Walking around the Cape Fear region can be tricky – even downright dangerous in some areas. For example, the Gary Shell Cross City Trail in Wilmington runs from Wrightsville Beach to the University of North Carolina Wilmington before making a half-loop, passing the Cameron Art Museum, and in the process linking at least four city parks.
But if you’re trying to walk around Monkey Junction, or cross Market Street near21st Street, or travel by bicycle or foot from Brunswick to New Hanover County, you could be putting your life at risk. Port City Daily reports that last year Wilmington Police recorded over 100 roadway accidents involving pedestrians and “pedal cyclists.”
Taking the bus to and from work in the Cape Fear region largely arises out of need; there are few choice riders, and people who can drive their own vehicles choose to do that.
Southeastern North Carolina is a fast-growing region, and part of dealing with that growth is planning infrastructure to support it – including traffic patterns that will support a heavier vehicle load, and alternate methods of transportation – including walking.
On this edition of CoastLine, we hear from two key people involved in planning for the Cape Fear region’s traffic growth.
Don Bennett, Traffic Engineer for the City of Wilmington
Mike Kozlosky, Executive Director, Wilmington Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
WMPO serves the greater Wilmington area including Brunswick, New Hanover, and Pender Counties – as well as seven municipalities within those counties.
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