Connections

Not all of Downtown’s streets and thoroughfares are designed with pedestrians and cyclists in mind. Making a safer and accessible downtown means rethinking our streets to create a sustainable city center that puts people first. Connecting key destinations to and through downtown with multi-modal infrastructure provides an opportunity to build a system that will better serve residents today and tomorrow.

Downtown to Dix

As Dix Park emerges as one of the nation’s premier urban parks, it is critical for Downtown Raleigh to have a direct signature gateway to connect the park with the heart of our community. For years, different ideas have been raised by community, but no clear plan exists yet. This strategy calls for the community to determine a clear vision for a catalytic and bold connection from Dix Park to downtown with an iconic signature gateway.

Downtown's Northern Gateway

Both Dix Park and the State Government campus provide opportunities to enhance vibrancy and to link North Carolina’s Main Street with planned future city-wide investments. Proactively seeking public-private partnership opportunities to better maximize government properties could greatly enhance this part of downtown. And a new northern gateway along Peace Street at the entrance to the State Government campus would potentially celebrate North Carolina with an iconic public art piece and better connect Seaboard Station and the state campus with the rest of downtown.

An Inviting Front Door

A signature gateway should be added to connect the core with key downtown destinations and nearby amenities downtown. A lively mural and other public art and placemaking efforts could transform this underutilized pedestrian walkway between the Convention Center and City Plaza.

Safer Streets

Downtown Raleigh is divided by several large streets that serve vehicular traffic at the expense of safe and sustainable transportation options for all people. Working with government partners, this plan calls for re-envisioning our public infrastructure to create a more comfortable environment for people to move easily between districts and destinations.

The strategy calls for re-examining and re-designing corridors such as: Glenwood Avenue, MLK Boulevard, Peace Street, Blount and Person Streets.

Physically linking our community with green infrastructure and removing barriers for people-centered mobility options like walking and riding bikes will allow our downtown community to evolve and grow into the future.

 

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