Joe Dennis (left), a member of the Davidson Walks citizens’ committee, points to a map of recommendations for new sidewalks and other improvements to make the town safer for bicyclists and pedestrians. He and other committee members gave a presentation to the Town Board Tuesday night, including board members Laurie Venzon (seated) and Brian Jenest (right). For a list of the group’s priorities …
Following are the recommendations of Davidson Walks, based on input from citizens in recent months and the committee’s own discussions of walking and biking routes.
Davidson Walks Sidewalk, Crosswalks and Intersection
Improvement Priority List
1. Improve cut-through on Dogwood Street
2. Improve sidewalks along Davidson-Concord Road at the following intersections (includes better markings and signage):
A. Concord & Kimberly
B. Concord & Downing
C. Concord & St. Alban’s
D. Concord & Pat Stough
E. Walnut Street and S. Main St. (light signal)
F. Armour Street & Beaty St. (better signage and crosswalk)
G. Grey Rd. & Dogwood (better crossing opportunity)
3. Build sidewalk on the north side of A. Downing to Fairview, and B. Fairview to St. Alban’s
4. A. Create walking path along gas line behind Cabin Creek
B. Create walking path extending Woodland Street through the woods to Davidson Elementary School.
5. Davidson Concord Road (widen sidewalks/repair sidewalks, lower speed limit)
6. Improve pedestrian crossing across I-77 interchange
7. Sidewalk on Lorimer between Pine and Thompson
8. Sidewalk on Grey Road between Wolfe and Concord
9. Extend bike/walk path west along west side of Davidson-Concord Road past Westmoreland Farm Road to Bailey Road /Robert Walker intersection.
There is a section of sidewalk on Griffith Street near the Community School that should be moved away from the highway. It is extremely dangerous to walk on Griffith with no “buffer zone” between pedestrians and vehicles.
Thank you to all the members of the Davidson Walks citizens’ committee for routing our ideas to the town for consideration. These proposed sidewalks and paths will go a long way toward improving walkability in town.
I would like to see bus stop shelters built at several strategic points for walkers who need and want options to cars, to get to shops, libraries, schools, etc. sensibly combining walking and mass transit opportunities.
It’s hard to believe that a town that professes such a love for walking makes its walkers/bus riders stand in mud puddles on the edges of town if they want to use mass transit.
All of these are great ideas, but they aren’t in order of priority, are they? While the cut-through on Dogwood may need some improvements, at least it is safe! I walk there regularly, and have never had to leap out of the way of a speeding car.
I’ll also take the tack of many of the comments posters on this site to plug the project in my neighborhood. Grey Road really needs a sidewalk! The road is relatively narrow, and quite busy. Although the speed limit is 25 for the first little stretch from Concord Road to just past Dogwood, and then 35 for a ways after, many drivers speed like there is a minimum 45 mph sign! An adult walking along there has a hard enough time to get out of the way of cars; add in a dog, a couple of other adults, or children, and walking anywhere gets pretty dangerous. The road is long overdue for the addition of a sidewalk. In the meantime, any enforcement of the speed limit by the Davidson police would be much appreciated.
I was under the impression that the maximum speed limit in Davidson is 25 mph. The State of NC owns Beaty Street which is posted at 35 mph and refuses to respond to my request to lower it to the town standard of 25. With all the new development in the last ten years, there are many children waiting for the school bus on this road. The top priority of government should be to protect the citizens.