Market Street Task Force Formed As Town Requests 90-Day Extension From NCDOT
SMITHFIELD — The Smithfield Town Council voted unanimously on Dec. 16 to form a Market Street Task Force Action Committee and to request a 90-day extension from the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) on any planned changes to Market Street in downtown Smithfield.
The council’s actions come in response to NCDOT’s proposed removal of on-street parking along East Market Street (U.S. 70 Business) between Second and North Seventh streets, a safety measure aimed at reducing crashes along the corridor. Town officials said the proposal raises serious concerns about the economic impact on downtown businesses.
“There are things that need to be discussed with NCDOT, and different options need to be explored,” Mayor Pro Tem Sloan Stevens said. “The state is not listening to the economic aspect of the argument.”
Mayor Andy Moore emphasized the importance of carefully evaluating changes before implementation. “Market Street is the heart of our downtown,” Moore said. “We support infrastructure improvements, but it is important that we take the time to get this right. A 90-day extension will allow the Town and NCDOT to work together to identify options that maintain accessibility, support our small businesses, and meet long-term transportation goals.”
Moore added that the extension would allow for meaningful public input and thoughtful planning.
Council members noted that eliminating parking along Market Street could have a significant financial impact on downtown merchants who rely on curbside access for customers. While Market Street is currently a state-maintained roadway, Stevens said one option that could be explored is having NCDOT dedicate the road to the Town of Smithfield, allowing the town to assume maintenance and greater control over its design.
Stevens also said he would personally like to see Market Street redesigned as a two-lane roadway with a center turn lane, a lower speed limit, and features that improve safety for both vehicles and pedestrians while supporting downtown commerce.
In addition to creating the task force, the council unanimously adopted a resolution formally requesting that NCDOT pause any current plans for 90 days. The extension would give the task force time to meet, review data, and develop recommendations. During this period, the task force will collaborate closely with NCDOT to evaluate project elements, traffic and safety considerations, and alternative solutions that balance transportation goals with community needs.
The Market Street Task Force will include three council members — Doris Wallace, Steve Rabil, and Travis Scott — along with Mayor Moore and eight citizens representing downtown business owners and community members. The group is expected to retain a traffic engineer to assist in evaluating alternatives to improve safety. Officials said the task force will work closely with downtown merchants to explore solutions that balance traffic flow, pedestrian safety, and economic vitality.
Market Street carries nearly 19,000 vehicles per day through downtown Smithfield.
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There are 19,000 vehicles a day on it because there is no good way around it. Everyone goes through here from the airport and beyond to the community college, all the Outlet Center Dr businesses, I-95 and the county offices and vice versa. The river and the railroad track are bottlenecks for a large area. And the traffic increases every week with all the new development. The average household generates 5 trips a day, and they will all go through Market St if they are anywhere along Business 70.
Take it down to 2 lanes and it will back up from the river to Bright Leaf every day. We’re not even talking about very many parking spaces. There are only 49 spaces between 2nd and 5th, and the ones beyond that are lightly used and are not as much of a problem in any case because the street is wider and there is more off-street parking. Most downtown customers park on the side streets and back lots.
Too little, too late. They had their chance for input and blew it.
I am with do as the NCDOT says, myself.
I feel that the NCDOT knows best. Safety first!
Sloan Stevens has a great idea: single lane each direction with a center left turn lane, AND a leaving on-street arking alone..i think Smithfield can survive that-hell, they survived losing a railroad track through the downtown many years ago..
I agree single lanes as above. For those that don’t like it they can find another way around.
Bout to be heading to downtown Selma for my shopping enjoyment.
If the NCDOT would give it to the town of Smithfield, it would be just like all the other streets in town. Would be poorly maintained. Let’s not forget the road in front of the pottery. The town wanted it so bad and the State gave it to them. And it had gotten so bad. From past experience between the town and NCDOT, get ready to have no parking on market street.