Plans call for completing sidewalks, adding trees and bike lanes on Clay Bvd

The next community meeting on NECI project plans and Blue Line Extension progress will take place 5:30-8 pm Tuesday, Oct. 13, at the Oasis Shriners Center, 604 Doug Mayes Place, in University Place.

The Northeast Corridor Infrastructure (NECI) Program is a collection of projects selected to improve pedestrian, bicyclist and motorist access to the LYNX Blue Line Extension.

At the Oct. 13 meeting, city staff will discuss progress and gather comments on the LYNX and NECI projects to improve Clay Boulevard, McCullough Drive, Tom Hunter Road and Rocky River Road West. For additional meeting details, call University City Partners at 704-688-2483.

More NECI project details

You can find additional details about NECI projects online. Here are overviews of the four projects in University City.

JW Clay Boulevard Streetscape – Add or widen sidewalks, plus add bike lanes and shade trees in a broad planting strip along JW Clay Boulevard between North Tryon Street and West W.T. Harris Boulevard. Roadway will continue to have four travel lanes and turn lanes, plus connection to future Barton Creek Greenway link to Mallard Creek Greenway (work to start spring 2016).

• Project website
• Contact: Tom Russell, PE, E&PM Project Manager, 704-336-4639, trussell@charlottenc.gov

McCullough Drive Streetscape – Add a new street segment extending McCullough Drive from North Tryon Street to an existing dead end near Ken Hoffman Drive. New segment and existing roadway will get bike lanes and sidewalks, plus planting strips with large shade trees.

• Project website
• Contact: Sharon Buchanan, PE, E&PM Project Manager, 704-336-2044, sbuchanan@charlottenc.gov

Rocky River Road West Streetscape – Improve winding Rocky River Road West between North Tryon and Toby Creek Greenway, which serves the new Newell Elementary School. Provide bike lanes, sidewalks and shade trees along improved two-lane Rocky River Road between University City Blvd station and future Toby Creek Greenway (opening fall 2016). Improve site distance on Rocky River Road by softening curves in road.

• Project website
• Contact: Tom Russell, PE, E&PM Project Manager, 704-336-4639, trussell@charlottenc.gov; and Matt Magnasco, CDOT Project Manager, 704-336-3368, mmagnasco@charlottenc.gov

Tom Hunter Road Streetscape – Improve pedestrian and bike access to North Tryon Street and the Tom Hunter Road station between North Tryon and Canterwood Drive. Future street will have 2 lanes of traffic plus center turn lane, broad sidewalks, planning strip and street trees.

• Project website
• Contact: Len Chapman, E&PM project manager, 704-336-6750   lchapman@charlottenc.gov