Top 10 List
For the upcoming NC DOT meeting on July 16 at Green Hope High School (6-9 pm), Save64 needs to know your top ten concerns for both the superstreet and the expressway proposals. So far, the DOT is aware of two major community concerns:
* use of US 1 South/NC 540 as a bypass
* Pedestrian crossing at Laura Duncan
Please comment below to register any/all of your concerns. We will review the comments and submit them to the DOT for inclusion in the July 16th meeting.
Also, we are preparing to send an email to everyone who signed the petition or registered for the mailing list. Look for it soon, and keep checking this website for more info as July 16 approaches.
Below is a summary of a request from David Wasserman of the NC DOT, sent to Save64.org, regarding the July 16 meeting:
We are currently preparing for the July 16th Community Meeting and I wanted to let you know of the format and also ask for your input. The meeting will begin at 6:30 with a welcome and introduction, followed by a two part presentation. The first part will be a (slide show presentation outlining the current state of the US64 project). The second part of the presentation will focus on the top ten most common concerns/questions. To help make the meeting more informative and better for everyone, I’d like to ask each of you what are the other top concerns we should address in the presentation?
Of course, there will be opportunity to discuss other concerns that are not included in the presentation. After we discuss the top ten, participants will have an opportunity to ask questions to a panel of Study Team members for the remainder of the evening (until a few minutes before 9:00).
If you could provide your top concerns/questions to me by Wednesday, July 8th, that would be greatly appreciated.
My top concerns:
- pedestrians – crossings
– safe access from Apex High School to Lake Pine Park
– safe access from Old Raleigh Road to Like Pine Park
- bicycles – travel on US 64 by cyclists
- Eva Perry Library on an exit
I have numerous concerns for my family particuarly and for the residents along why 64 in general: increased pollution and respiratory health risks and illnesses, increased noise levels, defacing the character of the neighborhoods along 64, enormous decrease in property value from the currently assessed NC state value and on which basis property taxes are established. This proposal is absolutely inconsistent and out of charcter with Cary/Apex established residential area.
These are my concerns:
- Safe pedestrian crossing of Laura Duncan for high school students
- Safe and timely access to Laura Duncan to the high school
- Safe and easy access for Eva Perry Library
- Safe and easy access for home owners in neighborhoods directly bordering 64
- Concern for increased complications for traffic simply crossing 64
- Concern for decreased home values of neighborhoods directly bordering 64
- Concern for increased crime in neighborhoods directly bordering 64
- Concern for increase in commercial traffic on 64
- Safety of high school students as pedestrians.
- Safety of high school students as new drivers using 64 at lunch time. They are on a schedule for leaving and getting back on time.
- Access of crossing 64 without having to drive or walk long distances.
- Ease and safety of access from Old Raleigh Road to Lake Pine Park/Jaycee’s Park
- Concern for access to Eva Perry library.
- Safe and easy access for home owners in neighborhoods directly boarding 64.
- realistic projection of traffic on 64 after 540 completion
Concerns:
Traffic flow and pedestrian crossing at Apex High School. Too many teenagers in Wake County are dying as pedestrians or drivers at or near the high schools. We need to make this a priority. Driver’s ed does not prepare these students for managing one of the most complex traffic situations they will ever face as a driver. A super highway at the school will make this even more complex. This reason alone is enough to halt this project. The quality of life for the whole community depends on safe, effective schools. Transportation to and from the school, buses, cars, walkers….this is a huge part of assuring a safe school for the students.
Top Concerns:
Crossing Rte 64 from Old Raleigh Rd to Lake Pine Rd.
Access to/from Eva Perry Library via Rte 64
Additional commercial traffic & speed limits on Rte 64
Ease or difficulty of access/egress on Rte 64
My number one concern is the addition of yet another mammoth highway project, when our current roads are crumbling and any alternative form of mass transportation is still a conceptual idea. I wonder if the monies from the Stimulus Package will do more harm then good, if leaders continue to ignore that eventually, many far-flung housing developments may become unsustainable in their present forms, with the rising cost of fuel and the continued expense of road upkeep. Here is a link to a fairly damning report done by Smart Growth America concerning the building of new roads versus the utilization of maintaining existing roads with stimulus money.
http://www.infrastructurist.com/2009/06/30/stimulus-buying-a-lot-of-new-highways-very-little-new-transit/
I’ve traveled 64W, from my subdivision at MacGregor West all the way to Lexington to pickup 52 N. If the main goal is to open up 64/49 to Charlotte, then in my opinion a lot of work needs to be done at these three cities of Siler City, Ramseur, and especially Asheboro FIRST. Asheboro is where 49 meets to travel to Charlotte. Traffic is very heavy with a lot of stoplights and strip shopping. Money needs to be spent to address this issue, to create a bypass like the one that was created at Pittsboro.
Also, I’m concerned about continuing sprawl along 64. Right now as you travel further down 64, it is very pristine and beautiful. The watershed of Jordan Lake needs to be protected.
I think this is a terrible idea. My primary concerns are:
- Destruction of the “neighborhood” atmosphere that currently exists in the residential areas and businesses that exist on either side of Hwy 64. Currently, even though it is a multi-lane highway, it still has a “small town” feel to it.
- Decrease in property values
- Increased pollution and destruction of natural beauty (including clearing of more trees!)
- Increased commercial traffic and traffic noise on Hwy 64
- Increased crime as neighborhoods get degraded
- Difficult access and crossing of Hwy 64
The major concerns for our family are:
- immediate decrease in property values
- neighborhoods around 64 will immediately become undesirable
- increased noise from elevated streets and increased traffic volume.
- access to and from Apex High School
- decrease in ‘community feel’ of this region. Both Cary and Apex pride themselves on this
- destruction of more natural areas that make this area so attractive. We don’t want to look like suburban Atlanta
- project is not funded..where is money coming from. Our state and federal governments are already in the ‘red’.
I would rather see DOT properly maintain Old Raleigh Road, Salem Street, etc. that simply build more stuff.
I strongly superstreet from US1 to the Kelly Road area and I’m not too fond if it from Kelly Road to Pittsboro either.
I agree that the route between Apex/Cary and Charlotte have much to be improved in Siler City, Ramseur, and especially Asheboro FIRST. I travel this route 64 to 49 to 52 at least 6 times/ year and the improvement in Pittsboro was really appreciated. The dreaded part of the trip is the cities mentioned prior.
When I bought my home in Apex in a subdivision directly off 64 I chose that due to the location and nice area close by (woods, Jordan Lake, the Tobacco Trail) and also the city close at hand the other way. Route 55 improvement from single lane to 4 lane has been a great improvement up to RTP. We already have 4 lanes into Apex, Cary, what more is needed?
We have many other issues to address directly in the Raleigh area to support the people that live here now. We don’t want to make this an unattractive place to live or have people start moving out as it is not pleasant to get around the area we already live? To improve the route between Cary and Charlotte may just keep making Charlotte bigger than our beautiful capital city! We don’t want that.
1. The superstreet concept eliminates the ability of road cyclists (either riding alone or in the numerous group rides that take place after work or on weekends) to use the cross streets or US 64 safely. A multi-use side trail is not a safe solution.
2. Charlotte to Raleigh thru-traffic will have high speed rail in the future as an alternative to using I-85 and I-40, so that will reduce some individual motorist usage. It also provide transportation options.
3. Older drivers often take NC 49 and US 64 as a more user-friendly option to get to the Raleigh area from Charlotte. The roads are signed at slower speeds (45 and 55 mph) rather than 65-70 mph. They can actually unclinch and enjoy the view (it is signed as a scenic byway by NCDOT). With the aging of baby boomers, NCDOT should be mindful of their needs as well.
4. The NCDOT plans (short and long term) do not seem to be in alignment with the white paper put out by the new U.S. Secretary of Transportation calling for complete streets and transportation options. It is the typical “build more, build now so everyone continue to drive their red pickup truck (or luxury SUV) to Raleigh. Further, it does not consider that rural counties may wish to stay more rural in order to continue to provide those local food sources that are desired by urban and suburban residents and restaurants and promoted by new urbanist planners…or move toward a tighter land use planning model rather than low-density suburbia everywhere.
My concerns are as follows:
Safe pedestrian crossing at Laura Duncan. The Apex High School kids often park across the street at the old Winn Dixie lot since there is limited parking at the HS, and then walk across 64 during the rush hour.
Length of time it would take to sit at two lights (one at the intersection, and one at the U-turn) in order to go left or straight. I’m not convinced that it will be a shorter wait, and it certainly will be more distance.
Concerned about the businesses that will be affected by this. If you have to turn right to go straight or left, then many folks will just not visit some businesses since they are now harder to get to. We often visit Bojangles or Taco Bell, and Jiffy Lube, but if getting there is a going to be harder, then these folks will suffer.
What about the teenage drivers that are coming from Cary to Apex High (I’ll not get into WCPSS view of redistricting) that now go straight across 64 on Laura Duncan. I’m worried that this will add confusion to these young drivers.
There seems to be too much bias towards the “through traffic” instead to local traffic. Most likely the “through traffic” is mostly made up of folks from Apex/Cary and not from Charlotte.
Why were news letters about this change only sent to folks within 1600 feet of 64? There’s a bunch more people that are affected by this change than just those within 1600 feet of the roadway. This impacts the whole community of Apex, not just that small set.
My top concerns:
• Daily inconvenience for residents of the neighborhoods along Hwy 64 for local travel – for work, school, sports, groceries, errands, shopping, visiting friends, etc.
• Increased, faster traffic that will be dangerous for inexperienced high school drivers – driving to and from school, visiting friends, giving each other rides, going out to eat (not just for lunch, for other meals too).
• Losing a peaceful, scenic route to get to Chapel Hill, Greensboro, Charlotte and other destinations. This is especially important for seniors, but others enjoy having a less hectic option as well.
• Loss of visual appeal along Hwy 64 and at the entrance of several subdivisions.
• Decreased property values in neighborhoods along Hwy 64.
The DOT website leads us to believe that completion of 540 will lead to increased traffic as it has on US 1 in North Raleigh. If this is the case, then DOT is admitting that building roads increases sprawl and traffic congestion – so why build more and not repair what we have?
I am opposed to the super street idea. There are too many intersection in close proximity to each other to permit enough space to have the U turns between each intersection. The increased flow of traffic would make it difficult to make the U turn and merely move the traffic slow downs away from the current lights to the U turns. These slow downs would be especially problematic during Apex High School school days and for church goers on Sundays. The super street would make pedestrian traffic more challenging and unsafe.
In general, widening Hwy 64 will create more commercial and industrial development, ruining established neighborhoods, destroying residential property values, and ruining a lovely community.
Wow, that’s a fear-mongering photo you’ve chosen to include with this post. You at least could identify where it is…L.A.? Did you steal it from the Internet?
Loss of “community” and “Business 64″
Why does it have to be an “elevated” expressway?
Elevated expressway and loss of visual appeal
Increased faster traffic. Why does everything have to be bigger and “faster”?
Loss of a peaceful scenic civilized route at a comfortable speed to get to other destinations
Decreased property values and the need to disclose upon a sale of a home the fact that an elevated expressway is going into our backyard
Nc 55 south and the length of it needs work.. Around Angier where I live Maude Stewart Rd-Keenebec Rd ;since last July at least 4-vehicles have been totaled out here ……….Lagenaria Dr has had a few wrecks at it.A log truck wrecked next to this drive.Logs were spilled closing road a few weeks ago.The speeding in area going unchecked most of the time three Agencis have jurisdiction out here is not going on to any noticable level…. Drop off’s on edge of roads is a hazard,and I feel is a fcator in some wrecks,even though it’s not on reports it still may be a factor.. The roads between Angier and Durham are in some areas could use some additions to inprove safty. A light would help here close to my residence.7825 Lagenaria Dr,is where I live… To get out here is a real chore at times….Laura, I hope this info is helpfull in this consideration for improvements in my area… But to spend money on such a big project even when it’s funded; is a bit much to swallow at this point!!!!!!!!!!!! NC 55 is in poor shape in some areas,just drive it from Durham to Erwin,it’s a narrow hog path in some area’s . I know hog paths ;I grew up a few miles from Wake County,in Harnett,Johnston County. So,I know a Hog path when I see ONE!!!! Please help… Thanks, for letting me say my PEACE!!!!
This is a response to pirmin, above…you are aware that the long-term plan that the DOT is proposing adds another overpass, that will stand above the existing one, at the current US1 and US 64 split, right? So you know that we’d end up with a massive interchange that is similar to what’s in the photo? If not, then that photo did its job.
Further, your insinuation that our website development group “steals” anything is getting on toward slander. Please refrain from such language if you wish to continue posting in the future.