Steering committee moves to boost sidewalk priorities on Witson Avenue and central US 70

Staff told the Swanoa steering committee that "right now it's $979,000 secured for the Witson Avenue project," marking the largest confirmed sidewalk funding update in the plan process. The committee spent much of the meeting reworking sidewalk and bike-lane priorities on maps that staff will use in future grant applications.

Why it matters: committee members said pedestrian safety—especially where children and full-time residents walk to schools, parks and downtown—should guide which sections the county pursues for near-term funding. Raising a segment's priority in the plan helps the county compete for DOT and other grants and creates a documented basis for project requests.

At the meeting staff and members clarified several near-term actions. Staff reiterated that construction timing must be coordinated with NCDOT and that grant funds must be spent within three years of the agreement start. Members agreed to raise the priority for the central portions of US 70 (including the stretch near the Witson Avenue Bridge) and to bump the Old US 70 Witson-to-Grovemont segment to a higher priority because of a blind curve and frequent pedestrian crossings.

Committee members also endorsed adding a Lake Eden Road sidewalk spur to improve Safe Routes to School connections to Owen High and retained an Owen Pool spur intended to link the pool and nearby school to a potential greenway. On crosswalks, participants asked staff to highlight intersections where painted crossings may be insufficient and where signals or beacons could be considered; staff cautioned that specific design recommendations exceed the scope of this planning session but said the map will flag problem intersections for follow-up with NCDOT.

The meeting also covered related issues that affect feasibility: members raised concerns about lighting on NCDOT-owned corridors and agreed staff will check with NCDOT on willingness to install overhead or sidewalk lighting (members noted possible costs to property owners). On speed limits, staff said DOT had indicated a reduction from 55 to 45 mph on portions of US 70 and the committee asked staff to follow up about requests for 35 mph in school and high-pedestrian areas.

Bike access and the bike-park project featured multiple exchanges. Members asked that bike lanes be considered where they connect to the bike park; staff reported developers have been working through brownfield remediation requirements and deed restrictions at the proposed park site and that permitting and remediation are being addressed.

Finally, the group endorsed adding a "pedestrian bridge study area" across the Swano River between willing landowners on both sides to explore a standalone bridge or a cantilevered walkway off an existing structure to improve safe crossings and greenway connectivity. Staff will add the bridge study area to the transportation-improvements map and follow up with more precise language and a study-area polygon.

Next steps: staff will incorporate agreed map changes, confirm DOT guidance on lighting and speed-limit requests, add the pedestrian-bridge study area, and use the updated plan language to support grant applications.