The Charlotte Department of Transportation is a recipient of a Safe Streets and Roads for All, or SS4A, grant which secured additional funding for the City of Charlotte’s Vision Zero Program. By proactively seeking funding, the Charlotte Department of Transportation aims to expedite the implementation of crucial safety projects. We will be discussing the types of projects included in the City of Charlotte SS4A program, and the locations being evaluated for upgrades.
We will share background information, go over the potential projects and different types of upgrades that are a part of the program, review how to interact with the webpage map, and share how you can stay up-to-date.
SS4A is a US Department of Transportation federal grant program. It funds initiatives to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries. You can learn more at transportation.gov/grants/SS4A.
The City of Charlotte was awarded a $4.47 million SS4A grant to evaluate 22 locations around Charlotte for upgrades and to install countermeasures that have been proven to reduce or eliminate pedestrian crashes. The SS4A program is part of the City’s Vision Zero initiative to create a safe transportation system for us all.
There are six different types of projects being evaluated as part of the City of Charlotte SS4A program. Some locations are being evaluated for improvements that include multiple project types.
The project types include accessible pedestrian signals, leading pedestrian intervals, rectangular rapid flashing beacons, pedestrian hybrid beacons, full signal, and sidewalk gaps. All projects include installing or improving accessible curb ramps.
Accessible pedestrian signals are devices that include non-visual indicators for “Walk” and “Don’t Walk” intervals. This helps improve accessibility at intersections by providing an audible cue for pedestrians.
Leading pedestrian intervals will adjust traffic signal timing at the intersection and give pedestrians a few seconds to enter the crosswalk before the signal turns green for vehicles. Those few seconds give pedestrians a head start to cross the street. It increases pedestrian visibility for motorists at the intersection.
Seven intersections are being evaluated for accessible pedestrian signals and leading pedestrian intervals. The intersections being evaluated for accessible pedestrian signals and leading pedestrian intervals are:
- Ballantyne Commons Parkway and Woodview Circle
- Runnymede Lane and Colony Road
- South Tryon Street and Griffith Street
- I-77 Southbound Ramp and Lasalle Street
- Pineville-Matthews Road and Johnston Road
- Providence Road and South Sharon Amity Road/Sharon Lane
- Beatties Ford Road and Cindy Lane
Rectangular rapid flashing beacons are flashing lights that are activated by pedestrians. This project type includes marked crosswalks and signage that increase the visibility of pedestrians at the intersection, which can help motorists identify pedestrians and increase motorist yielding.
Six locations are being evaluated for Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons. The locations being evaluated for Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons are:
- North Davidson Street, between East 17th Street and East 18th Street
- 5500 Block of Farm Pond Lane, between Forest Glen Road and the entrance to the Farm Lane Apartments
- 5600 Block of Farm Pond Lane, between the entrance to the Farm Lane Apartments and Four Seasons Lane
- Intersection of West Craighead Road and Glory Street
- Intersection of Tuckaseegee Road and Enderly Road
- Toddville Road at the existing bus stop just north of CSX Way
A pedestrian hybrid beacon is a dedicated pedestrian-activated traffic control signal. It includes marked crosswalks and signage so pedestrians can cross in the middle of the block or at uncontrolled intersections. This type of signal gives pedestrians the right of way to cross the street safely.
Five locations are being evaluated for Pedestrian Hybrid Beacons. The locations being evaluated for Pedestrian Hybrid Beacons are:
- 4900 Block of Central Avenue, between Rosehaven Drive and the entrance to Central Pointe Apartment Homes
- 7100 Block of Albemarle Road, between Lawyers Road and Point Lake Drive
- South side of the intersection of Park Road and Birnen Drive
- On Shamrock Road at Lawrence Orr Elementary School, north of Little Greenleaf Way
- Intersection of Monroe Road and Knickerbocker Drive
Full signal projects include installing traffic and pedestrian signals to create a fully signalized intersection. This type of intersection improves accessibility by providing auditory and tactile indicators to help visually impaired pedestrians navigate the intersection. Curb ramps are also included, and the signal timing can be adjusted so pedestrians have a few seconds to enter the crosswalk before the signal turns green for cars. By installing a fully signalized intersection, we can help create a safe intersection for everyone by increasing pedestrian visibility for motorists and improving traffic flow.
Three intersections are being evaluated for full signal projects. The intersections being evaluated for full signals are:
- Eastway Drive and Citiside Drive/Weldon Avenue
- Eastway Drive and Eastway Park Drive
- Sugar Creek Road and Browns Ferry Road
The last project type is sidewalk gaps. Filling sidewalk gaps will help connect existing sidewalks or crosswalks and improve pedestrian access to bus stops where the sidewalk was not completely connected previously.
Two locations are being evaluated to close the sidewalk gap. The locations being evaluated to close the sidewalk gaps are:
- West side of Maywood Drive from 3211 Maywood Drive to Eastwood Drive
- North side of CSX Way between the existing pedestrian crosswalk to Toddville Road
All the project types discussed are upgrades to our transportation system to help create safer streets for all users.
An excellent resource for reading about and learning about the SS4A program in Charlotte is the project webpage.
You can visit the webpage at charlottenc.gov/SS4A to learn more.
There is an interactive map on the project webpage to see all the locations being evaluated. You can scroll in with your mouse or select the plus or minus arrow at the top left of the screen. You can also reset the map orientation and put the map back into its default view; you'll see bright circles on the map that indicate the locations of SS4A potential projects. If you click on the circle, you'll find more information, like the location, project type, and a description of the upgrades being evaluated. You can also search using the top right and remove the all-grants projects layer at the bottom right.
If you would like to learn more about SS4A, or have any questions, please reach out to the project team.
Stay connected by visiting the project website, CharlotteNC.gov/SS4A and signing up to receive the latest project updates via email or text message. You may also text “SS4A” to 732-24 to start receiving updates.
Thank you for watching and learning about Safe Streets for All in the City of Charlotte.