TO: Mayor and Members of City Council
THRU: Adam Lindsay ICMA-CM, Assistant City Manager
FROM: Sheila Thomas-Ambat, PE, Public Services Director
Brian McGill, PE, PTOE, Interim Assistant Public Services Director - Traffic Services
Virginia Small, Transportation Planner
John McNeill, PMP, Senior Project Manager - Traffic
DATE: June 2, 2025
RE:
Title
The Supplemental Fayetteville Comprehensive Pedestrian Plan Study
end
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S):
Council District(s)
All
b
Relationship To Strategic Plan:
Goal IV: The City of Fayetteville will be a highly desirable place to live, work, and recreate.
Executive Summary:
To supplement the City of Fayetteville Pedestrian Plan update, staff in response to Council direction, initiated a City-funded pedestrian study that focused on pedestrian improvements near K-12 public schools within or servicing the City.
The Supplemental Fayetteville Comprehensive Pedestrian Plan Study includes a detailed analysis of all school service areas to identify gaps in the pedestrian network. This analysis identified pedestrian safety improvement projects to expand the walkable areas around public schools. The study developed 26 cut sheets for pedestrian improvement projects near schools, and 12 cost estimates and more detailed recommendations for the highest-prioritized schools.
Should Council approve of this plan, staff will place the approval and adoption of the Supplemental Fayetteville Comprehensive Pedestrian Plan Study on a forthcoming consent agenda.
Background:
The history of the Supplemental Fayetteville Comprehensive Pedestrian Plan Study can be summarized as follows:
- November 2022 - Council directed staff to identify and report back schools that do not have sidewalks.
- March 2023 - Staff presented sidewalk projects for approval to construct with General Obligation (GO) Bond Funding; Staff were directed to research and report back on installing sidewalks around schools.
- September 2023 - Sidewalk projects within a one-mile radius of public schools presented to Council; Council approves to proceed with GO Bond-funded Pedestrian Plan and CIP projects.
- November 2023 - Council directs staff to conduct a GO Bond-funded sidewalk study of schools for connectivity and gaps.
- January 2024 - Council approves Comprehensive Pedestrian Plan municipal agreement with NCDOT.
- March 2024 - NCDOT provides notice to proceed for Comprehensive Pedestrian Plan.
- May 2024 - Council approves of the consultant (Kittelson & Associates) scope and fee for Supplemental Fayetteville Comprehensive Pedestrian Plan Study.
- May 2024 - City provides consultant notice to proceed for Supplemental Fayetteville Comprehensive Pedestrian Plan Study.
- April 2025 - Draft Supplemental Fayetteville Comprehensive Pedestrian Plan Study Report completed.
As part of the 2025 Comprehensive Pedestrian Plan Update, the City is pursuing a Supplemental Fayetteville Comprehensive Pedestrian Plan Study for pedestrian safety around schools. It includes data analysis to prioritize schools for transportation safety improvements, engagement with school representatives and City staff, and the development of recommendations for the highest priority schools to address key safety challenges and expand multimodal access where it is most needed. The attached report includes recommendations which are intended to supplement those in the citywide Comprehensive Pedestrian Plan.
After examining and analyzing the infrastructure surrounding 64 K-12 public schools serving the City, key priority locations for pedestrian transportation safety investment were identified. This study did not include private schools. The study’s methodology prioritized areas based on student enrollment, number of students walking to school, population density, recent bicycle/pedestrian crash history, and adjacent street traffic characteristics. Through this in-depth prioritization methodology, 26 of the 64 schools were moved forward to identify multimodal safety improvements.
Cumberland County Schools system representatives, as well as school representatives, were consulted and given the opportunity to offer feedback throughout the project. Of the 26 high-priority schools, school representatives from 11 schools responded to requests for feedback on preliminary recommendations to address pedestrian infrastructure.
The study developed cut sheets for pedestrian improvement projects near the 26 schools that were advanced forward to identify multimodal safety improvements. Cost-estimates and detailed recommendations have been developed for 12 of the highest-prioritized schools, including the 11 schools that provided feedback as well as one additional school where pedestrian improvements are already planned. The total cost of improvements at those 12 schools is approximately $27.9M.
Attached are the draft reports, appendices, and the presentation to accompany the Draft Supplemental Fayetteville Comprehensive Pedestrian Plan Study. Should Council approve of this plan, staff will place the approval and adoption of the Supplemental Fayetteville Comprehensive Pedestrian Plan Study on a forthcoming consent agenda.
Issues/Analysis:
Council directed staff to research sidewalk connectivity for all public schools. To enhance the Comprehensive Pedestrian Plan Study, Council approved a Supplemental Fayetteville Comprehensive Pedestrian Plan Study. This study analyzed all public schools which serve the City of Fayetteville and recommends pedestrian safety improvement projects, including sidewalk.
Budget Impact:
To adopt the plan, there is no active budget impact. Should the plan be approved, future pedestrian safety improvements will be programmed into future fiscal year CIP proposals.
Options:
Option 1 - Approve the Supplemental Fayetteville Comprehensive Pedestrian Plan Study and place on a Consent Agenda for adoption.
Option 2 - Do not approve the Supplemental Fayetteville Comprehensive Pedestrian Plan Study and provide staff with further direction.
Recommended Action:
Option 1 - Approve the Supplemental Fayetteville Comprehensive Pedestrian Plan Study to be placed on a Consent Agenda for adoption.
Attachments:
Fayetteville Supplemental Ped Plan_final report.pdf
Appendix A - School Network Analysis Spreadsheets.pdf
Appendix B - Coordination and Engagement Documentation.pdf
Appendix C - Recommendations Maps and Concept Plans.pdf
Supplemental Ped Plan_552025.pdf