Transportation, Traffic Impact Analysis and Safety: Keeping it all in Perspective

RaleighForward hosted its first event on Wednesday, July 26, 2023, at Trophy Brewing’s Maywood Taproom. David Meeker generously agreed to host the event. Eric Lamb, former Transportation Planner Manager with the City of Raleigh, “walked” attendees through many of the issues and considerations that the City must address when implementing a complex transportation system. If you would like to review Eric’s slide deck, click here.

Here are some of the key takeaways from the presentation:

• Traffic is an indicator of Raleigh’s economic success

• Counties do not build or own roads

• Street networks have changed over the years

  • Grid pattern prior to WWII

    • Most efficient network for all modes of transportation

  • Then network evolved into variety of disconnected streets and cul-de-sacs

    • Results led to isolated neighborhoods:

      • More privacy

      • Less efficient for everyone, including for trash collection, mail carriers

      • Less safe because harder to navigate in emergencies

  • Now cities are trying to reconnect neighborhoods

    • Adding different transportation modes (bikes, e-bikes, bike sharing, scooters, walking, frequent buses & bus rapid transit)

• Density enhances “trip capture”

  • More efficient because leads to less overall driving due to proximity

  • Encourages walking and biking

  • Creates higher return on investments in transportation infrastructure (bus, BRT, sidewalks, greenways & bike lanes)

  • “Greener” due to enhanced efficiency

• Raleigh’s transportation planning has “over-estimated” traffic impact of new mixed-use developments like North Hills during development review process (predicted more traffic than actually generated)

  • New mixed-use developments generate substantially less traffic than large, homogenous, auto-dependent developments

• Congestion, while less efficient, is safer for bikes & pedestrians

  • Congested streets also lead to less serious auto accidents due to reduced speeds

• Traffic will always be a concern as Raleigh grows

  • Focus on creating new & more transportation options as Raleigh grows