Smithfield Approves Plan Removing Market Street Parking, Creating One-Way Streets

Parking Shift Prompts New Campaign To Boost Downtown Commerce

SMITHFIELD, N.C. – After months of discussion with state transportation officials, the Smithfield Town Council on Tuesday, March 3 adopted a resolution supporting the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s plan to remove all on-street parking along Market Street. Town leaders emphasized, however, that they still oppose losing curbside parking in the downtown business district.

Town officials said the vote reflects a practical reality: NCDOT will not allow on-street parking on Market Street because of safety concerns, and the Town’s only opportunity to influence the final design is to work within those limits.

The plan is expected to significantly reshape parking and traffic patterns in downtown Smithfield, with new one-way streets and angled parking intended to replace many of the spaces being removed along Market Street.

Safety Project Evolves Into Downtown Debate

In October 2025, Town learned that NCDOT’s Regional Traffic Safety division proposed eliminating on-street parking on Market Street to improve highway and pedestrian safety along the busy corridor between U.S. 301 and the Neuse River Bridge.

Mayor Andy Moore sent a letter to state officials in November urging NCDOT to reconsider a complete removal of parking and to explore alternatives such as alternating-side parking or targeted corridor adjustments.

In response, NCDOT agreed to delay work until after Christmas and said it was willing to review options that might “help address potential economic impacts and enhance parking availability downtown off Market Street.”

In December, the Town Council created the Market Street Task Force Action Committee and requested a 90-day extension to study alternatives.

Despite that request, NCDOT moved forward in January. On Jan. 14, the department removed two-hour parking signs between Second and North Seventh streets and replaced them with “No Parking” signs, signaling the start of the plan to eliminate curbside spaces.

NCDOT cited a five-year crash history of more than 500 collisions along downtown Market Street, more than half involving parked vehicles being sideswiped or struck. Those crashes resulted in 71 injuries and one traffic-related death.

According to the agency, Market Street carries roughly 24,000 vehicles per day through downtown Smithfield.

One-Way Streets Proposed to Replace Parking

A central part of the Town’s response plan is the conversion of several nearby streets to one-way traffic to create new parking areas.

Under the proposal approved by the Town Council:

• Second Street would become one-way southbound between Johnston Street and Bridge Street.
• Third Street would become one-way northbound along the same stretch.
• Johnston Street would become one-way eastbound between Second and Third streets near the Johnston County Courthouse.

Town officials said the coordinated pattern — Second carrying traffic south, Third carrying traffic north, and Johnston moving east between them — would simplify downtown circulation while allowing angled parking on Second, Third and Johnston streets.

The angled spaces are intended to help replace some of the parking spots that will be removed along Market Street.

Metered Parking?

In the March 3 presentation, town officials mentioned the possibility of metered parking near the courthouse and other high-demand areas. One concept would allow drivers to register their license plate through a mobile app and receive up to two hours of free parking. After that, parking would cost $2 per hour, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Parking would remain free and without meters in lower-traffic areas.

Task Force Warns of Traffic Impacts

Members of the Market Street Task Force — including council members, staff, and downtown business representatives — said the issue goes beyond parking alone.

During a presentation to the Town Council, Interim Town Manager Kimberly Pickett said removing parking without other design changes could unintentionally increase vehicle speeds through the downtown corridor.

The task force report warned that eliminating parked vehicles could create “a straight, uninterrupted line of traffic through the heart of Downtown Smithfield,” turning the street into a pass-through corridor rather than a destination.

The report noted that “street design drives behavior” and emphasized the importance of crosswalks, traffic-calming measures, and streetscape improvements to maintain a pedestrian-friendly downtown.

NCDOT Details Project Plans

On Thursday, March 5, NCDOT officials told The Johnston County Report they are aware of Smithfield’s conceptual traffic plan but cautioned that it may not represent the final design.

The state’s project will primarily involve milling and resurfacing Market Street and restriping the roadway to maintain four 11-foot travel lanes while eliminating all on-street parking.

The work will also include:

• High-visibility crosswalks at downtown intersections
• Pedestrian signal improvements
• Traffic signal upgrades where needed

NCDOT officials said the project will not rebuild or widen the existing sidewalks along Market Street and will not include bicycle lanes.

The Town has proposed a raised median between Front and Second streets to help calm traffic and improve pedestrian safety. NCDOT engineers said it has not yet been determined whether a median can fit while maintaining four 11-foot travel lanes. Some existing lanes along Market Street are currently as narrow as 9½ feet, officials said.

NCDOT indicated it is comfortable with the Town’s proposed one-way street conversions, and all traffic pattern changes would likely be implemented at the same time.

NCDOT Division 4 Engineer Matt Clarke told The Johnston County Report, “We are committed to working with the Town of Smithfield to create a safe and accessible downtown area for pedestrians and the traveling public, which is why we are making plans this year to improve and upgrade this section of Market Street. We appreciate the input and feedback we have received from the task force and the business community, and we look forward to seeing the improvements completed and being utilized by all visiting the downtown area.”

Cost and Timeline

The project is estimated to cost about $1.5 million, with most of the expense tied to milling and resurfacing the roadway.

State officials said funds are available this year, and NCDOT hopes to award a construction contract in summer 2026, with work completed in fall 2026.

Because Market Street carries heavy traffic through downtown, much of the work is expected to take place at night to avoid daytime congestion.

Under the proposal, the Town of Smithfield would likely contribute to the cost of restriping new parking spaces on the one-way portions of Second, Third, and Johnston streets.

Campaign to Support Downtown Businesses

Town officials say the transition will require adjustments for drivers and visitors. To help ease the change, the Town is planning a marketing campaign to promote downtown businesses.

The campaign includes the slogan “Park, Walk, Shop Smithfield — Explore More, Worry Less.”

Plans also call for a public parking map showing lots, on-street spaces, and walking distances to popular destinations, along with coordinated outreach through Johnston County tourism groups and downtown organizations.

Future streetscape improvements such as trees, lighting, and pedestrian-friendly design features are also being discussed.

While the final design has not yet been completed, the March 3 vote signals that Smithfield is moving forward with a new downtown traffic and parking strategy — one that town leaders hope will balance safety improvements with the economic vitality of the downtown business district.