Base Year Conditions Report

Introduction

The Winston-Salem Urbanized Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (WSUAMPO) is the federally designated agency that serves as the cooperative decision-making body for regional transportation planning in the Winston-Salem Urbanized Area and produces the Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP).

Federal legislation requires urbanized areas with populations greater than 50,000 to have a Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO) to carry out the transportation planning process among the member jurisdictions within its established planning area boundary. Further, as an urbanized area with population over 200,000, (391,024 urbanized area population as of 2010 U.S. Census data1) Winston-Salem Urbanized Area MPO also serves as a Transportation Management Area (TMA). As a TMA, the region receives access to a set-aside of federal transportation funding (STBG-DA) and is subject to additional federal transportation planning requirements applicable to MPOs over 200,000 in population, including congestion management process.

In partnership with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), and area transit providers, the Winston-Salem Urban Area MPO provides transportation planning for the member jurisdictions which include Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, and Stokes Counties and the following municipalities. The planning area and member jurisdictions are shown in Figure 1 below:

• City of Winston-Salem • Town of Lewisville • Town of Midway • Town of Walkertown • Town of Rural Hall • Town of Bermuda Run • Town of Bethania • Village of Clemmons • Town of Kernersville • Town of Wallburg • Village of Tobaccoville

1 2010 Population for Winston-Salem Urbanized Area as reported by U.S. Census at https://data.census.gov/ (2010 Dec Summary File 1)

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In addition to elected representatives from those jurisdictions, non-elected officials from the City-County Planning Board, Winston-Salem Transit Authority, Smith Reynolds Airport Authority, FHWA, and NCDOT serve on the Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) for WSUAMPO. The TAC serves as a forum for cooperative regional transportation planning and decision-making for the MPO.

Figure 1: Winston-Salem Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Planning Area

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The Winston-Salem Urbanized Area MPO Planning Area population was estimated at 429,277 in 2017. The Winston-Salem urban area is one of three major subregions in the Piedmont Triad, situated between Charlotte and the Research Triangle. The MPO is connected to other major regions in the state and beyond by major north-south routes, including I-85 and I-74/US 52, and major east-west routes, including I-40 and US 421. Norfolk Southern operates freight trains on the rail corridor through the region. There is no Amtrak passenger train station in the MPO, though the Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation (PART) provides free bus service from the High Point station to the Clark Campbell Transportation Center in Winston Salem for Amtrak Piedmont route riders.

Image Left: Z. Smith Reynolds Airport, Right: Union Station, former passenger rail station.

The nearest large commercial airport, Piedmont Triad International Airport, is just east of the MPO boundary in Guilford County. The airport serves over 1.7 million passengers annually and moves the most air freight cargo in the state, more than 300,000 tons annually. Forsyth County also hosts a local general aviation airport, Smith Reynolds Airport, which has a 6,655-foot primary runway and serves over 45,000 operations (take-offs and landings) per year. The airport does not currently have commercial carriers, but it maintains a Class I certificate which allows all types of air carrier operations.

Figure 2 lays out employment by industry in Forsyth County while Table 1 lists the county’s top ten employers. Each of the top five employers in Forsyth County is a medical or educational provider: Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Novant Health, Forsyth Memorial Hospital, Winston Salem/Forsyth County Schools, and Wake Forest University. The major educational and medical institutions are mapped in Figure 3 below. While the region has moved away from historic major employers in the tobacco, textile, and furniture industries, both Hanesbrands and the R J Reynolds Tobacco Company are still among the county’s top twenty employers. Similarly, Ashley Furniture is currently the largest employer in Davie County. Other major employers include city and county governments, banks, and major retailers like Walmart and Food Lion.

Figure 2: Employment by Industry in Forsyth County, Source: Labor & Economic Analysis Division, NC Department of Commerce, 2019

Rank Company Name Industry

Wake Forest University Baptist 1 Education & Health Services Medical Center

Winston Salem Forsyth County 2 Education & Health Services Schools

3 Forsyth Memorial Hospital, Inc Education & Health Services

4 Novant Health, Inc Education & Health Services

5 Wake Forest University Education & Health Services

6 City of Winston Salem Public Administration 7 Hanesbrands, Inc Manufacturing

8 Wal-Mart Associates Inc. Trade, Transportation, & Utilities

9 Forsyth County Public Administration

10 Wells Fargo Bank Financial Activities

Table 1: Major Employers in Forsyth County, Source: Labor & Economic Analysis Division, NC Department of Commerce, 2019

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Figure 3: College and Medical Campuses

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The region’s transitioning economy is embodied in the emergence of the Innovation Quarter, much of which is housed in redeveloped RJ Reynolds Tobacco Co warehouses. The Innovation Quarter, originally envisioned as the Piedmont Triad Research Park, is a mixed-use district adjacent to downtown Winston- Salem. It currently hosts over 90 companies in 2.1 million square feet of office, lab, and academic space, as well as multi-family housing, retail, and open space. Whitaker Park, a former Reynolds America manufacturing complex in northern Winston-Salem, is another major redevelopment opportunity. Current plans are for the space to ultimately be a mixed-use employment center with lab, manufacturing, and office space, residential units, and retail space. A new development in Whitaker Park was announced in late 2019, it will include a 300-unit apartment complex, hotel, and retail space.

Image Left: Aerial of Innovation Quarter, Right: Gathering at Bailey Park in Innovation Quarter.

As seen in Figure 4, Forsyth County has a higher postsecondary educational attainment than the Piedmont Triad region2 and the state.3 The difference is higher for those who have obtained a Bachelor’s degree or higher; 34% of Forsyth County has at least a Bachelor’s degree while only 25% of the Piedmont Triad region does. This higher educational attainment is reflected in the median household and per capita income of the county (Figure 5). Forsyth county has significantly higher household income, at about $50,000, than the Triad region at closer to $43,000, though household incomes are slightly below North Carolina as a whole. Per capita incomes follow a similar pattern.

2 Triad Tomorrow, Piedmont Triad Regional Council, 2017 3 US Census Bureau, 2013-2017 & 2011-2015 American Community Survey 5-year estimates

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Figure 4: Educational Attainment in the region, 2013-2017 & 2011-2015 American Community Survey 5-year estimates Triad Tomorrow, Piedmont Triad Regional Council

Figure 5: Median Household and Per Capita Income, Source: 2013-2017 & 2011-2015 American Community Survey 5-year estimates Triad Tomorrow, Piedmont Triad Regional Council

The Winston-Salem urban area serves a dual role as an employment hub for smaller neighboring communities and rural areas and as a midpoint for workers commuting to Charlotte, Greensboro, or the Research Triangle. In 2017, 57% of WSUAMPO residents were living and working in the MPO area, while 43% were commuting to jobs outside (Figures 6 and 7). In the same year, more workers living outside the MPO commuted in for work (92, 841) than workers living in the MPO commuted out (80,026), highlighting the MPO’s role as an economic center. Residents commuting outside the MPO area were divided among neighboring regions as follows:

• 15% travel to Greensboro for work • 6% travel to the Research Triangle for work • About 8% travel to Charlotte for work

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Figure 6: Inflow and Outflow Commuting Patterns for Winston Salem Urban Area MPO, 2017, Source: Census on the Map, U.S. Census.

Figure 7: Inflow and Outflow Commuting Patterns for Winston Salem Urban Area MPO, 2017, Source: Census on the Map, U.S. Census.

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Future Population and Employment Distribution Future population and employment projections out to 2045 were derived from the PART Regional Travel Demand Model (PTRM) and socioeconomic figures adopted in September 2019. The Winston-Salem MPO population is expected to grow from 429,277 in 2017 to 544,670 in 2045—an almost 27% increase. The number of jobs is expected to outpace population growth, almost doubling from 209,365 in 2017 to 379,915 in 2045.

Population and Employment Forecast 2017 - 2045 600,000

400,000

Count 200,000

- 2017 2025 2035 2045 Forecast Year Population Employment

Figure 8 shows population growth trends across the region are relatively dispersed, though there is a clear concentration of growth in Winston-Salem. More concentrated growth is also expected along key travel corridors, including in the east between I-74 and I-40, along NC 150 south of Winston-Salem, and in the west along I-40. Some growth reflects recent developments between I-40 and I-74, like the Caleb’s Creek and Weldon Village developments.

Employment growth between 2017-2045 (Figure 9) is projected to be largely concentrated in Winston- Salem, and smaller, existing municipalities and industrial centers like the Triad Business Park, where most recently an Amazon fulfillment center opened in 2019.

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Figure 8: Population Growth in the Winston-Salem MPO, 2017 v 2045

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Figure 9: Employment Growth in the Winston-Salem MPO, 2017 v 2045

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Existing Plan Themes The MTP study team reviewed a wide array of local and regional transportation and mobility plans, including comprehensive and area plans, county transportation plans, bicycle and pedestrian plans, and transit plans. Key themes across existing plan summaries are listed below. The full summaries can be found in the Existing Plans Summary.

Key Themes

Main Street Improvements: Within the Winston-Salem MPO are bustling urban and charming small- town main streets. As destinations for retail, dining, and entertainment, improvements recommended in these areas include enhanced walkability, streetscaping, gateway treatments, and improved parking efficiency.

Balance Traffic Flow with Welcoming Downtowns: Cities and towns within the MPO strive to balance improving traffic flow while also creating pedestrian and bicycle friendly downtowns.

Building Greenways and Multi-Use Paths: Recommended facilities for pedestrians and bicycles throughout the MPO are primarily greenway and multi-use paths. These proposed facilities connect downtowns but are mostly planned in less dense areas and in areas not suitable for development. Sidewalks and some on-road bicycle facilities are recommended in downtowns.

Planning for Growth Corridors: Several plans highlight specific growth corridors and activity centers within the MPO. Balancing traffic flow along these corridors while also creating multi-modal friendly activity centers is recommended.

Improving Freight Access: Davie County addresses the increasing freight traffic and need for improved access for freight. Adding an interchange along I-40 east of Bermuda Run and widening segments of US 158 and US 601 are proposed to improve freight access.

Continue Transit Operations: Multiple plans within the MPO support the PART transit network, but improvement details are limited. Reviewing the feasibility of downtown circulators within Winston-Salem and Davidson County are recommended.

Road Widening and Intersection Improvements: The Winston-Salem MPO region is expecting population growth in the coming decades and traffic volumes are expected to exceed capacities on arterials across the MPO. Cities and towns within the region have included plans to widen road segments in preparation for increasing traffic volumes. Additionally, intersection enhancements have been planned across the region to reduce crashes as more users are predicted to be on the road network.

Add Connecting Road Segments: To further handle population growth, new connectors, major and minor thoroughfares, or bypasses have been listed as recommended projects to improve connectivity within municipalities.

Bridge Replacements: Multiple bridges within the region are recommended for replacement in the coming decades.

Large-Scale or Visionary Projects: There are several visionary, longer-range projects proposed within the Triad Region, including: upgrading the Smith Reynolds airport, potential high-speed rail in High Point and Winston-Salem, and potential Greensboro Bus Rapid Transit (BRT).

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Existing Transportation Infrastructure Conditions Traffic Volumes and Congestion

Major corridors serving the Winston-Salem MPO planning region include:

• Interstate facilities: I-40, I-40 Business, I-285, I-74 • Four US routes: US 421, US 52, US 158, US 311 • Six NC routes—NC 65, NC 66, NC 67, NC 109, NC 150, NC 801

I-40 carries the highest traffic volumes in the region, particularly in the vicinity of central Winston-Salem (Figure 10). The average annual daily traffic (AADT) on I-40 peaks at 111,000 vehicles per day where I-40 meets US 52/ I-285. The section of US 52 just north of I-40 Business carries the second highest volume of traffic in the region, at up to 90,000 vehicles per day. Other parts of US 52/I-285 also carry relatively high volumes ranging between 50,000 and 70,000 vehicles per day through Winston-Salem. Other high-volume roads include I-40 Business with volumes between 60,000 and 80,000 vehicles per day, and US 421 east of Lewisville, with volumes up to 66,000 vehicles per day.

The Percent Time Congested map (Figure 11) depicts roadway congestion during peak afternoon travel hours (4-6 PM) using 2019 real-time traffic data from HERE Technologies. For the purpose of this analysis, a road segment is defined as congested when the average speed over a five-minute interval falls below 75% of the free-flow speed. The roads or road segments shown in dark red experience the most congestion, while roads shown in dark green experience the least. Most major roadways in the region are congested less than 50% of the time during afternoon peak hours. Areas that experience the most congestion include: • US 158 between Clemmonsville Road and the Hanes Mall area • Major arterials around Hanes Mall like Hanes Mall Boulevard, NC 67, and Stratford Road • University Parkway from Coliseum Drive to just north of US 52 • US NC 150 between Clemmonsville Road and I-40 • NC 66 through Kernersville and Walkertown

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Figure 10: Traffic Volume- 2017 Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT)

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Figure 11: Percent Time Congested, Weekday PM Peak Hours

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Projects Funded in the STIP

The State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) is a 10 year State and Federally-mandated plan that identifies the construction funding for and scheduling of transportation projects throughout the state. A variety of interstate and non-interstate roadway improvements, as well as aviation, bicycle, pedestrian, transit, and passenger rail projects in the Winston-Salem Urbanized Area MPO region are included for funding in the 2020-2029 STIP. NCDOT conducts its strategic prioritization process to update the STIP every two years. The latest prioritization, P 5.0, added 42 new projects to the 2020-2029 STIP, including a variety of intersection and interchange improvement and modernization projects.

Figure 12 and Table 2 below illustrate the STIP projects in the MPO. Figure 12 includes only those projects considered committed. Committed projects are either funded for right-of-way acquisition or preliminary engineering by FY 2025, or construction in 2026 or earlier. Table 2 describes all major committed roadway projects, excluding pavement rehabilitation and transit operations projects.

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Figure 12: Projects Committed for Funding in the 2020-2029 STIP

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Table 2: Committed Major Roadway Projects in 2020-2029 STIP

TIP Route Description Cost Project Counties Status Schedule Cost Year I-0911A I-40 W of NC 801 in Davie $26,156,000 Davie, Under construction; Co to SR 1101 (Harper Forsyth Design-Build Rd) in Forsyth Co I-5766 I-40 1.3 Mi East of NC 150 $- Forsyth Under construction- (PETERS Creek coordinate with I- Parkway) to NC 109 5857 (Thomasville Rd) in Winston-Salem. Pavement Rehabilitation. I-5795 I-40 0.3 mi East of SR 3153 2021 $14,563,000 Forsyth Committed (Hanes Mall Blvd) to 0.9 MILE East of NC 150 (Peters Creek Parkway) in Winston- Salem and SR 2747 (Clemmonsville Rd) in Winston-Salem to Guilford County Line. Pavement Rehabilitation. I-5952 I-40 SR 1101 (Harper Rd) in $- Forsyth Under construction Clemmons to East of US 421 / BUS 40 in Winston-Salem. Pavement Rehabilitation. I-6003 I-40 SR 1436 (Pinebrook 2023 $2,900,000 Davie Committed School Rd) to West of NC 801. Pavement Rehabilitation. R-2247EA New Route Winston-Salem 2023 $44,119,000 Forsyth Committed (Future NC Northern Beltway, 452) Western Section, NC 67 to South of US 52

R-2247EB New Route Winston-Salem $83,655,000 Forsyth Under construction; (Future NC Northern Beltway, Design-Build 452) Western Section, Interchange at US 52 R-2577A US 158 North of US 421 / I-40 2022 $62,279,000 Forsyth Committed BUS to SR 1965 (Belews Creek Rd), Multi-lanes

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TIP Route Description Cost Project Counties Status Schedule Cost Year

U-2579AA Future I-74 Winston-Salem 2021 Forsyth ROW in progress; Northern Beltway, $121,420,000 GARVEE BONDS: Eastern Section, I-74 / $60 mil. for CST US 311 to I-40 U-2579AB Future I-74 Winston-Salem 2020 Forsyth ROW in progress; Northern Beltway, $201,415,000 GARVEE Bonds: Eastern Section, I-40 to $114 mil. for CST US 421 / NC 150 / BUS 40 U-2579B Future I-74 Winston-Salem $68,971,000 Forsyth Under construction; Northern Beltway, Design-Build; Eastern Section, US GARVEE Bonds: $96 421 / NC 150 / BUS 40 mil. for CST to US 158 U-2579C Future I-74 Winston-Salem $36,888,000 Forsyth Under construction; Northern Beltway, Design-Build; Eastern Section, US GARVEE bonds: $6.5 158 to US 311 mil. for ROW

U-2579D Future I-74 Winston-Salem $53,534,000 Forsyth Under construction; Northern Beltway, Design-Build; Eastern Section, US GARVEE BONDS: 311 to SR 2211 (Baux $48 mil. for CST - Mountain Rd) PAYBACK 2018- 2032 U-2579E Future I-74 Winston-Salem $33,462,000 Forsyth Under construction; Northern Beltway, Design-Build; Eastern Section, SR GARVEE BONDS:: 2211 (Baux Mountain $30 mil. for CST Rd) to NC 8

U-2579F Future I-74 Winston-Salem $26,767,000 Forsyth Under construction; Northern Beltway, Design-Build; Eastern Section, NC 8 GARVEE bonds: $24 to West of NC 66 mil. for CST (University Parkway) U-2707 SR 3000 SR 2999 (Hampton Rd) $- Forsyth Under construction (Idols Rd) to US 158 in Clemmons. Construct Two-lane Shoulder on New Location and Replace Bridge 330109 over Norfolk Southern RR

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TIP Route Description Cost Project Counties Status Schedule Cost Year

U-2729 SR 1672 Museum Dr to SR 4000 2021 $19,800,000 Forsyth ROW in progress; (Hanes Mill (University Pwky) in BUILD NC bonds: Rd) Winston-Salem. Widen $778,000 for PE/$6 to multilanes. Mil. ROW U-2827B US 158 / US West of Fourth St to $- Forsyth Under construction; 421 / NC East of Church St Design-Build 150 / BUS 40 U-2925 New Route Salem Creek r SR 4326 $- Forsyth Under construction; (Rams Dr) to SR 4325 Design-Build (Martin Luther King, JR. Dr) in Winston-Salem. Multilane Facility on New Location.

U-4734 New Route Macy Grove Rd $- Forsyth Under construction Extension, SR 1005 (East Mountain St) to NC 150 (North Main St) in Kernersville. Four-lane Divided Facility on New Location. U-5536 New Route Proposed Great 2023 $14,201,000 Forsyth Non-State-System Wagon Rd from Facility-Local match Shallowford Rd (SR - Lewisville 1001) to Lewisville- Vienna Rd (SR 1308) in Lewisville. Multilane Facility on New Location with Bicycle and Pedestrian Accommodations

U-5539A US 311; SR US 158 / US 421 / NC 2021 $2,788,000 Forsyth Committed 4394 150 / BUS 40 to US 52 (Martin / NC 8 in Winston- Luther King, Salem. Streetscape JR. BLVD) improvements.

U-5617 SR 1173 Improve Roundabouts 2020 $1,160,000 Forsyth ROW in progress by (WILLIAMS West & East of Bridge town of Lewisville Rd) over US 421. Widen to Multilanes East of Bridge to West of Roundabout at SR 1001 (Shallowford Rd) with sidewalks on both

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sides. Town of Lewisville.

TIP Route Description Cost Project Counties Status Schedule Cost Year

U-5760 Kernersville US 421 / BUS 40 to NC 2023 $28,746,000 Forsyth BUILD NC BONDS: Southern 66 (West Mountain St) $12 mil. for CST Loop (Ph I) in Kernersville. Widen Big Mill Farm Rd and SR 2649 (Hopkins Rd) and Construct Interchange at US 421 / NC 150 / BUS 40.

U-5786 SR 1508 US 52 / NC 8 / Future 2023 $21,833,000 Davidson Committed (Hickory I-285 to NC 150. Tree Rd) Widen to multilanes.

U-5824 NC 66 (Old Harley Dr to US 158 in 2023 $23,902,000 Forsyth Committed Hollow Rd) Walkertown. Widen to multilanes.

U-5899 New Route forum Pkwy Connector, 2024 $11,613,000 Forsyth Committed SR 3955 (forum Pkwy) to NC 66 (University Parkway) in Rural Hall. Construct 2-lane roadway on new location. U-6003 New Route SR 1969 (Piney GROVE 2022 $8,100,000 Forsyth ROW in progress Rd) to NC 150 (North Main St) in Kernersville. Construct Two-lane Divided Facility with Bicycle/Pedestrian Accommodations.

U-6004 SR 1103 US 158 to SR 1891 2025 $26,038,000 Forsyth Committed; BUILD (Lewisville- (PEACE HAVEN Rd) in NC BONDS: $12 mil. Clemmons Clemmons. Access for ROW - payback Rd) Management and 2023-2037 Operational Improvements

U-6005 NC 65 US 52 to SR 3983 2023 $21,200,000 Forsyth Committed (Bethania- (Northridge Dr) in Rural Hall Rural Hall. Widen to Rd) multilanes.

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TIP Route Description Cost Project Counties Status Schedule Cost Year

U-6187 New Route SR 1630 (Baltimore Rd) 2024 $24,500,000 Davie Committed to I-40. Construct 2-Ln Extension of Baltimore Rd and Interchange at I-40. U-6231 New Route SR 4001 (Reynolds 2020 $4,000,000 Forsyth Economic Blvd) to SR 2264 Development (Akron Dr) at inters. of project SR 1763 (Indiana Ave) in Winston-Salem, Construct access road W-5510 SR 4315 SR 4315 (S Main St), $- Forsyth Under construction (South Main BUS 40 / US 421 / NC St); SR 2648 150 to N of SR 4278 (S (OLD Cherry St), and SR 2648 Winston Rd) (Old Winston Rd), W of S CHERRY St to S Main St in Kernersville. Safety improvements including raised median, turn lane I-5880 I-40 / US NC 109 (Thomasville 2022 $14,000,000 Forsyth Committed 311 Rd) / Clemmonsville Rd Split-diamond interchange in Winston-Salem. Convert half-diamond Interchange at NC 109 to full diamond and remove connector roads and half diamond interchange at Clemmonsville Rd R-2247CD SR 1891 / SR 1891 / non-system $- Forsyth Design-Build; in Non-System (Peace Haven Rd) - US progress - Let with (Peace 421 Interchange and R-2247EC Haven Rd) approaches

R-2247EB New Route Winston-Salem $83,655,000 Forsyth Design-Build; Under (Future NC Northern Beltway, Construction 452) Western Section, Interchange at US 52

R-2247EC US 52 / NC 65 Interchange. $- Forsyth Design-Build; in Future I-74 Reconstruct progress - Let with Interchange. R-2247CD

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TIP Route Description Cost Project Counties Status Schedule Cost Year

TA-6722 PART Purchase Vehicles for 2021 $100,000 Forsyth, Committed Vanpool Fleet Guilford, Expansion Randolph

U-6154 SR 1308 SR 1348 (Robinhood 2021 $1,150,000 Forsyth Committed (Lewisville- Rd) in Lewisville. Vienna Rd) Convert Existing Signalized intersection to a single lane roundabout U-6155 SR 1725 Coliseum Dr in 2021 $206,000 Forsyth In progress (University Winston-Salem. Parkway) Construct intersection Improvements for Pedestrian Safety. B-5825 NC 67 Rebuilding bridge over $- Yadkin ROW in progress. Yadkin River to CST expected in fall modern standards, 2020 BUILD NC includes realigning the Bond funding $8M intersection of N.C. 67 for CST and Donnaha Rd in Forsyth County.

Freight Network The Winston-Salem MPO is served by Norfolk Southern operating along the K-Line, L-Line, and R-Line as well as two shortlines, the Winston-Salem Southbound Railway and the Yadkin Valley Railroad Company (Figure 13). There are four transload facilities in the planning area, where cargo is transferred from one mode of shipment to another, and one major rail yard located adjacent to Smith Reynolds Airport. The I- 40 Corridor through the region is designated as a primary freight route in the current North Carolina Multimodal Statewide Freight Plan. Approximately 20.4 million freight tons move within and through Forsyth County per year; 60% of the freight by weight is moved via truck; railroads account for 39% of freight by weight and pipelines are responsible for moving just under 1% of freight by weight.4

4 Cambridge Systematics. North Carolina Freight Flow Tool, 2015 Data. https://public.tableau.com/profile/cambridge.systematics#!/vizhome/NorthCarolinaFreightFlowTool/Story1

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Figure 13: Freight Network

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Safety In looking at existing safety conditions, two primary types of data were considered— safety section scores from NCDOT and total crash frequency by intersection. Points for highway section projects are scored based on three, evenly weighted components:

• Class Density Ratio – The crash density of the study area versus the average crash density of similar facilities • Severity Index • Critical Crash Rate Ratio – The actual crash rate for the study area versus the critical crash rate

Higher-scoring locations have poorer highway safety performance. Figure 14 shows that roads in the Winston-Salem MPO region with the poorest safety performance tend to be high-traffic roads (US 421/I- 40 BUS, I-40, US 52) and major arterials (University Parkway (SR 4000), NC 66, and Peters Creek Parkway/ NC 150, and Silas Creek Parkway/ NC 67).

Areas of concern highlighted in the safety section scores overlap intersections with the highest crash densities (Figure 15). The central, more developed part of the region has more pronounced safety concerns along key corridors such as I-40, I-40 BUS, US 158, NC 150, and NC 66. The top ten crash frequency intersections in the Winston Salem MPO are summarized in Table 3.

Table 3: Top 10 High Crash Frequency Intersections, 2014-2018. Fatality & Type A Rank Intersection Total Crashes (2014-2018) Injury Crashes (2014 - 2018)

1 I 40 BUS at US 52 462 0

2 NC 67 at NC 150 174 0

3 I 40 at I 285 139 1

4 I 40 at NC 150 130 0

I 40 at SR 1103 (Lewisville 0 5 124 Clemmons Road)

US 158 at SR 3153 (Hanes Mall 0 6 118 Boulevard)

SR 1528 (Silas Creek Parkway) at SR 1 7 110 4000 (University Parkway)

8 I 40 at US 158 104 0

9 US 158 at NC 66 101 3

US 421 at SR 1103 (Lewisville 0 10 89 Clemmons Road)

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Figure 14: NCDOT Maintained Road Section Safety Score

Figure 15: High Crash Frequency Intersections

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Figure 16 shows that over the most recent five years of available crash data (2014-2018), fatal vehicle crashes in the region have remained relatively flat, though they decreased slightly in the past year. Serious injuries have generally increased over time, though they also decreased slightly in the past year. The increase in serious injury crashes likely reflects an overall increase in crashes as vehicle-miles traveled increase across the state.

Figure 16: Fatal and Serious Injury Crashes in the Winston-Salem MPO, All Crashes, 2014-2018 160

140

120

100

80

60

40

20

0 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Fatal Serious Injury

Existing Transit Service and Transportation-Disadvantaged Populations

Two public transit systems providing fixed-route, vanpool, commuter express bus, and demand- responsive services operate in the Winston-Salem MPO planning area:

• Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation (PART) (regional commuter/express bus) • Winston-Salem Transit Authority (WSTA)

The Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation provides five routes operating through Winston- Salem which provide regional commuter and express service. In addition to fixed route service, PART offers a regional vanpool program and a regional carpool matching program. The fixed-route service through Winston-Salem includes:

• Route 1 – Connecting Downtown Winston-Salem, the Innovation Quarter, and Coble Transport Center (CTC) with 30-minute peak and hourly off-peak headways. • Route 5 – Connecting Winston-Salem with High Point Amtrak Station for timed connections with train arrivals and departures.

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• Route 6 – Connecting Mt. Airy, Pilot Mountain, King, and Winston-Salem with peak hour commuter-oriented service pattern. • Route 17 – Connecting Winston-Salem, Kernersville, and CTC with hourly peak hour service. • Route 28 – Connecting Clemmons, Lewisville, and Winston-Salem with peak hour commuter- oriented service pattern.

To mitigate increased congestion due to the construction of Interstate 40 Business in Downtown Winston- Salem, multiple PART routes received funding for enhanced service. Three routes will be affected by the reduction in funding due to the reopening of Interstate 40 Business. Service and financial modifications are proposed to be implemented in August of 2020. Route 6 (Surry County) will lose funding and will either need additional funding to maintain service levels or previous levels of service will be reinstated. Route 17 (Kernersville Express) will lose funding but the shortfall will be absorbed into the PART budget to maintain service levels. Route 28 (West Forsyth Express) will lose funding and will subsequently discontinue service.

The Winston Salem Transit Authority provides 32 bus routes throughout the Winston Salem area with majority of the routes operating at hourly headways from 6 AM to 12 AM. In addition to fixed-route service, WSTA offers a ride sharing transportation service (Trans-Aid) for eligible riders who are older and/or have a disability that prevents them from utilizing the fixed-route service.

Image Left: Winston-Salem Transit Center, Right: PART Bus Route 28 with Service to West Forsyth.

The map below shows the combined Environmental Justice (EJ) score for each block group overlayed with existing transit routes in the planning region to identify areas public transportation may be underserving transportation disadvantaged communities. The Environmental Justice score of 0-6 was calculated at the block group level where populations in the following EJ criteria exceed the planning area average according to 2013-2017 American Community Survey Data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Block groups with the highest Environmental Justice scores (5-6) represent the most disadvantaged communities.

• Households in poverty • Limited English Proficiency (LEP) • Households with no vehicle • Black population • Minority population other than Black

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• Hispanic ethnicity population

Table 4: Race and Ethnicity Distribution, Winston-Salem Urban Area MPO

Race/Ethnicity Percent of Population White 64.3% Black 20.7% Native American 0.2% Asian 2.1% Pacific Islander 0.1% Other Race 0.3% 2 or more Races 3.0%

Table 5: Environmental Justice Averages, Winston-Salem Urban Area MPO

Criteria MPO Averages Households in Poverty 21.7% Limited English Proficiency 5.8% Zero Car Households 10.2% Minority Races – All 39.3% Race – Black 20.7% Race – Others 5.5% Ethnicity – Hispanic 10.8%

Most areas of the region with high EJ scores are at least touched by an existing fixed-route. Note that this review only considers fixed-route transit and does not account for paratransit service or quality or frequency of existing public transportation service.

Areas that have high or moderate EJ scores (3-6) that appear to have limited connection to existing fixed- route service include some northern parts of Winston-Salem along US 52, and south Winston-Salem east of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, and south of I-40. Less urbanized areas with moderate EJ scores of 3 near Kernersville, Wallburg, Midway, Clemmons, and Bermuda Run could be studied more closely to determine public transportation needs.

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Figure 17: Environmental Justice Score by Block Group and Transit Routes

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Bicycle and Pedestrian Infrastructure

In addition to reviewing existing bicycle and pedestrian planning studies, data on existing and planned pedestrian facilities were collected based on PBIN and ATLAS data:

• All planned/proposed mileage is based on Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Network geodatabase (PBIN; data initially collected by ITRE; updates subject to data submitted by local government staff5) • All existing facilities data have been collected for NCDOT through project ATLAS: Advancing Transportation through Linkages Automation and Screening6 • Existing on-road bike facilities include roadways with bikeable (wide) shoulders • Regional Trails data is gathered from stakeholder agencies and shared through NC OneMap

Looking at the map of existing and planned pedestrian facilities in the region, Winston-Salem and Kernersville account for the bulk of existing 550 miles of sidewalk facilities. There are also nearly 30 miles of shared use paths and greenways. The table below summarizes existing sidewalks, multi-use path and on-road bicycle facilities. Note: based on the existing data, sidewalk mileage counts the amount of sidewalk not roadway where sidewalk is present (i.e. where a sidewalk is present on both sides of a road, it is counted as twice the road mileage).

Table 6: Existing Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities

Facility Type Existing (mi.) Sidewalks 550

Shared Use Paths/Greenways/ Regional 29 Trails On-Road Bike Facilities -bicycle lanes 16

On-road bicycle facilities-bikeable shoulder, 36 sharrow, share the road conditions

5 Additional information about PBIN available at https://connect.ncdot.gov/projects/BikePed/Pages/PBIN.aspx 6 Additional information about ATLAS available at https://connect.ncdot.gov/resources/Environmental/Project%20ATLAS/Forms/AllItems.aspx

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Figure 18: Existing Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities

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Image Left: Long Branch Trail, Right: Strollway.

Winston-Salem has a growing network of shared-use paths, trails, and greenways that provide opportunities for recreation and non-motorized transportation The Salem Creek Greenway is a 5.2 mile, paved greenway that runs along Salem Creek south of downtown Winston-Salem, from Peters Creek Parkway in the west to Salem Lake Trail in the east. The Salem Creek Greenway provides connections to other shared use paths, like the Long Branch Trail and Strollway. The Strollway runs through Old Salem to downtown Winston-Salem, while the Long Branch Trail runs north through the Innovation Quarter to Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. The main State trail in the MPO is the current proposed route for the statewide Mountains-to-Sea Trail, shown with a dashed green line in Figure 18.

In 2013, Winston-Salem was awarded a Bronze Level Bicycle Friendly Community Designation from the League of American Bicyclists. Winston-Salem celebrates Bike Month every year with a variety of activities, including Walk & Roll Winston-Salem and the Winston-Salem Cycling Classic. Winston-Salem also hosts a bike share, Zagster, which has 11 stations across the city.

Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety

Trends in pedestrian and bicycle crashes over ten years of data (2009-2018) are shown in Figure 19 below. Pedestrian crashes have been steadily climbing since 2015 and nearly doubled between 2016 and 2018. Bicycle crashes, on the other hand, remained relatively flat until 2018, when they started to increase. The number of fatal and serious injury non-motorized crashes started to grow in 2016, however the percent of fatal and serious crashes has remained flat.

Visualizing pedestrian crashes in Figure 20 below, it is apparent that major arterials including US 421, NC 150, Silas Creek Parkway and University Parkway, Glenn Avenue, and the urban core of the region have the highest concentration of pedestrian crashes resulting in fatalities. Bicycle crashes are more dispersed, the the majority of all crashes are in Winston-Salem (Figure 21). However, the two fatal bicycle crashes that occurred in the past ten year of data both occurred in more rural areas.

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Figure 19: Bicycle and Pedestrian Crashes, 2009-2018

250

200

150

100

50

0 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Pedestrian Bicycle Non-Motorized Serious Injuries and Fatalities

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Figure 20: All Pedestrian Crashes, 2009-2018

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Figure 21: All Bicycle Crashes, 2009-2018

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Natural Resources and Future Growth

Natural and Cultural Resources in the region could also have an impact on future growth and development and impose constraints on improvements to the transportation infrastructure. The Yadkin River flows through the region and several critical watershed areas and lakes are important for the region’s water supply: • Yadkin/ Pee-Dee River Basin • Muddy Creek watershed • Salem Creek watershed • Abbott’s Creek • Cape Fear River Basin

Image: Building in Downtown Winston-Salem

Historic Preservation sites and districts can be a source of community pride and provide local landmarks and a sense of place. When it comes to transportation projects, it is important to avoid any negative impacts to historic districts and places. Winston-Salem MPO region historic districts and historic landmarks are numerous, including but not limited to the following districts and places7:

Winston-Salem • Ardmore Historic District • Bethabara Historic District • Bethania Historic District • Centerville Historic District

7 A selection of historic districts and landmarks obtained from https://www.ncdcr.gov/about/history/division- historical-resources/nc-state-historic-preservation-office/architectural-0

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• George Black House and Brickyard • Goler Metropolitan AME Zion Church • Graylyn • Nissen B • North Cherry Street Historic District • Old German Baptist Brethern Church • Old Salem Historic District • Reynoldstown Historic District • Reynolds Building • Winston Tower • Wachovia Bank and Trust Company Building • Howard Robinson Building • Union Station • Sunnyside–Central Terrace Historic District • West Salem Historic District

Kernersville • South Main Street Historic District • Roberts-Justice House • Korner’s Folly

Other • Win Mock Dairy, Bermuda Run • Tanglewood Estate, Clemmons • Waller-Joyner House, Pfafftown • Old Richmond Schoolhouse and Gymnasium, Tobaccoville

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Figure 21: Environmental Features

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