In response to more residents biking and walking during the pandemic, the Town of Chapel Hill is pursuing an experimental way to improve pedestrian safety.

The town installed its first temporary in-road ‘street path’ earlier this month. This 6-foot wide pathway is marked off with tape, traffic cones and signage and stretches from Cedar Falls Park to the Booker Creek Greenway via Honeysuckle Road and Booker Creek Road.

Chapel Hill Mayor Pam Hemminger recently spoke to 97.9 The Hill’s Brighton McConnell about the town’s desire to try out the idea.

“We’ve noticed that people are out and about more, either by bike, by jogging, or by foot,” Hemminger said. “And we want to have some safer ways for them to do that since there’s no sidewalks in that part of the neighborhood.”

The new in-road street path is by no means the first of the town’s efforts to make conditions safer for pedestrians over the course of the pandemic. Last summer, one lane of Franklin Street was closed off to provide more space for social distancing and to encourage restaurants to expand their outdoor seating. The town deemed the project such a success that it remained through the New Year and is still in use today.

The town solicited public ideas for the location of the street path last summer and fall. Now, depending on the public feedback received about the project through an online survey, the town may install more on several other roads in the community and consider making them permanent.

Additional questions about the street path may be directed to Transportation Planning Manager Bergen Watterson at bwatterson@townofchapelhill.org.

 

Photo via the Town of Chapel Hill.

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees. You can support local journalism and our mission to serve the community. Contribute today – every single dollar matters.

Related Stories
‹
Chapel Hill Prepares for No Right on Red Rule to Go Into Effect at Select Intersections
An ordinance prohibiting turning right on red at several intersections in Chapel Hill will go into effect on October 31. The Chapel Hill Town Council passed the ordinance during its meeting on October 2, two years after a similar ordinance had previously discussed and pulled from the council’s agenda. The town’s Transportation and Connectivity Advisory […]
'Professionals Behind the Wheel': Chapel Hill Transit Competition Challenges and Celebrates Its Operators
Chapel Hill Transit held its annual roadeo competition this past weekend, where operators showed off their skills in a timed obstacle course.
Photo Gallery: Chapel Hill Transit Roadeo 2026 Competition
The Chapel Hill Transit system held its annual Roadeo competition among its bus operators to see who could best navigate an obstacle course.
Chapel Hill Announces Adjusted Hours for Indoor Recreational Facilities and Centers
A difficult financial landscape is causing both residents and our local governments to tighten their budgets. In Chapel Hill, the town’s Parks and Recreation Department is adjusting its facilities hours – which helps keep costs more efficient, but leaders say also addresses bigger goals of the parks crew. The updates, as announced on Monday, shift […]
NCDOT to Begin Resurfacing Highway 86 June 1; Overnight Delays Expected
The North Carolina Department of Transportation is scheduled to begin resurfacing a part of North Carolina Highway 86 in Chapel Hill Monday, June 1. The work will take place between the intersections with Estes Drive and Franklin Street, through the Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard/South Columbia Street corridor. In a release, the Town of Chapel […]
Garbage Collection, Local Transit and More: How Memorial Day Will Impact Local Services
The observation of Memorial Day Monday, May 25 will affect local government services around the Orange County community. Here’s what residents can expect: Town of Chapel Hill Memorial Day is an official town holiday. Most town and other administrative offices will be closed. Residential trash will not be collected on Monday, with the make-up day […]
Blue Sky Robotics Expanding Chapel Hill Headquarters, Moving to Rosemary Street
Blue Sky Robotics, which has been headquartered in downtown Chapel Hill since its founding in 2023, will be moving to the Innovate Carolina Junction building at 136 East Rosemary Street. The company is currently located in the Hill Commercial Building on 142 East Franklin Street. In a presentation to the Chapel Hill Town Council Wednesday […]
During Bike Month, Chapel Hill Highlights Resources to Expand Bicycle Use and Improve Safety
Alongside the town's Vison Zero efforts through Vision Zero, Chapel Hill Transit offers trip coordination using its bus routes and greenways.
UNC Reports More Than $17 Million in Direct Economic Impact from Savannah Bananas Visit
According to a release from UNC, the recent visit from the Savannah Bananas to Chapel Hill generated an estimated $17.1 million.
No Tax Increases and Increased Spending Featured in Chapel Hill Staff's Proposed FY27 Budget
Following a year with improved revenues and a new town manager at the helm, the Town of Chapel Hill may go into the next fiscal year without a tax increase or significant cuts.
›