More pedestrian safety improvements are coming to West Fleming

Another wave of pedestrian safety improvements is coming to the area of West Fleming Drive closest to the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics. Last year, NCDOT reduced the speed limit, but the state department isn’t done yet.

In January 2024 and January 2025, two traffic accidents between pedestrians and vehicles occurred at the intersection of West Fleming Drive and Catalyst Way, which is the pedestrian crossing that services students at NCSSM.

During this time of year, in the late afternoon and early evening, the traffic traveling west is facing directly into the setting sun, making visibility more concerning. On March 3, 2025, the city council approved an ordinance that reduced the speed from 45 mph to 35 mph between South Sterling Street and Burkemont Avenue.

This was done through concurrence with the North Carolina Department of Transportation because West Fleming Drive is NCDOT-owned and Catalyst Way is privately owned by a state institution. Now, NCDOT is in the process of completing more pedestrian safety changes at the intersection of the two roads, as well as complementary changes along West Fleming Drive to support the intersection updates.

The city council approved a resolution in support, with it stating, “The City of Morganton strongly supports and encourages NCDOT to proceed expeditiously to implement pedestrian safety improvements as well as facilitate appropriate and safe pedestrian access to existing private businesses along this important commercial corridor.”

According to David Uchiyama, communications officer for NCDOT, some of the work has already been completed. In addition to the speed limit reduction, NCDOT has converted east and west bound signal heads to four-section heads with dual red lights and backplates. “Pedestrian Crossing Ahead” pavement markings in the eastbound and westbound directions have also been installed.

NCDOT is in the process of upgrading the warning flashers for westbound drivers approaching the intersection by installing a new overhead flasher and a new right-shoulder flasher about 530 feet before the intersection, relocating the existing right-shoulder flasher to about 350 feet before the intersection, and adding a new flasher in the median at that same point.

According to Uchiyama, NCDOT is also proposing to relocate the crosswalk to the west side of the intersection and to install flashing yellow arrow signals for westbound and eastbound left turn lanes.

Uchiyama added that NCDOT is currently surveying to see if additional safety improvements may be accommodated.

PARKING AMENDMENTS

Following the implementation of the city’s new downtown parking regulations in December, the city’s parking committee received feedback from downtown property owners and business owners regarding the location of certain timed parking areas and the availability of accessible parking.

“I knew that when we did the program that we were going to find some holes,” said Sharon Jablonski, director of creative and cultural development for the city, who has been heading the parking overhaul.

The city council approved amendments that address four specific locations based on the feedback. The changes are listed below:

• 600 block of South Green Street (Morganton Station): Remove all timed parking designations on both sides of the street in this area to provide more consistency with nearby, similarly situated blocks located more than two blocks away from the downtown square.
• 300 block of North Sterling Street (between Green Street and Collett Street): Remove all timed parking designations on both sides of the block. The block is located more than two blocks from the square, and it contains no retail frontage.
• 300 block of South Green Street (near Toner’s Irish Pub): Add one designated handicapped parking space to improve ADA accessibility as the area currently lacks one.
• 200 block of South Green Street (on-street parking on both sides of the street in front of the Burke County Courthouse): Change existing four-hour parking limit to free all-day parking. The change will allow easier access to public services like the courthouse.

The changes will be reflected in the Code of Ordinances and on the Official Downtown Parking Map. Staff will make changes to signage.

Monday marked the end of the city’s warning phase for the new regulations, Jablonski said, adding that now tickets will have a fine listed. She stressed the penalties for same-block violations.

If someone parks at 8 a.m. and then leaves at 10 a.m., and then they come back in the afternoon and park in the same parking block, they will receive a ticket for exceeding the time limit.

“Just because you moved your car and went away doesn’t mean that you haven’t violated the three-hour stint,” Jablonski said. “I know that’s hard, but the system reads it that way, so it knows that you’ve left and knows that you’ve come back and you’re in the same block. That’s not going to change.”

INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS

The city council voted to award engineering services for the repair and rehabilitation of the Low Weir Dam and Appurtenances at the Water Treatment Plant. The scope of the project will include repair and rehabilitation of the headwall and the embankment immediately downstream of the low-head dam at the raw water facilities located on the Catawba River.

The project will include both repair of items damaged as a result of Hurricane Helene, as well as improvements to the facilities to provide more resiliency in future weather events. Council voted to award the engineering contract to Garver Engineering in an amount not to exceed $126,974.

City Manager Sally Sandy said staff are working through the FEMA grants process to fund the project.

The city council also voted to make an amendment to the contract with Brushy Mountain Builders for the Silver Creek Sewer Pump Station Project. The design of a new wet well was altered after Hurricane Helene to make the project more storm-resistant.

To comply with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, new handrails will need to be added to comply with fall protection and safety standards. The additional cost is $10,554, which will change the contract total to $6,509,848.

RETIREMENTS AND RECOGNITIONS

The Morganton City Council honored several city employees for their service and dedication to the Morganton community:

• Sharon Jablonski, director of creative and cultural development, received her service pin for 35 years of work for the city. She started as the city’s Main Street Manager, where she served for 30 years before transitioning into her current role.
• Josiah Brown, public safety captain, retired from the Morganton Department of Public Safety after 25 years of service to the city. He was awarded his service weapon, along with his fire services helmet.
• Kyle Goforth, public safety officer assigned to criminal investigations, retired from the Morganton Department of Public Safety after serving the Morganton community for more than 13 years.
• James Hildebrand, maintenance employee for the City of Morganton Municipal Auditorium, retired after 25 years of service to the Morganton community.
• Shane Roper, pipe mechanic for the distributions and collections system, retired from the city’s Water Resources Department after 25 years of service.