Your Action Roadmap
This roadmap outlines the essential steps to move from your walk audit findings to completed infrastructure projects. Each step includes key questions and detailed actions to guide you.
A Few Quick Caveats
- The duration of your particular project may vary from months to years.
- If you are new to these changes, we suggest starting with smaller projects that can highlight quick benefits.
- Although we present the following steps as a linear flow, there might be times where iterations are appropriate.
Our 7-Step Roadmap to Completed Infrastructure Projects
This pathway is intended to guide you through the steps
needed to take your walk audit findings to a completed project.
1. Review Your Walk Audit Findings & Prioritize
What you've done:
You've identified areas for improvement, noted safety concerns, and gathered community input during your walk audit.
Action:
Identify your project team(s). You will likely have three “teams.”
Key project leadership
The people organizing the effort, such as yourself.
The walk audit team
Community members who joined the audit, usually overlapping with leadership.
The project stakeholders
Identified later once action steps clarify the projects.
The walk audit team should review all observations, potential projects, and citizen feedback. (Here is a spreadsheet template you can use to track potential projects.)
Identify the top 3-5 most critical or impactful issues. Consider both short-term (temporary signage, clean-up) and medium-term (crosswalks, sidewalk repairs) solutions.
How to think about prioritizing issues:
Is there a major safety concern?
How many people are affected (e.g., is it a busy intersection)?
Does it impact children, older adults, or people with disabilities?
What time investment is needed?
Would the project require a large or small stakeholder group?
For each prioritized issue, clearly define the desired change. It might be clear what project is appropriate, or you might need additional community input to refine the solution. Step 2 will help with that.
2. Identify & Engage Key Project Stakeholders
Why it matters:
Successful projects require broad support and collaboration. The right partners can provide expertise, resources, and influence. Community members know the area best, so your list may differ. Prepare for stakeholder meetings early, and this step may be done concurrently with Step 3.
Action:
Walk Audit Participants: Re-engage them. Interest is already piqued!
Neighborhood/Local Business: Identify those directly impacted. Host follow-up meetings to share findings and listen to input.
Community Organizations: Reach out to schools, PTAs, food banks, community centers, libraries, senior centers, places of worship, health departments. Explain how changes benefit their members.
Local Officials: Meet with council members, mayor, or equivalent. Prepare a brief, compelling presentation with the issue, solution, and community support.
Transportation/Public Works: Schedule meetings to discuss feasibility and procedures.
RPO/MPO: Engage regional planning bodies early for funding and guidance.
NCDOT Regional Staff: Essential for state-maintained roads. They advise on design, permitting, and funding.
3. Understand the Context & Gather Key Information
Why it matters:
At this point you have determined the main issue(s) and location to address. Now it’s time to gather additional context.
Key Question: Is the issue or idea addressed in an existing municipal or county plan?
If your concerns align with plans, you gain leverage. Search city/county websites for comprehensive and transportation plans, or ask local officials.
Key Question: Who owns the road or property?
Ownership determines authority. Most roads in NC are state-owned, so building relationships with NCDOT helps.
Local streets: Ask city/town planning or public works.
County roads: Contact county planning or NCDOT Division Office.
State roads: Maintained by NCDOT. Check maps or contact regional staff.
Key Question: Have there been injuries or fatalities in this area?
Crash data highlights urgency and strengthens your case.
Local law enforcement: Ask your local law enforcement office for their crash or accident data in areas of concern.
NCDOT Crash Data: Reach out to NCDOT division staff if you need assistance with this data.
4. Develop a Project Plan
Why it matters:
A clear plan defines scope, responsibilities, and timelines. Some grants require projects to align with larger plans.
Action:
Define short-term solutions (clean-ups, wayfinding signs, pop-up crosswalks).
Define medium-term solutions (crosswalk markings, curb ramps, sidewalk repairs, lighting).
Ideas for Short-Term & Medium-Term Projects:
Crosswalk Enhancements
Adding high-visibility markings, raised crosswalks, or flashing beacons.
Sidewalk Improvements
Repairing cracks, filling gaps, or installing new sections where missing.
Traffic Calming
Installing speed humps/cushions, chicanes, or traffic circles to slow vehicle speeds.
Wayfinding Signage
Installing clear signs to direct pedestrians to key destinations.
Tree Planting & Green Infrastructure
Enhancing streetscapes with trees for shade and stormwater management, and adding permeable surfaces.
Bench & Seating Installation
Providing places for people to rest, especially near bus stops or community hubs.
Public Art & Placemaking
Adding murals, sculptures, or creative seating to make spaces more inviting.
"Pop-Up" Projects
Temporary demonstrations of street improvements (e.g., temporary bike lanes, parklets) to test ideas and gather feedback.
Outline project scope — what and where?
Identify resources — materials, equipment, skilled labor.
Assign responsibilities.
Set a realistic timeline.
5. Secure Funding & Technical Assistance
Why it matters:
Infrastructure projects need
funding
and
technical expertise.
Be persistent, as grant applications may need resubmission.
Action:
Explore local budgets.
Investigate grants (see Funding page).
Seek guidance from NCDOT, MPOs/RPOs, nonprofits.
Consider partnerships for in-kind donations or volunteer support.
6. Implement & Monitor
Why it matters:
Execution brings the plan to life and shows results.
Action:
Execute your plan per timeline and keep your stakeholders updated.
Some suggested data to collect before and after your project. Not all data will be feasible, but the more you can get, the better!
Pedestrian/bicyclist counts
User surveys / interviews
Crash data
Observed behaviors
Photo documentation
Community feedback
Property values & activity (long-term)
Health data (long-term)
Keep track of your findings to make any changes and help inform future projects.
7. Celebrate Success & Share Lessons Learned
Why it matters:
Recognition builds community pride and inspires others.