A proposal to close a section of Cary Street in Richmond, Virginia to cars and transform it into a pedestrian, bike, and transit-only street is being considered. The plan aims to improve safety in Carytown, which has been identified as a dangerous area for pedestrians and drivers. However, some business owners are concerned about the potential impact on parking and customer access. The city will conduct further studies and temporary tests to assess the benefits and drawbacks of the proposal. Madison Moore reported
Could Cary Street in Richmond Become a Pedestrian, Bike, and Transit-Only Zone?
A potential plan is in motion to transform a section of Cary Street in Richmond into a pedestrian, bike, and transit-only zone. The recently released 2024 Transportation Action Plan by Richmond Connects includes a project that proposes closing Carytown, which encompasses the stretch between North Thompson Street and Arthur Ashe Boulevard, to cars.
The plan is based on data collected by Richmond Connects, which indicates the urgent need for safety improvements in Carytown. The area has been identified as dangerous for both pedestrians and drivers. However, despite the evidence supporting the need for safer streets, some business owners in Carytown have expressed concerns about the potential closure. They fear that it may hinder access for customers to their storefronts or divert traffic to other streets.
Kelly Banks, co-owner of Merrymaker Fine Paper, shared her concerns about parking and the impact it may have on merchants and residents in the area. Additionally, she highlighted the logistical challenges related to loading and unloading trucks for their merchandise. Banks emphasized the importance of ongoing conversations with the city to address these issues and find suitable solutions.
The report suggests that closing Cary Street would be a cost-effective and quick solution, especially with the support of businesses and residents in the area. The first step would involve selecting locations for weekend street closures, which may include Cary Street in Carytown or other suitable alternatives.
Richmond Connects is committed to maintaining communication with the merchants on Cary Street throughout the process. The next phase of the plan involves studying the potential safety, traffic, and business benefits and drawbacks of closing the street. To validate the impacts, the city plans to conduct temporary tests with data collection.
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