Feasibility Study Overview

The Town of Wilkesboro was awarded a grant by the N.C. Department of Transportation's Integrated Mobility Division (IMD) to conduct a feasibility study to determine the best greenway and sidewalk route to improve connectivity and mobility to various parts of the Town.

Feasibility studies bridge the gap between conceptual planning and programming of projects. They build upon higher-level planning efforts and take a comprehensive approach to identify possible route alternatives of multimodal corridors. ​Specifically, the study will evaluate the potential for sidewalks and bike lanes from Wilkesboro Elementary School to the pedestrian bridges over Cub Creek on Woodfield Way. Additionally, the study will assess the feasibility of a greenway connecting Woodfield Way to the Cub Creek Park and Historic Downtown Wilkesboro. 

The primary objective of the project is to establish a vital connection between the Woodfield and Westwood residential neighborhoods, as well as the commercial areas situated between them. This connection aims to enhance accessibility, promote pedestrian safety, and foster a sense of community among residents and businesses alike. The primary goal of the greenway portion of this project is to create an accessible link between the neighborhoods in the vicinity and Cub Creek Park, which already boasts an extensive network of trails. Furthermore, this greenway will soon connect to the 7.5-mile-long Yadkin River Greenway, contributing to an even broader and more interconnected recreational space for the community. Attached is a map of this project’s study area for your review.

As part of the feasiblity study, we want to know which priorities and amenities are important to the community. We highly value your input and involvement in this tranformative project that will provide enhanced accessibility and connectivity in our community. Please take a minute to answer a few questions that will help shape this study. Survey questions are below the map. 

 

Survey Questions

Question title

* Do you have access to a personal vehicle at least most of the time?

Yes
No
Closed to responses

Question title

If you responded no to question 1, how do you usually get around?

Closed for Comments

Question title

* How often do you bike, walk, or roll around Wilkesboro?

Daily
Weekly
Monthly
Rarely
Never
Closed to responses

Question title

If you walk, bike, or roll, what is the purpose/where are you going? Drag your choices into the box

Closed to responses

Question title

* If a greenway/trail system was available in the study area as shown on exhibit above, how often would you use it?

Daily
Weekly
Monthly
Rarely
Never
Closed to responses

Question title

* Which destinations around Wilkesboro are most important to access?

Grocery Stores
Work
Shopping
Medical
School
Social Services
Parks/Community Amenities
Other
Closed to responses

Question title

* How important are greenways, sidewalks, bike lanes, and other multimodal infrastructure to you?

Loading question...

Question title

* Which facility type do you prefer when walking or biking in Wilkesboro?

Sidewalk and Sharrows
Sidewalk and bike lanes
Sidewalk and Separated bike lanes
Sidepath
Greenway
Closed to responses

Question title

* Which criteria are most important when considering a route for the trail?

Connectivity: prioritizing connections to existing sidewalks, bike lanes, parks, schools, trails, and neighborhoods
User experience: amenities such as separation from roadway, shade/tree cover, slopes, scenery, scenic areas
Environment: routes that have less environmentally-damaging impacts (i.e. wetlands, streams, tree canopy)
Property Acquisition: alternatives that prioritize utilizing existing ROW, easements, and publicly owned property
Cost: influenced by factors including land acquisition, environmental impacts, bridge crossings, trail/path length and surface
Safety: routes that minimize crossings with roadways, driveways, routes that are more visible
Ease of implementation: select the alternatives that allow the path to be incorporated the soonest. This can include cost, property acquisition, and environmental impacts.
Equity: prioritizing connections to low-income and historically underserved/underfunded communities
Other
Closed to responses

To ensure we’re hearing from a broad set of voices, would you be willing to share (completely anonymously) some information about yourself?

Question title

What street do you live on?

Closed to responses

Question title

What is your age?

Select a response

Question title

What is your race/ethnicity?

Select a response

Question title

Do you have any other comments?

Closed for Comments

This Study seeks to build upon past planning efforts, such as the Town of Wilkesboro Comprehensive Pedestrian Plan. A list of other Town planning initiatives can be found here. 

Project Schedule

Milestone

  Date

 Grant Awarded

  May 2023

 Project Kickoff

  June 2023

 Develop Alternatives/Coordination with  Stakeholders

  June 2023- November 2023

 Public Survey

  November-December 2023

 Public Meeting

  January/February 2024

 Draft Study

  March 2024

 Study Completion

  May 2024

 

Where does a feasibility study fit in the larger context?