General Project Information

The Downtown Cary Streetscape Project will create a unique identity for downtown Cary by incorporating pedestrian-friendly design elements such as a Town Square, on-street parking, landscaping, and widened sidewalks. The design will express Cary’s history and cultural heritage, as well as its technological leadership, while creating a desired destination that meets the needs of Cary’s citizens, businesses and visitors.  The Downtown Cary Streetscape Project will encompass more than two miles of downtown streets in Cary, North Carolina, with construction scheduled to begin in fall 2009.

1 | What is the overall scope of the project?
The Downtown Cary Streetscape Project includes approximately 11,000 linear feet of streetscaping and roadway improvement design on Academy Street, Chatham Street, and North Harrison Avenue, as provided in the Downtown Cary Streetscape Master Plan. This includes:

2 | What is the project schedule?
Click here to view the anticipated project schdeule.

3 | What is the total cost of the project?
The estimated cost for the entire Downtown Cary Streetscape Project is $36.6 million, which includes $2.6 million for the replacement and upgrades to underground utilities.

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Downtown Cary Streetscape Master Plan

1 | What is the history of the Downtown Cary Streetscape Master Plan?
In 2001, the Town of Cary adopted the Town Center Area Plan (TCAP), staging a vision to make the Town Center a more unique, vibrant, pedestrian-friendly location. The TCAP served as a catalyst for additional downtown-oriented plans and studies, including the Downtown Cary Streetscape Master Plan. The Downtown Cary Streetscape Master Plan builds on the TCAP and complements the Public Art Master Plan and the Town Center Civic and Cultural Arts study.

2 | Will the streetscape project look like the original Downtown Cary Streetscape Master Plan?
The Downtown Cary Streetscape Master Plan is a conceptual plan that was developed over the course of one year by Town staff, consultants, and the public. The plan is a policy document that established the Town’s official vision and recommendations for future landscape and construction improvements to streets and sidewalks in the area.

The design team has reviewed the concepts presented in the master plan and refined those concepts to develop the streetscape design. Modifications to the master plan were made after the consideration of planning and design issues, public input, traffic analysis, and surveys.

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Design

1 | What has been accomplished during the design phase?

During the design phase, the project team has:
- Collected data on existing conditions;
- Developed typical sections for the streetscape corridors;
- Refined and developed more detailed designs for elements of the Master Plan;
- Integrated public art into a variety of functional streetscape elements;
- Identified proposed locations for the streetscape elements;
- Developed preliminary cost estimates;
- Established preliminary construction limits and a preliminary construction phasing schedule;
- Coordinated with other downtown initiatives (e.g., new Community Arts Center);
- Discussed the project with residents and businesses within the project vicinity; and
- Conducted extensive coordination with various public and private agencies, including railroads and utility companies.

Following the design phase, the project will move forward with permitting and construction.

2 | How much of the design has been completed?
Over 60 percent of the streetscape design has been completed. Currently, revisions are being made to the design per input received from the public, business owners, public and private agencies, and Town staff. The team will continue coordinating with property and business owners, as well as the general public, on specific design elements.

3 | Does the design incorporate any environmentally friendly features?
The project has integrated Best Management Practices (BMPs) within the streetscape design features, where possible:

4 | Has a traffic study been conducted? If so, what were the results?
A Traffic Study was conducted to ensure that the vision of the Master Plan could be realized from a traffic perspective. The study concluded:
- The project will result in a notable improvement in vehicular traffic flow due to both geometric and signal changes.
- The project will meet the future downtown traffic capacity needs, based on projected development.
- A reduction of through truck traffic along Academy and Chatham streets within downtown is recommended.

5 | What utility improvements are being made as part of this project?
The Town has approved $2.6 million to replace and upgrade existing water and sewer lines to meet future capacity needs and lower future maintenance and construction costs.

Above-ground utility lines will be placed underground along the streetscape. The Town is coordinating with private utility companies (power, phone, cable, gas, and fiber optic) to improve and relocate those facilities.

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Gateway Features

1 | Will the streetscape project include new street signs or other directional guides for the downtown
project area?
Yes. Kiosks, pedestrian signage, transit and other pedestrian wayfinding elements will be designed, and locations determined, as part of this project.

2 | Why are roundabouts being considered?

All roundabouts within the project will accommodate both pedestrians and cyclists to ensure their safety. Roundabouts will also provide unique opportunities for additional landscaping and public art.

Click here to view the Roundabout Fact Sheet.

3 | What features are being incorporated into the design to further ensure the safety of downtown pedestrians and Cary Elementary students?
Pedestrian safety is of the utmost importance to the Town. Bulb-outs at intersections will reduce the width of the street, slowing traffic and increasing safety for pedestrians; wider sidewalks will promote pedestrian use.

Integrated art, at each of the three roundabout locations, will provide additional visual cues to enhance safety for pedestrians and drivers. Groupings of illuminated three-dimensional elements will help slow traffic and reinforce the direction motorists and cyclists need to take as they move through the roundabout.

Project team members are working with Cary Elementary School to discuss and address the concerns regarding the safety of students. Options to further enhance the safety of areas with high pedestrian traffic near Cary Elementary School are being evaluated.

4 | What plans are being made for cyclists?
Wider shared outside lanes with pavement markings (sharrows) on Harrison Avenue and Chatham Street are planned to accommodate bicycles. In addition, the speed limit on all streets within the project limits will be reduced to 25 mph to further ensure the safety of cyclists and pedestrians.

5 | Will there be new transit opportunities provided by the project?
The streetscape will include approximately 200 parking spaces (approximately 45 near Town Square) compared to the 100 existing on-street parking spaces. Bus stop locations have been coordinated with the Planning Department and C-Tran and will be located near community facilities.

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Construction

1 | Will the project be constructed in stages or phases?
Yes, to reduce travel inconveniences due to construction and to ensure continued access to the downtown area, construction will take place in three phases:

The staging of construction considers the timing of Town events (e.g., Lazy Daze) and other Town projects (e.g., new Community Arts Center).

2 | How will the public be informed about the best ways to get around during construction?
The Town will work according to reliable, updated schedules and will ensure access to those who live, work, travel, and conduct business in the area. The project team will provide timely updates, develop informational materials, and coordinate closely with the media to relay project information prior to and during each phase of construction.

Detour and construction information will be available in a “Get-Around Guide.” A project office will remain open throughout construction. Information will be posted on the project website (www.carystreetscapes.org) and the project hotline (233-DWTN).

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Integrated Public Art

1 | What was the process for selecting the public artist?
The Town of Cary’s Public Art Advisory Board and a Citizen Advisory Artist Selection Panel selected the artist, Elizabeth Conner, from 60 qualified applicants from across the United States and Canada. Town Council approved the hiring of Elizabeth Conner in February 2007. Conner is working closely with ARCADIS to develop designs that integrate public art throughout the streetscape. Click here to learn more about the project artist.

2 | What are the public art priority areas?
Priority areas for public art include:

- Street Furniture: benches, tree guards and grates, lighting, bus shelters
- Traffic Management: paving (crosswalks), sidewalks
- Signage: gateways, wayfinding elements
- Gathering areas, roundabouts, and plazas

3 | How much of the total design cost is allocated to public art?
Funds, totaling $80,000, were appropriated by Town Council in 2006 as part of the integrated public art design and construction oversight budget for the Downtown Cary Streetscape Project. 

4 | What unique public art features are being incorporated into the design plans?
Funds, totaling $80,000, were appropriated by Town Council in 2006 as part of the integrated public art design and construction.

The project artist, Elizabeth Conner, has worked closely with the design team to incorporate several unique, visually interesting, and functional public art pieces within the design:

Ongoing coordination and approval (including multiple presentations) regarding the integrated art aspects of the project have been conducted with the Town Public Art Advisory Board.

5 | Has any land been acquired by the Town for the future sculpture park?
The Town is purchasing properties within the block of Walnut, Walker, Academy, and Park streets for the Town Square and the sculpture park. Approximately one-third of the properties have been purchased to date.

6 | What will the Town Square look like?
The Town Square is designed to be an iconic central meeting place within downtown Cary. The Town Square will include:

Click here to view a conceptual rendering of the Town Square.

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Survey and Other Fieldwork Activities

1 | When was the surveying and basemapping conducted?
Field surveys began in spring 2007 to provide aerial photogrammetry ground control.  Additional field surveys were conducted to supplement aerial photogrammetry, obtain detailed utility information, and establish street right-of-way limits. Basemapping for the streetscape design was performed concurrently with the field surveys.

Subsurface utility exploration (SUE) was performed in spring 2007.  Using utility detection instruments, along with utility records, SUE technicians were able to place surface markings that could be captured on aerial photography, enabling mapping technicians to determine utility routing and expediting basemapping preparation.

2 | Why were surveys conducted?
Aerial photogrammetric surveys and ground surveys were conducted in order to determine street right-of-way and locations, elevations, and characteristics of all features and utilities affecting the streetscape design.

3 | How will the survey information be used for the project?
The survey information gathered served as the basis for the streetscape design. Street right-of-way survey information will define the limits of public ownership and the proposed construction zone.  Survey data for utilities will allow designers to avoid utility conflicts, modify utilities, and design new utilities.

4 | Will you be removing the markings from the sidewalk/streets/other areas?
Surface survey markings consist of chalk or non-permanent paint that is considered temporary and will deteriorate in a short amount of time.

5 | What additional fieldwork has been conducted?
Geotechnical work has been conducted for the pavement design to evaluate existing pavement structures. In addition, subsurface utility evaluation (SUE) and identification services have been completed. We are currently evaluating the depth of utilities, water, and sewer lines.

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Public Participation

1 | Where can the public (and the media) go for more information?
This project website will provide information on public participation opportunities, serve as an information repository, and include a link for comment submission. A project information hotline is also available for contacting the project team with questions and/or comments: (919) 233-DWTN. An information kiosk and a project office (during construction) will also be used to provide the public with up-to-date project information.

News releases, public service announcements, and media advisories will be provided throughout the project.

2 | When has the public had an opportunity to provide input?
The following public participation activities have been conducted for the project:

*Meet and Greet: The project team walked around downtown Cary and spoke with residents and business owners about the project.

*Reverse walking tours: Door-to-door conversations initiated by the project artist that provided an opportunity for residents and business owners to share what is important to them about Cary, as well as memories, stories and thoughts about Cary’s future.

The public may provide input or ask questions about the project at anytime through the project website (www.carystreetscape.org) or the project hotline (919-233-DWTN).

3 | When is the next public meeting scheduled?
The next public meting will be held during the summer of 2008, prior to the start of construction.

At this meeting, the design team will share the project’s design and will provide information about construction-related issues. Notifications of the public meeting will be provided through a direct mailing to those on the project mailing list. The meeting will also be announced on the project website.

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ARCADIS

Who is ARCADIS and how are they qualified to design the streetscape project?

The Organization

ARCADIS G&M of North Carolina, Inc. (ARCADIS) is the North Carolina-based operations arm of ARCADIS NV, Arnhem, The Netherlands. Established in 1888 and employing over 11,000 people worldwide, ARCADIS is one of the world’s largest engineering firms. In the United States, ARCADIS has over 65 offices and 3,200 personnel. ARCADIS is a public company listed on the Euronext Amsterdam (ticker ARCAD). ARCADIS employs over 240 staff in the Raleigh, Cary, and Durham, North Carolina offices.

Similar Project Experience

ARCADIS has experience designing streetscape projects worldwide and throughout the Southeast, including: the Chattanooga South Central Business District Improvement Program and 21st Century Waterfront Plan in Chattanooga, TN; the City of Fayetteville Roundabout Project; the Jacksonville Sports and Entertainment District and Riverwalk in Jacksonville, Florida; and the Perimeter Center Parkway Streetscape in Dekalb County, Georgia.

Local Project Team

ARCADIS’ local project team will complete all work in-house with the exception of aerial photogrammetry, geotechnical studies, and subsurface utility exploration which will streamline the project. ARCADIS’ project team includes the principal author of the Downtown Cary Streetscape Master Plan which will ensure that the vision becomes a reality. Past project successes shared by ARCADIS and the Town of Cary on complex infrastructure projects have resulted in a good working relationship.

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Contact

Kyle Hubert
Project Manager
Project Hotline: 919-233-DWTN
E-mail: kyle.hubert@townofcary.org