We Need Your Input on Design of NSBRT Stations Chapel Hill Transit is seeking public input for the design of North-South Bus Rapid Transit (NSBRT) stations. There are two options for input: open workshops or focus groups. Both aim to answer what transit users want or need in a station and what makes a station comfortable or easier to use. Focus groups are for community members with a particular passion for targeted topics: access and mobility, multimodal connections, or land use and economic development. Workshops and focus groups are open to all, interactive, and child-friendly. Food and refreshments are provided. Public Input Sessions Tuesday, Sept. 5, 6–8 p.m. Chapel Hill Public Library Mtg Room A, 100 Library Drive Wednesday, Sept. 6, 12–2 p.m. Lumina Theater, 620 Market St. Thursday, Sept. 7, 6–8 p.m. Ackland Art Museum, 101 S. Columbia St. Focus Groups, all in Chapel Hill Public Library Mtg Room A, 100 Library Drive Tuesday, Sept 5, 2:30–3:30 p.m.: Access & Mobility Tuesday, Sept. 5, 4–5 p.m.: Multimodal Connections Wednesday, Sept. 6, 4–5 p.m.: Land Use & Economic Development

The Chapel Hill Police Department is continuing an increased number of pedestrian safety enforcement operations in September as students adjust to their back-to-school routines.

September Traffic-Safety Initiatives

The Chapel Hill Police Department is continuing an increased number of pedestrian safety enforcement operations in September as students adjust to their back-to-school routines.

Scheduled pedestrian safety enforcement operations are in addition to normal patrols. The operations include – but are not limited to – the following dates:

• Friday, September 1, 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.
• Monday, September 4, 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.
• Wednesday, September 6, 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.
• Tuesday, September 12, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• Monday, September 18, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• Wednesday, September 20, 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.
• Tuesday, September 26, 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.

*Dates and times are subject to change

Aside from school zones, efforts will focus on other areas with heavy pedestrian and bicycle traffic, including downtown, and mid-block crosswalks (ex. along the Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Estes Drive corridors).

The Chapel Hill Police Department is also planning at least six speed enforcement operations in September – in addition to normal patrols – with the main goal of improving safety for everyone who shares roads.

• Tuesday, September 5, 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.
• Tuesday, September 12, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
• Thursday, September 14, 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
• Monday, September 18, 7 a.m. – 9 a.m.
• Tuesday, September 26, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• Wednesday: September 27, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

*Dates and times are subject to change

Back-to-School Driving Safety

We encourage drivers who are passing through school zones to slow down, be vigilant, and be patient as students, parents, and school staff settle into new routines. Drivers should consider leaving home early to account for any delays on their way to school, work, or appointments.

• Know when to stop for buses that are loading or unloading children.
• Be on the lookout for school zone signals.
• When entering a school zone, slow down and obey all traffic laws.
• Watch out for school crossing guards and obey their signals.
• Never pass other vehicles while driving in a school zone.
• Watch out for children near schools, bus stops, sidewalks, in the streets, in school parking lots, etc.
• Avoid using a cell phone unless it is completely hands-free.
• Unless licensed to do so, never use handicap or emergency vehicle lanes or spaces to drop off or pick up children at school.

The Town will utilize its variable message sign (VMS) boards throughout Town to alert people driving of the events as well as encouraging them to limit distractions and watch out for people walking and people riding their bikes.

We encourage everyone traveling, regardless of your mode of transportation, to remember that community safety is a shared responsibility.

Vision Zero

On October 13, 2021, Chapel Hill’s Town Council adopted a Vision Zero Resolution, which states that traffic injuries and deaths are not inevitable “accidents” but preventable crashes. The Town committed to eliminating all transportation and mobility related deaths and serious injuries by 2031. This will be achieved through a comprehensive and holistic approach to designing safe roadway systems for all users no matter how they choose to move throughout the community. View the resolution here.

Plan Ahead: Significant Road Projects Beginning Now in Chapel Hill- 2023

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Three separate and significant road projects are beginning in Chapel Hill.

Next week, three separate and significant road projects are scheduled to begin in Chapel Hill:

• A six-month road closure on E. Rosemary Street near Columbia Street – Begins 8/21/23
• A two-month closure on Ephesus Church Road between Fordham Blvd. and S. Elliott Road – Begins 8/21/23
• A three-month lane closure on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard near Estes Drive – 8/23/23

The Town of Chapel Hill and contractors for each project are taking steps to navigate drivers around the affected areas and maintain safe accessibility for pedestrians, which is a key part of the Town’s Vision Zero commitment.

Check Waze or Google Maps for the most up-to-date traffic conditions and be sure to follow detours and posted road signs.

E. Rosemary Street Temporarily Closing to Thru Traffic

As soon as August 21, a contractor for the Town will close E. Rosemary Street from the entrance of the Rosemary/Columbia Lot to the entrance of the Wallace Deck. The closure will be in place 24 hours a day, seven days a week for about six months.

The nearest detours for drivers are Columbia, Franklin, and Henderson streets.

A sidewalk along the East Rosemary Street closure will remain open to pedestrians; however, there will be times when the contractor will briefly pause pedestrian traffic to move equipment. There will be a marked pedestrian detour around the project, which will provide ADA accessibility.

The Rosemary/Columbia Street Lot and the Wallace Deck will remain open. The Rosemary/Columbia Street Lot will be accessible from Columbia Street. The Wallace Deck will be accessible from Henderson Street.

For more information about the East Rosemary Redevelopment Project, visit townofchapelhill.org/rosemary-project.

Ephesus Church Road Closing for Stormwater Pipe Replacement 

As soon as August 21, Ephesus Church Road will close between Legion Road and S. Elliott Road.   

The Town of Chapel Hill and the N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) are working together to replace a stormwater pipe under Ephesus Church Road. This work is expected to be complete by late October.  

The new S. Elliott Road Extension provides a convenient detour for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians to navigate around the closure. 

Northbound Lane Closure on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Near Estes Dr.

On August 23, contractors for the Estes Drive Connectivity Project and the Aura development will start work on the sidewalk between the YMCA and Shadowood Apartments driveways.

To do this work safely and efficiently, contractors will close the northbound outside travel lane to vehicle traffic. The lane will be converted to a protected pedestrian walkway to create space for pedestrians to safely move around the sidewalk closure.

The Chapel Hill Transit bus stop serving YMCA will move south, near the Airport Road crosswalk. Consider using Chapel Hill Transit as an alternate to driving during the lane closure.

This work supports the Town’s commitment to Vision Zero by providing a safe and convenient pedestrian detour through the construction. Vision Zero is the town-wide guiding principle for transportation, planning, the design of streets and sidewalks, the maintenance of public rights-of-way, and traffic enforcement.

Many of the improvements in the Estes Dr. Connectivity Project will enhance the Town of Chapel Hill’s efforts to increase safety on local roads for those who walk, bike, or roll. For more information about this project, visit www.townofchapelhill.org/estes.

For weekly project and construction updates, join the Estes Drive Connectivity project listserv: https://chplan.us/30y4kjd

Looking for Traffic News? 

Visittownofchapelhill.org/traffic to sign up for email notifications.

Follow @ChapelHillGov, @ChapelHillPD, and @ChapelHillFD and #CHTraffic for the latest traffic news on social media.

We know how impactful these closures will be for many community members and we appreciate your patience.

Beginning in August, three separate and significant road projects are scheduled to begin in Chapel Hill.

Next week, three separate and significant road projects are scheduled to begin in Chapel Hill:

• A six-month road closure on E. Rosemary Street near Columbia Street – Begins 8/21/23
• A two-month closure on Ephesus Church Road between Fordham Blvd. and S. Elliott Road – Begins 8/21/23
• A three-month lane closure on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard near Estes Drive – 8/23/23

The Town of Chapel Hill and contractors for each project are taking steps to navigate drivers around the affected areas and maintain safe accessibility for pedestrians, which is a key part of the Town’s Vision Zero commitment.

Check Waze or Google Maps for the most up-to-date traffic conditions and be sure to follow detours and posted road signs.

E. Rosemary Street Temporarily Closing to Thru Traffic

As soon as August 21, a contractor for the Town will close E. Rosemary Street from the entrance of the Rosemary/Columbia Lot to the entrance of the Wallace Deck. The closure will be in place 24 hours a day, seven days a week for about six months.

The nearest detours for drivers are Columbia, Franklin, and Henderson streets.

A sidewalk along the East Rosemary Street closure will remain open to pedestrians; however, there will be times when the contractor will briefly pause pedestrian traffic to move equipment. There will be a marked pedestrian detour around the project, which will provide ADA accessibility.

The Rosemary/Columbia Street Lot and the Wallace Deck will remain open. The Rosemary/Columbia Street Lot will be accessible from Columbia Street. The Wallace Deck will be accessible from Henderson Street.

For more information about the East Rosemary Redevelopment Project, visit townofchapelhill.org/rosemary-project.

Ephesus Church Road Closing for Stormwater Pipe Replacement 

As soon as August 21, Ephesus Church Road will close between Legion Road and S. Elliott Road.   

The Town of Chapel Hill and the N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) are working together to replace a stormwater pipe under Ephesus Church Road. This work is expected to be complete by late October.  

The new S. Elliott Road Extension provides a convenient detour for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians to navigate around the closure. 

Northbound Lane Closure on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Near Estes Dr.

On August 23, contractors for the Estes Drive Connectivity Project and the Aura development will start work on the sidewalk between the YMCA and Shadowood Apartments driveways.

To do this work safely and efficiently, contractors will close the northbound outside travel lane to vehicle traffic. The lane will be converted to a protected pedestrian walkway to create space for pedestrians to safely move around the sidewalk closure.

The Chapel Hill Transit bus stop serving YMCA will move south, near the Airport Road crosswalk. Consider using Chapel Hill Transit as an alternate to driving during the lane closure.

This work supports the Town’s commitment to Vision Zero by providing a safe and convenient pedestrian detour through the construction. Vision Zero is the town-wide guiding principle for transportation, planning, the design of streets and sidewalks, the maintenance of public rights-of-way, and traffic enforcement.

Many of the improvements in the Estes Dr. Connectivity Project will enhance the Town of Chapel Hill’s efforts to increase safety on local roads for those who walk, bike, or roll. For more information about this project, visit www.townofchapelhill.org/estes.

For weekly project and construction updates, join the Estes Drive Connectivity project listserv: https://chplan.us/30y4kjd

Looking for Traffic News? 

Visittownofchapelhill.org/traffic to sign up for email notifications.

Follow @ChapelHillGov, @ChapelHillPD, and @ChapelHillFD and #CHTraffic for the latest traffic news on social media.

We know how impactful these closures will be for many community members and we appreciate your patience.