MIDTOWN, TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT THE GREEN STREET PROJECT!

Many of you may be unaware of the city’s plan known as the Quail Hollow “Green Street” Project scheduled to start construction this summer.

While, the noble objectives of the plan are intended to slow down traffic and increase safety for bikers, residents and pedestrians on Quail Hollow Dr, the planned installation of a Two-Way Cycle Track and Elimination of On-Street Parking on the East side of Quail Hollow Dr will actually decrease the safety of bikers and pedestrians and have significant negative impacts on the livability of our beloved neighborhood.

In response, The Midtown CAC will be meeting on Monday, April 27 at 7:00pm at the Eastgate Park Community Center, located at 4200 Quail Hollow Dr, and will host a presentation and open discussion on this ill-conceived element of the plan. Your attendance and input are vital for continuing to put pressure on the city to consider more appropriate alternatives that will actually benefit neighborhood residents.

Below is a brief description of the issue, impact analysis, and recommendations for action by the City:

In Summer 2025 the City of Raleigh released the initial design stage for the Quail Hollow Green Street Project. The plan proposed future street resurfacing, traffic calming, sidewalk improvements, green stormwater infrastructure, and a two-way cycle track on the east side of Quail Hollow Drive, concurrent with eliminating on-street parking on the east side to accommodate the cycle track. Public comments were received and published on the city website. Addressing, the two-way cycle track and elimination of on-street parking, 69% of the respondents were “opposed” to this concept, while 31% were “in favor.”

The city published their “Advanced Design” for the project in Winter 2026, retaining the two-way cycle track and elimination of on-street parking, ignoring the majority of public comments received on the initial design. A more organized awareness campaign by neighborhood residents resulted in published responses of 77% “opposed” and 23% “in favor”. Additionally, a letter petition in opposition signed by over 75 neighborhood residents was presented to appropriate city officials and council members. And yet, the City of Raleigh does not respond and intends to proceed with their plans.

What’s the problem? First, it is necessary to understand that a two-way cycle track means that cyclists will be riding both northbound (with traffic) and southbound (“contra-flow” and against traffic) within the same cycle track on the eastside of Quail Hollow Dr. Two-way cycle tracks are intended only for streets with very high demand for cycling and with few intervening driveways and street intersections along the track because drivers and pedestrians will not look for cyclists riding the “wrong way”. “Contra-flow” cycling is a major cause of vehicle/cyclist accidents. The approximately 1-mile stretch of Quail Hollow Dr has 8 intersecting roads and 30 drive entrances along the east side. This is an extraordinary concentration of dangerous “contra-flow” hazards. A deadly hazard every 10 seconds for a cyclist travelling 10 miles per hour.

Elimination of on-street parking along the east side of Quail Hollow will force residents, guests, delivery drivers, service providers, etc. to park on the opposite side of the street. Quail Hollow Dr and its 3,400 vehicles per day is extremely dangerous to cross on foot, and impossible for the mobility-impaired, children, pets and the elderly to safely cross.

The proper steps for the city planning process should be to: gather and analyze actual data on bicycle and pedestrian usage; engage neighborhood residents in the entire process; and develop alternatives for consideration based on reality.

Hope to see you at the CAC meeting Monday April 27. I would be pleased to discuss with you anytime.

Chuck Newcomer

5016 Quail Hollow Dr

919-418-0013

cnewcomer3@hotmail.com