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THE TOWN OF PITTSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA

24 | c h a p t e r 3 : p e d e s t r i a n n e t w o r k

3.1 METHODOLOgy

A variety o sources were consulted during the development o the PedestrianNetwork: previous plans and studies, maps o existing pedestrian conditions,the consultants feldwork inventory, public input, and noted pedestriantrip attractors. Fieldwork included an examination o conditions at all major

intersections, greenway easibility along sewer easements, conditions alongprimary corridors, and a consideration o gap connectivity. Map discussionand analysis was conducted at steering committee meetings and publicmeetings to pinpoint specifc areas in need o pedestrian improvements.Specifc consideration was given to the ollowing:

Inputs for pedestrIan network development:

Existing Facilitiesand Current

Recommendations

Public Input:Workshops&

Comment Forms

Field Analysis

o CurrentConditions

Steering

CommitteeInput

Trip

Attractors

Direction romTown and NCDOT

Connectivity/Gap Analysis

PedestrianRoute

Network

This diagram illustrates themany inputs and levels ofanalysis used to design thePedestrian Route Network.


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3.2 THE PEDESTRIAN NET WORkThe Proposed Pedestrian Network or Pittsboro consists o sidewalk projectscrossing improvements, and o-road greenways. Together these proposedacilities should be developed or improved to create a sae and connectedpedestrian network throughout the Town. On-road and o-road componentsshould be integrated to provide a connected pedestrian transportation and

recreation network.

The network should be completed in phases as prioritized in Chapter 5Implementation. However, network segments should be developed when thereis opportunity, regardless o the order. New ordinances should be developed(discussed in Chapter 4) in order to make sidewalks a mandatory part o anycommercial or residential development, especially as recommended in thepedestrian network map.

Successul development o the pedestrian network will require a long-term,

cooperative eort between the Town, the local North Carolina Departmento Transportation Division 8, and other local and state agencies. Cooperativeeort is important because the Town cannot implement recommendationsor pedestrian acilities on state and ederal roads without DOT sanctionRegional connectivity should also be considered during uture developmento the greenway network, with private, public and non-proft partnerships(also discussed in Chapter 5, Implementation).

All pedestrian corridor projects undertaken by the Town o Pittsboro shouldaim to meet the highest standards possible when topography and right-o-wayallows. At a minimum, each pedestrian corridor should possess curb cuts with

ramps at all driveways and intersections and be paved to increase accessibilityand decrease maintenance costs. Within each identifed corridor, roadwayintersections should have marked crosswalks, and major intersections shouldhave pedestrian crossing signals. Wider sidewalks, with curb cuts and improvedsurace conditions will correct sidewalks that currently do not satisy thestandards set orth by the American Disability Act o 1991.

Trafc calming measures, such as curb extensions, medians, and pedestrianreuge islands should be used to create a more hospitable environment orpedestrians in neighborhoods and commercial districts. See Chapter 6, DesignGuidelines or specifc descriptions o recommended acility standardsFinally, opportunities should be taken to incorporate pedestrian acilities intoall municipal and state roadway improvement and widening projects.

Three main types o pedestrian projects have been identifed or the Towno Pittsboro and are outlined on the ollowing pages. They include sidewalks,crossing improvements, and o-road greenway corridors. Ancillaryimprovements to create a more hospitable pedestrian environment arealso detailed. Design guidelines in Chapter 6 provide detailed inormationregarding proper placement and acility treatments.

Regional

connectivity shouldbe considered duringfuture development

of the greenwaynetwork


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sIde walk pro ject s

Sidewalk projects are the major component o the proposed pedestriannetwork in Pittsboro. Sidewalks are located along road segments. Inthe long term, sidewalks should be constructed on both sides o arterialand collector roads wherever possible to provide adequate pedestrian

connections throughout the Town o Pittsboro. The sidewalk network isocused on signifcant roadways that provide service to major destinationswithin Pittsboro and link multiple land uses, such as residential, recreational,institutional, and commercial. The proposed pedestrian acilities alongsignifcant roadways crat the spine o the entire pedestrian network.Some sections along these signifcant roadways have existing sidewalk.However, the existing sidewalk is at times segmented, creating gaps in theconnectivity or lacking sidewalk on one side o the street. Sidewalk projectsare prioritized in Appendix E: Prioritization, and high priority segments areillustrated on Map E.1.

pedestrIan crossIngs

Improving the saety o roadway crossings is essential or making Pittsboromore walkable. Intersections present situations where a pedestrian musttraverse the motor vehicle environment. Pedestrians have a much greaterrisk o being struck by a vehicle when crossing a roadway as opposed towalking on the shoulder or sidewalk beside it. Nationally, nearly 75% oall police-reported pedestrian crashes involve pedestrians crossing roadwaytravel lanes.

Consultant feldwork and public input identifed numerous intersectionsin Pittsboro that are in need o minor to signifcant pedestrian acilityimprovements. Adequate acilities should be provided specifc to theintersection, to provide a sae crossing environment. Improvements mayinclude marked crosswalks, curb extensions, curb ramps, and pedestrian-activated signals. Recommendations or each specifc intersection arediscussed in section 3.4.

In roadway crossings with a stop sign only, marked crosswalks and curbramps should always be provided, where sidewalk exists. These would beinstalled parallel to the more signifcant roadway. This will provide greatervisibility or pedestrian space. Good examples are the roadway crossings

along East Street, where there are sidewalks, but no crosswalks.

It should be noted that this is a planning level analysis. Each o these locationswill need a more detailed project-level review. The conclusions reachedthrough more detailed review may vary rom those presented herein.

greenway traIl

A greenway is defned as a linear corridor o land that can be either natural,such as rivers and streams, or manmade, such as abandoned railroad bedsand utility corridors. Most greenways contain trails. Greenway trails can be

Above: A sidewalk project in Potterstone Villa

Pittsboro

Above: A pedestrian crossing at the County Chouse, Pittsboro


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paved or unpaved, and can be designed to accommodate a variety o traiusers, including bicyclists, walkers, hikers, joggers, skaters, horseback ridersand those confned to wheelchairs.

Greenway corridors can serve environmental purposes, protecting orests,enhancing water quality, and oering ample opportunities or environmentaeducation. Greenway trails can be constructed o natural materials, gravel,crushed stone, asphalt, or concrete, depending upon the projected usageand surrounding landscape. Greenway trails in Pittsboro should be integratedwith and serve as an o-road extension o the on-road pedestrian networkNumerous greenway opportunities were identifed throughout Pittsborovia consultant feldwork, public input, and other local and regional planningeorts. Proposed greenway corridors are illustrated on Map 3.1.

It should be urther emphasized that this is also a planning level analysis or

greenway corridors. Even though all sewer corridor easements in the Towno Pittsboro already contain provisions or pedestrian access, each greenwaytrail project should still have its own public input process, specifcally includingthe property owners adjacent to each corridor. Particular attention shouldbe given to the design o landscape screening and other treatments thathelp ensure the privacy (i so desired) o adjacent properties. The beneftso greenways (economic, environmental, etc), which are outlined on pages4 through 7 o this Plan, should also be emphasized during the planningprocess or specifc greenway corridors.

ancI ll ar y tr eatm ents

In addition to the above acilities, a number o other important pedestriantreatments can improve saety throughout the pedestrian network. A ullisting and description o these acilities and treatments can be ound inChapter 6 - Design Guidelines. Defnitions o the most common treatmentsrecommended in Section 3.3 are provided below.

Median Reuge Island: This reers to an island in the roadway median thatoers a stopping or halway point or a pedestrian.

Driveway Access Management: This reers to minimizing the size and

amount o access points or motor vehicles crossing sidewalks to adjacentproperties.

Trafc Calming: This reers to a range o measures that reduce the impacto vehicular trafc on residents, pedestrians and cyclists - most commonlyon residential streets, but also now on commercial streets.

bove: A natural surface greenway trail at Town

ake Park, Pittsboro

bove: The American Tobacco Trail, a regionalample of a paved surface greenway trail


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Insert 11x17 fold-out:

MAP 3.1: Recommended Facilities(Downtown)


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Insert 11x17 fold-out:

MAP 3.2: Recommended Facilities

(Planning Area/ETJ)


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PEDESTRIAN NETwORk

MAP 3.3: IntersectionImprovement Projects

Ak

G

F

J

E

BC

H

D

A Improvement Project ID

I


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THE TOwN OF PITTSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA


3.4 INTERSECTIONS

Improving the saety o roadway crossings is essential or making Pittsboromore walkable. Intersections present situations where a pedestrian musttraverse the motor vehicle environment. Pedestrians have a much greaterrisk o being struck by a vehicle when crossing a roadway as opposed towalking on the shoulder or sidewalk beside it. Nationally, nearly 75% o all

police-reported pedestrian crashes involve pedestrians crossing roadwaytravel lanes.

Consultant feldwork and public input identifed numerous existingintersections in Pittsboro that are in need o minor to signifcant pedestrianacility improvements. Most crossings involved an existing stoplight whichcontrols trafc well enough to consider making pedestrian improvements.

Adequate, complete acilities should be provided specifc to the intersection,to provide a sae crossing environment. Improvements may include markedcrosswalks, curb extensions, curb ramps, and pedestrian-activated signals.

Some o these treatments have been proven to reduce crashes, as shownin the 2007 FHWA Crash Reduction Factors Study (http://saety.hwa.dot.gov). The table below shows some typical countermeasures and associatedcrash reduction actors.

Pedestrian Crash reduCtion FaCtors

Countermeasure CrashReductionFactor

Install sidewalk 74%Install pedestrian countdown signal heads 25%Install pedestrian reuge islands 56%

Improve/install pedestrian crossings 25%

In roadway crossings with a stop sign only, marked crosswalks and curbramps should always be provided, where sidewalk exists. These would beinstalled parallel to the more signifcant roadway. This will provide greatervisibility or pedestrian space. A perect example is any residential roadwaycrossing o East Street and its sidewalk.

Finally, all new stoplights installed in the Town o Pittsboro should includecomprehensive pedestrian crossing elements.

Recommendations or each specifc intersection are discussed on theollowing pages. A comprehensive approach should be taken or eachintersection as the addition o a single or a ew treatments will be greatlyenhanced with additional treatments. For example, a marked crosswalk willbe a saer acility with countdown signals provided.

These recommendations are only a planning level analysis. Each o theselocations will need a more detailed project-level review. The conclusionsreached through more detailed review may vary rom those presentedherein.


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Courthouse interseCtion

ImportanceCenter o DowntownMajor roadwaysHigh pedestrian trafcExisting pedestrian acilities

RecommendationsInstall State Law: Stop or Pedestrian inCrosswalk signs at all our entrancesto the roundaboutRestripe existing marked crosswalks

(some aded)Consider landscaping additions in reuges

EAST 6wEST 64

15-501NORTH

15-501

SOUTH

COUNTY

COURTHOUSE

COUNTY GOVT BLDG

EXISTING SIDEwALk

PROPOSED SIDEwALk/SIDEwALk IMPROVEMENT

EXISTING CROSSwALk

PROPOSED CROSSwALk/CROSSwALk IMPROVEMENT

LANDSCAPING

ENHANCEMENT

SIGN: STATE LAW STOP FOR

PEDESTRIAN WITHIN CROSSWALK

A


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B

us 15-501/salisbury street

ImportanceMajor roadway corridorDowntown businesses

Existing pedestrian acilitiesDenser pedestrian movementsResidential areas nearby

RecommendationsRestripe existing marked crosswalks withhigher visibility markings (ladder)Reconstruct some o the existing curb ramps

to standardIn-roadway pedestrian crossing signsAdvanced pedestrian warning signs

*The sidewalk and stairs on the southwest corner o thisintersection are in need o complete redesign. A possible

solution includes a curb extension/bulb-out just north othe current parking. Also, the area within the railings couldbe raised and combined with the extended curb to createmore space or pedestrians waiting to cross. Ideally, thislocation would also be redesigned or ADA accessibility,with a ramp rom the curb extension area to the existing

sidewalk south o the intersection. The ramp would requirecreating more space in the right-o-way, through either

a modifcation o the existing angle parking to parallelparking and/or the elimination o some parking.


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us 15-501/thomPson street/hanks street

ImportanceMajor roadway corridorDowntown businessesExisting pedestrian acilities

Denser pedestrian movementsResidential areas nearby

Recommendations**Complete sidewalkReconstruct some o the existing

curb ramps to standardTrafc calmingCurb extensions

(south side o intersection)

Median reuge islandAdvanced pedestrian warning signsIn-roadway pedestrian crossing signsCountdown signals (i light installed)Marked crosswalks

**This intersection is currently not controlled with a stoplightI a stoplight is added, all recommendations (at let) may beconsidered. Given the current situation, signifcant trafc calmingmust be associated with the listed recommendations which wouldinclude very low automobile trafc speeds that are enorced,median reuge island, curb extensions, and in-roadway pedestriancrossing signs.

C


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us 15-501/Chatham street

ImportanceCenter o DowntownMajor roadways

High pedestrian trafcExisting pedestrian acilitiesWide crossing o Chatham

RecommendationsCurb extensions to shorten crossing

over ChathamMarked crosswalk over ChathamNo pedestrian acility recommended across

US 15-501

D


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us 15-501/Pittsboro elementary sChool roa

ImportanceSchoolsMajor roadwayNear Downtown

Some existing pedestrian acilities

RecommendationsComplete sidewalkRestripe existing marked crosswalks with

higher visibility markings (ladder)Improve overall pedestrian access/saety

north side o intersectionConstruct new curb rampsIn-roadway pedestrian crossing signsRemove sight obstructions

Improve pedestrian spaces at gas stationlaundromat areas

Make pedestrian push button(northwest side o intersection)more accessible

E


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nC 87/old Graham road-CamP street

ImportanceCommunity collegeLibrary

Nearby trailsFuture development

RecommendationsComplete sidewalkHighly visible marked crosswalksMarked crosswalk would be best placed

over Old Graham at Camp (southside). Pedestrian can use existingreuge island and then utilize markedcrosswalks over NC 87

Advanced stop linesAdvanced pedestrian warning signsRemove sight obstructionsTrafc calming and speed limit reduction,

especially along NC 87

*This intersection is currently under design or a roundabout.I and when the intersection is reconfgured, it should have

sidewalks, curb ramps, crosswalks to the splitter islands, andsplitter islands that are designed to be accessible to pedestriaand wheelchairs.

The stretch o road rom US64 to the proposed roundaboutis the subject o a CMAQ Funding Request. I approved, the

sidewalk will connect US 64 to a new library on the CCCCCampus.

F


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G West us 64/nC 87

ImportanceMajor roadway corridorMajor intersectionSome commercialSome existing pedestrian acilities

Main entrance to CCCC is on West US 64

RecommendationsComplete sidewalkHighly visible marked crosswalksAdvanced stop linesConstruct new curb rampsCurb radius reduction or curb extensionsCountdown signalsRestrict Right Turn On Red

Create better defnition o pedestrianspace through commercialparking lots and reduce size oparking lot entrances


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H us 15-501/PoWell PlaCe

ImportanceNew commercial and residentialdevelopmentMajor roadway corridor

Crossing rom residential area to commercialdevelopmentSome existing pedestrian acilities

RecommendationsComplete sidewalkHighly visible marked crosswalksAdvanced stop linesReconstruct existing curb rampsMedian reuge islands (extend and raise)Curb radius reduction or curb extensions

Countdown signalsAdvanced pedestrian warning signs


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us 15-501/Chatham marketPlaCe

ImportanceResidential connectivityConnection to Chatham MarketplaceMajor roadway corridor

RecommendationsWhen stoplight is installed, provide ull suiteo pedestrian crossing treatments(marked crosswalks, countdownsignals, advanced stop lines, curbramps, advanced pedestrian warningsigns, curb radius reduction)

I


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*Likely a longer-term project as developmentincreases in this area and as curb/gutter is added.

J us 15-501/ monCure-Pittsboro road (nC 87)*

ImportanceSignifcant roadwaysNearby residential area

RecommendationsComplete sidewalkHighly visible marked crosswalksAdvanced stop linesCurb radius reduction or curb extensionsRemove sight obstructions

**NC 87 is also used as a connectorto NCDOT Chatham County BicycleRoute 3 and Route 4, and CarolinaConnection US Bike Route 1. Thisroad is used extensively or normalbicycle use to these routes, especiallyon weekends.


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east us 64/mlk, Jr. dr.

ImportanceMajor roadway corridorShopping centerResidential areaFarmers MarketSome existing pedestrian acilities

RecommendationsComplete sidewalkHighly visible marked crosswalksAdvanced stop linesConstruct new curb rampsCountdown signals

k


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3.5 REGIONAL CONNECTIVITY

Pittsboro should look beyond its city limits and link pedestrian acilities toneighboring and regional destinations, such as the Haw River, Moncure,Siler City, etc. It is recommended that Pittsboro coordinate eorts withsurrounding communities to create long distance connections or alternative

transportation and recreation, particularly through greenway corridordevelopment. Regional greenway trail connections will encourage and drawindividuals to Pittsboro rom surrounding areas. One opportunity is theabandoned rail corridor parallel to US 15-501. Opportunities to partnerwith the railroad should continue to be sought.

For Pittsboro, the most signifcant and valuable regional opportunitiesor pedestrian connections include the rails-to-trails opportunity alongthe rail line rom downtown Pittsboro to Moncure (through potentialpartnerships between Pittsboro, Moncure, and Chatham County); agreenway heading east rom downtown along Robeson Creek (through

potential land development dedication); and a greenway along the HawRiver (through potential partnerships with local land trusts and the NorthCarolina Department o Environmental and Natural Resources).


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PEDESTRIAN NETwORk

MAP 3.4: Regional Trails


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pedestrian network pittsburg

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