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Huntersville approves advisory shoulders and speed humps for Central Avenue, adds speed hump on Delwood
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Summary
After staff presentations and resident concerns about speeding and pedestrian access, the town approved a pilot advisory shoulder plus three speed humps on Central Avenue and voted to add an additional speed hump on Delwood Drive.
Huntersville planners presented traffic‑calming options for Central Avenue between Delwood Drive and Holbrooks Road at the Feb. 17 Town Board meeting and the board approved a dual approach: a pilot 'advisory shoulder' (a single lane with marked pedestrian paths) and three speed humps, with staff to study results for three to six months.
Planner Mastro Francesco said the advisory‑shoulder concept would convert the roadway to an intuitive single travel lane with marked 4–5‑foot pedestrian paths along the pavement edges and a "no parking" restriction on the corridor. She said current traffic counts on Central are about 300 vehicles per day — within the low‑volume range where FHWA guidance suggests advisory shoulders can be effective — and recommended a pilot followed by radar study to measure speeds.
Commissioners raised geometry and parking concerns. One commissioner asked whether the narrow roadway could force cars into the pedestrian path; staff replied that drivers would still have full use of the paved width but the marking and narrowed visual field tend to reduce speed. The recommended pilot length is 3–6 months, with staff prepared to restore or modify controls if the pilot fails to meet policy thresholds.
After debate, a board motion to approve the advisory shoulder on Central Avenue along with three speed humps between Delwood Drive and Holbrooks Road — and to study removal of two existing stop signs based on further study — was moved and carried. The board also considered a separate request about Delwood Drive. Staff presented results showing one location recently recorded a highest speed of 33 mph (above the town threshold) after two previously installed speed humps; commissioners opted to add a third speed hump to Delwood, placing it east of Central Avenue. That motion was moved and carried.
Both measures were approved by motions on Feb. 17; staff will implement the pilot, monitor speeds, and return with results and any recommended adjustments.
