Rainey Avenue in the Hillsborough neighborhood of Fairview is about to get safer and calmer for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers alike.
At a meeting on Nov. 12, the Hillsborough Town Board unanimously supported a proposal to implement traffic-calming efforts and sidewalk improvements along Rainey Avenue, designed to prevent speeding and improve safety along the street.
The UNC Food, Fitness, and Opportunity Research Collaborative, or FFORC, led the development of the proposal. It includes a four-way stop sign at the avenue’s intersection with Torain Street, a radar speed sign, speed bumps, and a sidewalk connecting the Dorothy N. Johnson Community Center to Fairview Park. FFORC’s involvement in the neighborhood began in 2019 with the establishment of its partnership with the Fairview Community Watch.
Details of FFORC’s proposal for Rainey Avenue. (Photo courtesy of FFORC)
Judit Alvarado, the field coordinator for FFORC who lives in Fairview, said speeding and safety have been major issues in the community for years.
“I’ve been living in the community for about 10 years now, and ever since I came and lived in the community, I had been hearing about these issues and problems,” she said. “Just not being able to feel safe and not being able to be able to walk outside because of these issues.”
Rainey Avenue is particularly important because it’s one of the main avenues connecting the roads within the neighborhood. It has two bus stops and also connects Fairview to US Highway 70.
FFORC held seven workshops over the past two years where they gave locals a chance to learn about traffic-calming, meet with experts, and contribute their ideas.
Kevin Giff, project manager for FFORC, said he felt very lucky to have strong community support and participation in Fairview.
“The workshops and the process, I think, were really special because residents of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds were part of developing this proposal,” he said.
The workshops were held in both English and Spanish, with FFORC community engagement coordinator Edith DeJesus-Sanchez providing live translations.
Alvarado discussed how important it was to be as inclusive as possible for the diverse community.
“Just having a space where you can share in your own primary language, and not having a fear of being judged by others, and a safe space for everybody to come together and talk about these issues was also an integral part of what we were doing,” she said.
The process also involved a petition that was signed by the majority of households along Rainey Avenue. Staff in the Public Spaces, Public Works, and Police departments for the Town of Hillsborough also provided support and guidance through various parts of the process.
Kevin Giff (front row, left), Judit Alvarado (front row, middle), and others attend the Hillsborough Town Board meeting on Nov. 12. (Photo courtesy of Kevin Giff)
Hillsborough mayor Mark Bell said he was impressed with the group’s proposal and with the level of community engagement in the proposal process.
“Their presentation and their materials and everything was just so good,” he said. “It was really, really, really impactful to hear firsthand from the community about what their needs are, and having so many people in their community engaged in that process, that was really awesome.”
Giff emphasized the significance of the traffic-calming achievement and future goals in the Fairview Active-Living Plan.
“It feels like a really big milestone for a larger vision that folks have that’s outlined in the Activate Plan to really create a Fairview that’s safer and more active and more vibrant for everybody,” he said. “And so this feels like a really exciting milestone.”
Other future FFORC projects include improvements to the Dorothy N. Johnson Community Center and more recreational opportunities at Fairview Park.
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