Local residents had a chance to view and comment on the most recent U.S. 64 corridor plans being suggested by the Corridor Study Team at the second round of workshops, one of which was held at Apex High School April 27.

“The purpose of the study is to have a master plan to guide developments and improvements along the corridor,” said David Wasserman, the project manager.

The goal of the workshop was, like the first one held last May, to give residents a chance to see what the study results have shown and what the CTS is proposing, while allowing residents to make comments.

Those who came to Apex High School to view the new recommendations for U.S. 64 were greeted with an introductory video set up in the hallway. They then proceeded to a cafeteria filled with study representatives ready to address questions, with giant road maps of U.S. 64 hanging on the walls.

“The long term looks more accommodating for the people who live in the vicinity of 64,” said Nancy Knight, who has lived in Apex for 18 years. “I don’t see alternative ideas being embraced.”

The developments recommended by the CTS at the workshop covered future short- and long-term plans for the approximately 19 miles of U.S. 64 that stretch from the U.S. 1/64 interchange in Cary to the U.S. 64 business split on the east side of Pittsboro.

The CTS, which is conducting the study and making the recommendations, is made up of the NCDOT, which is leading the project, the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, the towns of Apex, Cary, and Pittsboro, and Wake and Chatham counties.

The recommended long-term solution, which aims to improve traffic flow and safety along U.S. 64, is estimated to cost $400-450 million and take more than 15 years to complete. It involves turning the designated stretch of U.S. 64 into an expressway and freeway.

The short-term recommendation, which is estimated to cost $25-30 million and take between five and 10 years, is meant to improve safety and traffic flow until there is enough funding for the long-term solution.

To do this, the CTS has suggested turning 64 into a “superstreet.”

“It works more effectively than a regular street,” said Mark Freeman, one of the study representatives.

Until the long-term plan can be implemented, the superstreet concept is expected to increase flow along U.S. 64 and lower the amount of conflict points by prohibiting minor cross-street traffic from going straight through, or left at U.S. 64 intersections.

“I don’t understand why they think they need to do this,” said Kathy Morris, who has lived near the U.S. 64 corridor for seven years. “In terms of traffic volume, I don’t think it’s justified,” said Tom Morris, Kathy’s husband.

At this point, funding has not been programmed for either the short- or long-term solution. The comments and recommendations of residents will be used to create a complete corridor study report, which is scheduled to be released in November.