AG 2001 05 21 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

sidewalks and considered bicycle safety in the development of its street network. The Town should look for ways to extend this network into existing neighborhoods while those who develop adjacent land will be required to continue this network so that the downtown area will be safe for non-motorized travel. One of the biggest challenges to meet this recommendation will be the improvement of Highway 49. The Town will have to work very hard with NCDOT to determine a feasible solution to pedestrian and bicycle safety along this corridor. Not only will the Town want to encourage pedestrians to walk along this route, for the town center project to be fully successful pedestrians will need to feel secure when crossing this major thoroughfare. In the future, Rocky River Road may pose the same issues that Highway 49 create. Mass Transit and other Transportation ~tlternatives - Current Status Like bicycle and pedestrian transportation issues there is very little access to mass transit options in the Harrisburg Planning Area. This can be attributed to the areas recent growth. Even now, population and employment densities would not support regular transit service. Because most of the aren's residents commute to work during peak hours other tools may be more effective. Last year the City of Concord, in cooperation with Charlotte Transit and NCDOT, established the Concord Express bus service from Concord thoro_ugh the University Area and onto Charlotte's Transit Hub in Uptown. The closest stop for Harrisburg Area residents is three miles north at the Lowe's Motor Speedway. This offers commuters a park and ride facility where riders park for free and pay a monthly fee for the bus service. Except for the vans provided by the County for special needs transportation no other transportation options exist for area residents. Mass Transit and other Transportation ~llternatives- Recommendations In the Charlotte region there is a planning effort underway to examine the feasibility of enhancing mass transit service in several corridors in Mecklenburg County and beyond. Consultants are currently examining different options for transit included bus rapid transit, light rail, and diesel transit units which would utilize existing rail lines. The Harrisburg Planning Area falls within the Northeast Transit Corridor which also includes the University Area. While it may be several years before the Harrisburg Area can support regular ~'ansit service planning should begin to determine how the area could take advantage of enhanced transit service available through the planning effort mentioned above. The likely candidate for a stop is in the future Town Center. In fact, the developer has included an area that could be used for a future transit stop. The developer realizes that as the project begins to take shape many of the employers may need to tap areas outside of town for their employees much like the merchants in Concord Mills Mall looked to Charlotte residents as potential employees. In addition to future mass transit service, the Town and the County should look at other alternatives to the single passenger automobile for area con'm~uters. Strategies may include establishing a park and ride program or encouraging individuals to set up their own carpools. Vanpools could also be established through the Charlotte Area Transit Service (CATS). To assist with their development the Town and County should consider establishing parking areas within parks, at libraries, or in association with schools for carpools and vanpools. They may also work with area businesses to establish park and ride lots at shopping centers whose parking lots are under utilized during weekdays.