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The Spot Safety Improvement Program is supported by annual appropriations from Cary’s Council and provides opportunities for Transportation staff to promote traffic safety through small and medium-sized projects, bridging the gap between maintenance work and large capital ventures.
What is a “Spot” project?
Often conceptualized in response to feedback from our residents, Spot projects are enhancements to Cary’s transportation system that promote safety. These typically take the form of pavement markings, traffic signs, curb ramps, and minor traffic signal modifications, targeted to specific locations (i.e., “spots”) identified by staff and/or citizens. Cary’s Traffic Engineers seek out projects that encourage safer interactions between drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians through traffic control, warning devices, visibility, and education.
Spot Projects are spread across Cary and include:
- Pedestrian crosswalk enhancements -
- Bicycle lane markings -
- Additional traffic control, such as stop signs -
- Engineering studies that assess safety and provide recommendations -
Spot projects are often focused on pedestrian and bicycle safety to protect the more vulnerable users of the transportation system.
How do Spot projects happen?
Funding: The Spot Safety Improvement Program is funded through annual Council appropriations. Individual projects are selected by staff and organized such that the aggregate of all projects does not exceed the Council’s allocation within the General Fund budget.
Identification: Whether in response to their own observations or in response to community input, staff recognize an opportunity to improve traffic safety through relatively low-cost upgrades.
Design: Cary’s Traffic Engineers develop designs by analyzing data and reviewing published research to specify traffic signs, markings, etc. that are anticipated to have a measurable impact. Designs focus on changing the behavior of transportation system users to promote safety.
Implementation: Staff use all available pathways to implement Spot projects to maximize the program’s resources. These pathways may include:
- Teaming up with Cary’s Public Works staff to complete the project “in-house.”
- Executing a standalone project using an approved vendor
- Combining several projects together into a medium-sized package to solicit contractor bids
- Collaborating with Transportation Project Managers to incorporate Spot projects into a large capital project
Live Look at Cary’s Spot Safety Improvement Program
The map below shows project locations at various stages of design and implementation in the Spot Safety Improvement Program. Any feedback or questions regarding specific projects can be directed to Cary’s Traffic Engineers using 311. For assistance using the map, see the map help page.