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Matthews presents Northeast Parkway quick‑build cycle track pilot; staff to monitor traffic and usage
Summary
Town staff described a quick-build, protected two-way cycle track installed along Northeast Parkway as part of a resurfacing/FDR project; staff said the approach is a lower-cost alternative to a full sidepath (about $2 million per mile) and will be monitored with before-and-after counts and signage improvements following public feedback on lane shifts.
Town staff briefed the Board of Commissioners on June 8 about a resurfacing and safety project on Northeast Parkway that included a quick-build protected two-way cycle track installed as part of a Full Depth Reclamation (FDR) effort.
Project staff explained the decision to use a two-way cycle track as a lower-cost alternative to a full sidepath (staff estimated sidepaths can cost roughly $2 million per mile). Kashan, a town project manager, described the facility as "a two-way cycle track allowing cyclists to go from either the Sam Newell end down to NC51," and said delineators were installed on the roadway as part of the pilot. Staff noted remaining work includes signage at the NC 51 approach and placement of dome-style pavement buttons ("turtles") in gore areas to help transitions.
Officials acknowledged confusion in the public about a lane-shift at the NC 51 intersection where the left lane becomes a left-turn only and the right lane becomes the through lane. Staff said the configuration is initially unfamiliar but comparable patterns exist elsewhere and that they plan to do before-and-after bicycle and pedestrian counts and trial additional signage or visual cues if needed. Commissioners asked for monthly police reporting on operational impacts and for more public education; staff said communications would add explanatory video and materials and that counts and camera-based observations are planned.
Staff framed the installation as a quick-build pilot that can be reversed or adjusted if monitoring shows safety or operational problems.
