Proposed Cary Parkway Extension News
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Umstead Coalition Position statement on Proposed Cary Parkway Extension
To: Mayor Booth and Cary Town Council Members
The Umstead Coalition would like to request the Cary Parkway Extension project be removed from the upcoming
Cary Bond issue.
This proposed road would extend Cary Parkway from Harrison Avenue by the new school on SAS Institute
property and continues onto Cary Towne Boulevard.
Our main concerns include:
- A detrimental impact on Umstead State Park, Schenck Forest, and the Richland Creek Corridor from increased
traffic on Trenton Road and Reedy Creek Park Road. These roads form the rural boundaries (mostly gravel),
of Umstead State Park's Natural Core Area and NCSU's Schenck Forest.
- The Cary Parkway Extension would be in conflict with sound, regional planning to ensure interconnectivity of
Regional Thoroughfare Systems.
- As proposed in the Bond Referendum, the Cary Parkway Extension does not adequately address the interconnectivity
of regional thoroughfare systems. The planned road will force more traffic onto Raleigh roads and onto Cary
Towne Boulevard -roads built at the edge of Cary should NOT be planned in isolation from the neighboring towns/cities
it will impact. The proper manner to plan and fund a transportation solution would be to discuss this project
in the Regional Transportation Planning currently being conducted in a coordinated effort between ALL the local
governments in Wake County.
- The road alignment, as proposed in the upcoming Bond Referendum, is in CONFLICT with the Thoroughfare Plan.
The existing Thoroughfare Plan is mutually adopted by all the local governments of Wake County through the Capital
Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO).
- This section of Cary Parkway is NOT funded in the TIP.
- Alternatives that will enhance traffic flow would included:
- Improvement of the Harrison Avenue/I-40 interchange such that the traffic flows freely without a traffic light.
- Participate in the Wake County Regional Planning Model process to propose changes and construction timeframes
for roads that serve to connect / impact neighboring towns and cities.
The Umstead Coalition is dedicated to protecting the Richland Creek Corridor, Loblolly Trail Greenway, William
B. Umstead State Park, and NCSU's Schenck Forest. The Richland Creek Corridor is a valuable natural resource
whose importance will continue to increase with time.
The Umstead Coalition is not opposed to roads or other transit options. We have fully participated in
the public involvement process set up by State and Federal laws. We will continue to share constructive suggestions
for alternatives to meet the traffic needs that are cost-effective and minimize damage to Umstead State Park, the
Richland Creek Corridor, and Schenck Forest. We continue to hold the firm belief that the best way to solve
the transportation challenges in this area will involve all parties working together to find 'win-win' alternative
solutions.
Want to get more involved in the proposed Cary Parkway extension? Contact Charles
Bachmann
rev. 3/27/01