Lane Street Corridor Safety Improvements

Project overview Lane Street is a state road controlled and maintained by the N.C. Department of Transportation. NCDOT proposes to improve safety along Lane Street from Main Street to I-85 by reconfiguring the road from a four lane undivided roadway to a three lane roadway. This transportation engineering technique is often referred to as a “road diet.” Additionally, intersection improvements are recommended at several locations along the corridor.

How did we get here? This project began with a safety project at the China Grove Road intersection. Originally, a superstreet design was proposed to address concerns through the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP). The superstreet would have redirected left turns from China Grove Road onto Lane Street, and added U-turn bulbs on Lane Street to accommodate those movements. During that study, the project team realized that safety concerns on Lane Street weren’t limited just to the China Grove Road intersection, but were stretched along a longer corridor. Although crashes are higher at the major intersections (particularly at U.S. 29, Wright Avenue, and China Grove Road), there are many locations along this 3.1-mile corridor that need to improve safety. ?With this information, the team stepped back and looked at solutions that would address the issues along Lane Street from Main Street to I-85. NCDOT currently proposes a road diet and other treatments to meet these needs. This project is proposed to reduce vehicle crashes, personal injuries, and property damage on Lane Street.

Why use a road diet on Lane Street? Studies have There is a long history of crashes on Lane Street. A total of 228 crashes occurred in a five-year study shown that a period, including one fatality and 103 crashes resulting in injuries. Studies have shown that a road diet ROAD DIET results in a reduction of many of the worst types of crashes because left-turning vehicles can use the results in a center turn lane, and be out of the way of through traffic. REDUCTION On Lane Street, traffic volumes are not heavy enough to need the current four-lane configuration. of many of the The current average daily traffic volume is about 10,000 vehicles per day on this section of Lane worst types of Street. Road diets have been used successfully on roads with average daily traffic volumes of over crashes. 20,000 vehicles per day. Lane Street traffic volumes have changed very little since 1998 and are not expected to reach 20,000 until 2060. A road diet is therefore a good solution for this road – it will improve safety, and accommodate traffic growth for years to come. Lane Street Corridor Safety Improvements, continued

What will the new road look like?

old new  The 3.1 miles of Lane Street from Main Street to I-85 will have one through lane in each direction with a center left turn lane for most of the corridor. A center median will be installed from Pearl Avenue to Hazel Avenue.  Bicycle lanes will be added on both sides  At the U.S. 29 intersection, an eastbound right turn lane will be added as part of the road diet changes  The corridor will be repaved and restriped  The curb location will remain unchanged

 A pedestrian crosswalk will be added at Ruth Avenue  New traffic signals will be added at Ruth Avenue and China Grove Road

IS THERE AN EXAMPLE OF A ROAD DIET STREET What are the next steps? IN CABARRUS COUNTY? Final studies are underway, and will be completed this winter. Funding has been requested, and if granted, construction is planned to begin and be completed in 2017. yesCABARRUS AVENUE IN CONCORD, WHICH CURRENTLY CARRIES ABOUT 11,000 VEHICLES PER DAY. Who is paying for this project? THERE WAS A 51% REDUCTION NCDOT is funding this project, the cost of which is anticipated to be around IN CRASHES IN THE FIRST $1.5 million. This funding is for safety improvements only along Lane Street. THREE YEARS FOLLOWING IMPLEMENTATION OF A In addition, the City of Kannapolis will use this safety project as an opportunity ROAD DIET ON to beautify the center median from Pearl Avenue to Hazel Avenue. CABARRUS AVE. The City’s cost to landscape the median is $95,000. $

NCDOT Project Contact Sean Epperson NCDOT Division 10 Traffic Engineer 716 W. Main Street, Albemarle, N.C. 28001 (704) 983-4400 [email protected]