Starting in April, Carrboro’s East Weaver Street will be closed to vehicles every weekend — the town’s next step for turning the two-way road into a pedestrian and bicycle only plaza.
The Carrboro Town Council recently heard an update on the reimagining of East Weaver Street, a project that would help enhance downtown’s bike-ped network downtown. At the Jan. 20 meeting, Council Member Jason Merrill explained how the temporary closure will be a way to gather initial data over a six-month period and see if the amenity could be permanently feasible for the town.
“I hope that this is something that we hear from people that they are excited about and they want us to continue or expand however it works out,” Merrill said. “But I also want us to be in a position that if it doesn’t work, we can just be like, ‘Hey, we tried that. It wasn’t great. We’re moving on.’ I just want all possibilities to be out there and really give it a go.”
The pilot project will impact traffic starting April 17. According to Carrboro Planning Director John Fussa, the temporary barriers on the east and west ends of the road will be installed every Friday and taken down on Sunday evenings.
Although East Weaver is largely favored by bicyclists and pedestrians, with Weaver Street Market and local businesses nearby, the road closure will likely divert traffic to North and South Greensboro streets and East and West Main streets. Fussa stressed how new signage for vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians will be crucial as traffic patterns change during the weekend closure, as will having more green time for vehicles traveling westbound to Main Street.
“So there’s advance notice to drivers because even residents, much less visitors, will encounter — at least the first few times — a different kind of setup and design with different traffic movements and turning movements than they’re typically used to,” Fussa said.
While the town saw potential design scenarios to help alleviate future road congestion in July, the planner said the town can start developing more concrete plans for diversion designs and traffic signals after the project’s final design package is submitted to the North Carolina Department of Transportation this month.
The planning director added how there will also be signage, barrels, or cones to accommodate the right turn into Car Mill Mall’s lot for vehicles accessing those businesses. Council Member Danny Nowell said the town should anticipate that lot as a “friction point,” noting how Car Mill Mall expressed they would tow users who use the lot as parking for the new amenity.
Fussa said the issue will need to be mitigated through various ways, like public announcements and signage.
“Certainly there’s a need for the town, as part of this demonstration project, or trial project, to communicate information to visitors and those who might use the space,” Fussa said. “And part of that is that the sign plan package needs to have information about parking: where public parking is available and where parking is not available. There’s a need for communications and information to go with this demonstration.”
Ongoing efforts for the project include gathering input from East Weaver businesses, as Fussa said the street will still be needed for deliveries and pickups. Another next step for the project includes developing an activation plan for the temporary plaza, which he said will be important for ensuring the public space adds energy, vibrancy, and opportunities for the community and its partners, particularly during spring and summer.
To view the full Town Council meeting, click here. To learn more about the project, click here.
Featured photo via the Town of Carrboro.
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