Slower traffic, more sidewalks top Oak Ridge’s wish list Residents who participated in two surveys for town’s Streetscape Vision Plan also said sidewalk cafés and street festivals would draw more people to commercial district by CHRIS BURRITT OAK RIDGE – Residents want traffic to slow down in Oak Ridge’s commercial district where they said more sidewalks, cafés and festivals would make the area more vibrant, according to a survey for the town’s Streetscape Vision Plan. Asked by the survey to describe the town core in a single word, the top four responses by residents were “quaint,” “growing,” “beautiful” and “boring.” Those descriptions illustrate the task facing the town council and staff as they try to enhance Oak Ridge’s village feel by slowing traffic and making the commercial district more lively and accessible for walkers and cyclists. The 96-page Oak Ridge Streetscape Vision Plan is the work of a committee of volunteers, town staff and the Piedmont Triad Regional Commission. Since last year they’ve created a blueprint for the future of the town’s commercial district. “It is a guide that will influence the design for the town core,” Mayor Spencer Sullivan said in an interview Tuesday. It dovetails with steps by the town and the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) to reduce the speed limit on N.C. 68 and redesign major intersections in the commercial district to slow traffic and improve pedestrian safety. (See related article on front cover.) Two surveys for the streetscape vision plan drew responses from almost 400 people who said they liked the design of sidewalks, trees along roads and the style of architecture in the town core and
they favored incorporating those features in future development. They ranked planting of trees, installation of lighting and improving traffic safety as the most important elements for enhancing the streetscape around highways 68 and 150. “The town is aware of the special nature of this area,” said Myra Blackburn, a lifelong resident of Oak Ridge who along with her husband, Gary, serves on the Streetscape Vision Plan Committee. “Oak Ridge draws people like a magnet. But that comes with its downside. The idea is to protect the character of the town.” The town’s Planning and Zoning Board is scheduled to review a draft of the streetscape vision plan at its meeting March 28, followed by discussion and possible adoption by the town council April 4. Adopting the streetscape plan to set priorities for improvements would help the town when it applies for state and federal funding of projects, said council member Doug Nodine. Among steps over the next five years, the plan recommends installation of landscaping including trees and planter boxes and pots along roads. It advised the town council work with NCDOT to develop projects to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists. It also suggested working with the state transportation department to reduce the speed limit on N.C. 68 and 150 in the town core from 35 mph to 30 mph. “The benefits of a streetscape plan can help transform a municipality in ways other than an attractive street,” according to the draft of the plan. “When implemented, these plans can increase the economic viability of a community, pedestrian activity, tourism, and safety.”
want to learn more? To view the draft of the streetscape vision plan, visit www.oakridgenc.com and click on the “Ordinances/Plans” tab on the left side of the homepage, or stop by Town Hall to view a printed copy.
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