Greensboro Complete Streets Corridor Feasibility Study

As part of an ongoing mission to create a more equitable transportation system, the Greensboro Department of Transportation (GDOT) partnered with Gannett Fleming to perform a Corridor Feasibility Study for a 1.8-mile section of a key east-west thoroughfare just south of downtown.

With annual average daily traffic volumes greater than 25,000 vehicles per day, West Gate City Boulevard provides connections between the downtown district, Interstate 40 (I-40), and major cultural destinations, including the Greensboro Coliseum Complex and University of North Carolina Greensboro (UNCG).

The effort resulted in streetscape enhancement concepts for the corridor crafted to achieve the goals of the Complete Streets policy. These policy goals included developing a transportation system that:

• Is safe, efficient, sustainable, and environmentally compatible.
• Provides convenient choices for traveling throughout the Greensboro Metropolitan Area.

Maintaining vehicular capacity on the busy thoroughfare is a primary goal, but Greensboro is seeking to do more within the limited public right of way.

Close coordination with UNCG staff and consultation with the Campus Master Plan were essential to align visions with a focus on safe and convenient crossings for students accessing UNCG’s main campus a few blocks north of the corridor. Collaboration with key stakeholders as well as a tight focus on project goals enabled the study team to develop an effective road map to guide significant community enhancement.

The plan features sidewalk widening throughout the corridor. It also includes a 10-foot side path along the north side of the roadway to accommodate bicyclists and connect to Greensboro’s Downtown Greenway. A key streetscape concept objective is to identify areas along the corridor where aesthetic enhancements may be pursued, including, but not limited to:

• Hardscaping.
• Landscaping.
• Bus shelter upgrades.

• Robust and inclusive public and stakeholder engagement program featured user surveys, small group meetings, and focused community outreach.
• Sidewalk widening and side path support walking and biking to access downtown businesses and attractions.
• Safe and convenient crossings for students traveling to and from UNCG’s main campus.
• Landscaping and other street enhancements add aesthetic appeal.

• Road map for the implementation of Complete Streets concepts.
• Support for equitable transportation systems and convenient travel choices.
• Maximized multimodal utility within the existing right of way.