Case Studies & Success Stories: Inspiring Local Action
Share Your Story
- The problem identified during the walk audit.
- The solution implemented (short-term or medium-term).
- Key stakeholders involved.
- Funding sources.
- Challenges encountered and how they were overcome.
- The impact of the project (e.g., pedestrian activity, safety, community feedback).
- Photos before and after!
Featured Case Studies
Improving Walkability One Step at a Time
Location: Sparta, NC
Problem: Faded crosswalks, non-working pedestrian crosswalk signals, and significant barriers to accessibility.
Solution: Met with NCDOT and were able to request the crosswalks to be repainted, the pedestrian crosswalk signal was repaired, and universally accessible curb cuts were installed in sidewalks throughout town and at the entrance to Crouse Park.
Key Learnings: If the walk audit had not occurred, these issues probably would not have been addressed. The identified issues were not on NCDOT’s to-do list until our committee met with them and shared the walk audit results!
Quick-Build Projects
Location: Winterville, NC
Problem: Unsafe intersections and crossings near schools
Solution: Community came together and painted bump-outs at the crossings, and NC DOT installed new high-viz crosswalks.
Key Learnings: Findings suggest that these projects helped reduce average motor vehicle speeds and high-end speeds in the vicinity of the project sites, and that these reductions were further supported by the placement of temporary speed feedback signs.
YMCA-supported Walkability Improvements
Location: Rocky Mount, Southport, and other NC communities
Problem: Lack of safe crossing infrastructure
Solution: Sidewalk repair and crosswalk installation
Key Learnings: Infrastructure improvements take time and commitment from various partners and agencies