Affordable Housing2022-2042 Comprehensive PlanAffordable HousingClimate Action & EnvironmentTransportation & MobilityGreen Stormwater Infrastructure, Water, & EnergyEconomic SustainabilityRecreation, Parks, & Cultural ResourcesLand Use
Strategy Alignment ReportStrategy 1.1 Center equity in transportation planning processes.Strategy 1.2 Improve mobility options in ways that mitigate displacement of low-income residents and BIPOC households.Strategy 2.1 Encourage non-automobile use in the community and reduce vehicle miles travelled through land use decisions of developments that lends itself to public transit use (such as denser mixed-use nodes) and enhancement of public transit itself.Strategy 2.2 Continue to create safe streets and trail networks for pedestrians, bike riders, and transit riders.Strategy 3.1 Expand opportunities for transportation options that do not rely on fossil fuel-powered, single-occupancy vehicles.Strategy 4.1: Establish a regular schedule for conducting parking counts and inventorying existing spaces. Develop a more accurate methodology for utilizing shared parking and satellite parking. See Economic Sustainability Chapter for more information on “park once” policies.Strategy 4.2: Reduce negative effects of parking requirements on housing costs and natural resources.Strategy 4.3: Implement a pilot program in downtown Carrboro that prioritizes alternatives to automobile parking.Strategy 1.1 Rely on community leadership and participation from all residents, including those with financial barriers or those who have historically been excluded from participation.
What We Will MeasureNumber of BIPOC and low-income residents involved in transportation decision-makingNumber of fatalities and serious injures between people walking/ biking and automobilesVehicle Miles Travelled (VMT) per capitaBus ridershipMileage of protected bike lanesQuantity of off-road bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure installed to improve high priority connections and complete the pedestrian and bicycle networkNumber of downtown car trips replaced with micro-mobility and public transit trips
ProjectsB Prioritize inclusion of persons with disabilities to inform accessibility needs in transportation infrastructure and service design.C Use a community engagement process to identify places in town for implementing “best practice” projects for maximizing use of bike, pedestrian and transit as alternatives to automobile transportation.A Locate additional public transit routes along current and future high-density development to serve denser areas, and BIPOC residents in collaboration with anti-displacement policies, such as a route along Homestead and Old 86 if a new multi-use node is planned.B Identify job centers and commercial hubs and conduct a Racial Equity Impact Analysis on current transportation options to these locations, prioritize transportation projects that fill in service gaps.Assess needs and identify funding to expand free public transportation service to low- and moderate-income households, populations who cannot walk without assistance, those who work outside of traditional work hours, the Transition Areas, and the Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) transition area throughout the week, including weekends, by considering different passenger types.B Seek to increase funding from the Triangle Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Program, Triangle Transportation Choices, and partner with surrounding transit authorities.C Include multiple languages in public transit signage and wayfinding.D Continue collaboration with the NC Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) through the Durham Chapel Hill Carrboro (DCHCMPO) to determine future regional uses for rail lines whose current uses will end in the near future.A Develop a complete streets policy statement that incorporates and implements a vision zero policy.B Explore pursuing jurisdictional control of NCDOT streets that are important corridors in Carrboro, such as Main Street and/or North Greensboro Street.C Evaluate and revise Town Standards for Street Design that explore changes to standards to use a maximum design speed of 20 miles per hour.D Update the LUO Article XIV – Streets and Sidewalks, in particular the requirements related to street width, sidewalks, ROW width, shoulder width, and other design features.E Restructure Residential Traffic Management Plan (RTMP) and incorporate a Bike-Ped Safety Assessment Process.F Explore and implement engineering solutions to reduce motor vehicle speeds in downtown.Identify existing, needed, and poor-quality sidewalks to update the existing sidewalks plan, for the purpose of implementation alongside development projects to increase pedestrian safety and decrease traffic speed.H Continue to implement the Safe Routes to Schools Action (SRTS) plan in coordination with schoolsI Leverage Department of Transportation and Town resurfacing projects for exploration and implementation of bike and pedestrian improvements like bike lanes, bike boxes, intersection bike markings, center turn lanes, additional crosswalks, maintain parking.J Create safe transitions for pedestrians to access bus stops.Continue engaging residents, especially those who are BIPOC and low-income, to design the best approaches to enhance pedestrian safety and access to bus stops.Develop a connected system of on- and off-road facilities to accommodate varying levels of bicyclists and follow bike plan recommendations to have physically separated bike lanes that are built for users of all ages (“8 to 80” framework of age accessibility)L Consider allocating a portion of Powell Bill funding to bike and pedestrian projects. The Town of Carrboro has historically allocated Powell Bill funds to roadways to support auto infrastructure.M Continue partnership with transit partners, the Town of Chapel Hill, and UNC to continuously improve public transit access, with a particular eye to moderate-income homeownership communities and developments with an affordability component.N Encourage and support increasing ridership on public transit by enabling access for transit mode shifts from pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers at public transit stops and stations.O Work with transit partners, Chapel Hill, and UNC to develop longer-range plans for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), improved connectivity, connections to regional transit services, park-and-ride facilities, and transit-supportive land use development such as pedestrian-friendly, highdensity, and mixed use.P Explore different micro-mobility options that consider equitability, accessibility, and help address firstlast mile efforts.Q Develop programming and financial support (for relevant initiatives) to increase youth education and opportunities for walking and biking.R Encourage people to “leave their cars behind” by continuing to coordinate biking and walking tours in different parts of Town.A Also see Transportation Project 2.1A. Extending bus service to include off-peak and weekend hours can better serve residents employed by service-oriented jobs.B Increase opportunities for alternatively fueled public transit, municipal, and private vehicles.C Improve and market vanpool and carpool options for commuters.D Explore and implement land use practices to support EV charging to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.E Promote the interconnectivity of local and regional bicycle infrastructure, transit, and other micromobility options between Carrboro, Chapel Hill, Orange County, and other jurisdictions and organizations in the Triangle Region.A Research into best practices for parking management and conduct additional outreach to business owners, residents, and visitors to understand parking concerns.B Implement wayfinding/signage improvements.C Incorporate and increase parking infrastructure for bicycles in parking plans.D Implement Transportation Demand Management (TDM) policies and pursue paid parking as a demand management strategy.Plan for multi-level electric vehicle (EV) and bicycle charging stations.A Remove minimum vehicular parking requirements for residential development close to transit.*B Reclaim underused parking spaces in larger residential developments to allow for development of affordable housing.A Develop a parking management pilot program with a focus on reducing required parking minimums for commercial areas and opening up more land for transit, pedestrian, biking, and micro-mobility transportation alternatives.A Support the formation of a community-led urban forestry program for preservation, protection, and conservation of the community forest.
Not Defined
Strategy 4.2: Reduce negative effects of parking requirements on housing costs and natural resources.
Transportation & Mobility

Owner

CM
Christina Moon

Update

In October 2023, the Carrboro Town Council approved a Land Use Ordinance text amendment that eliminated parking minimums and introduced parking maximums for residential development. The New Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) project is now evaluating further changes to parking standards to align with this strategy and the broader goals of the comprehensive plan.

Phase

Implementation

Percent Complete

100%

Next Steps

  • Ongoing: Continue to evaluate changes to parking standards through the New UDO project

Projects

Not Defined
A Remove minimum vehicular parking requirements for residential development close to transit.*
Transportation & Mobility | 8/21/25 - 9/21/25
Not Defined
B Reclaim underused parking spaces in larger residential developments to allow for development of affordable housing.
Transportation & Mobility | 8/21/25 - 9/21/25