Woodfin PACE committee prioritizes traffic‑calming policy and bike/walk projects for March

Committee members agreed the town currently lacks an adopted traffic‑calming policy and set a near‑term work plan to draft one for review at the March PACE meeting. An Unidentified Speaker stated plainly, "Woodfin does not currently have a traffic calming policy," and the group identified that as the first deliverable for the policy & project subcommittee.

The policy & project subcommittee recommended focusing on low‑hanging fruit on town‑maintained streets—measures such as speed cushions, stop signs and crosswalks—and then addressing larger projects that would require coordination with NCDOT. Committee members noted that some improvements could be implemented by restriping (painting) roadways, which can create bike lanes with lower cost and fewer right‑of‑way impacts.

The education & outreach subcommittee agreed to collaborate after the policy is drafted to inform residents how to request traffic‑calming measures and to use the town’s communications channels to explain the policy and next steps. Education priorities raised by the committee include signage and improvements at the bridge over Route 26, a sidewalk/bike facility at 156 Elkwood Avenue, creating a Merriman multi‑use path to link Beaver Dam Creek Greenway, and restriping Elk Mountain Road for a bike lane.

Staff and members agreed to track NCDOT’s project docket to identify opportunities to layer bike or pedestrian facilities onto planned DOT work. The committee expects recommendations and a draft policy to be presented in March for further discussion and potential referral to the Town Council.