. The auditors singled out areas where additional or redesigned crossings, audible signals, and clearer markings could improve safety and access for seniors, parents with strollers, people using mobility devices, and other pedestrians.

Key findings and recommendations - Livability score: AARP's livability index entry for Leland is 50 (on a 0–100 scale); auditors noted improvement from earlier years but identified room to grow. - Street ratings: Village Road and several other local streets rated "acceptable." Old Fayetteville Road was rated "mixed." Baldwin Drive was noted as not pedestrian friendly at this time but is expected to improve with planned upgrades. - Crosswalk timing and signals: Auditors recommended increasing crossing signal timing from roughly 20–30 seconds to about 45 seconds, and flagged a desire to add audible crosswalk signals where feasible. - Crosswalk placement and visibility: Presenters urged that crosswalks be placed where people actually walk (for example, between the Lowe's parking area and nearby businesses such as Al's) and that visibility concerns at blind curves and around a roundabout on Tradeway/Gateway be addressed.

Local volunteers from We Live Here described their work planting street trees, organizing cleanups and events, and encouraging the use of sidewalks and trails to build community and increase active transportation. Trish Farnham, a We Live Here organizer, said the town has made progress on sidewalks and development requirements that support connectivity and urged the council to keep investing in walkability and community-informed recommendations.

Council and staff response: Council members thanked the presenters and noted alignment between the walk-audit observations and ongoing town projects, including the State Streets for All initiative and a multimodal-plan update. Staff indicated walk-audit materials and the AARP guidebook can be made available to the public; a council member suggested placing copies in the town-hall lobby.

What the audit did not do: The walk audits were observational and intended to guide planning; no formal council action, funding decision, or ordinance resulted from the presentation at this meeting. Presenters encouraged continued public involvement and coordination with town planning staff to prioritize improvements.

Next steps: Presenters recommended integrating audit findings into ongoing planning efforts, exploring audible crossings and adjusted signal timing where appropriate, and prioritizing crosswalks and visibility improvements in the Westgate/Gateway area.