Smith Creek is the number one priority in the Town’s Open Space and Greenway Master Plan.”  The seven-mile north/south corridor extends from the Neuse River to the Franklin County line. Also along this corridor, the Town has a paved ¾ mile section of trail just off Burlington Mills Road behind the Moss Creek/Caddell Woods subdivisions.


Stadium Drive Bridge Closing – April 3 through August 24
The North Carolina Department of Transportation has warded a contract to replace the bridge carrying Stadium Drive over Richland Creek. Consequently, the NCDOT reports that Stadium Drive will be closed from April 3 to August 24 in the vicinity of the bridge to facilitate the demolition of the existing bridge and the construction of a new three-lane bridge with sidewalk.

Traffic will be detoured according to the following NCDOT guidelines: Motorists traveling on US 1 wanting to use Stadium Drive (SR 1930) to get to Wake Forest should use the signed detour route as follows: from the intersection of Stadium Drive (SR 1930)and US 1 travel North on US 1 for 1.1 miles to the intersection of Harris Road (SR 1931). Turn Right onto Harris Road (SR 1931) and travel 1.4 miles to the intersection of US 1A/North Main Street. Turn Right onto US1A/North Main Street and travel 0.9 miles to the intersection of North Avenue turn Right onto North Avenue, which will become Stadium Drive (SR1930). Motorist wanting to use Stadium Drive (SR 1930) from Wake Forest to get to US 1 should use the signed detour as follows: Take Stadium Drive South East, which will become North Avenue to the Intersection of US1A/ North Main Street. Turn Left onto US1A/North Main Street and travel 0.9 miles to the intersection of Harris Road (SR 1931). Turn Left onto Harris Road (SR 1931) and travel 1.4 miles to the intersection of US 1. Turn left and travel south on US 1 for 1.1 miles in order to get back to Stadium Drive (SR 1930).

To view a map of the detour route, click HERE.


North Allen Road Sidewalk Project Completed
Pedestrians in northeast Wake Forest, and particularly hose who stroll along North Allen Road, will find it easier and safer to get around now that the North Allen Road sidewalk project has been completed. The project was proposed in the late 1990s but encountered delays due to a lack of funding. A partnership between the Town of Wake Forest, the NCDOT, and the Wake County Housing and Community Revitalization resulted in the allocation of funds and a contract was awarded in early 2005. The long-awaited project officially got underway in the fall of 2005.

In addition to the construction of the walkway, which extends along North Allen Road from Juniper Avenue to the intersection of Wait Avenue (NC 98), the project included the widening and resurfacing of North Allen Road, as well as the addition of new curb and gutter. The sidewalk is expected to improve pedestrian safety by separating pedestrian traffic from vehicular traffic. It will also serve as a link to other sidewalks in the northeastern part of town by connecting with the Juniper Avenue sidewalk which extends along Juniper past Allen Road to Ailey Young Park.

Planning Director Chip Russell says future plans call for the construction of a sidewalk from North White Street from East Juniper north to Flaherty Park.


US 1A / NC 98 Business Roundabout Construction Underway
If you have traveled in the vicinity of the US 1A / NC 98  Business road junction recently you probably noticed the work being done on the central island of the proposed roundabout. For the moment, the junction continues to function as a “Tee” intersection, but within one to three weeks, the contractor is expected to begin constructing the other half of the central island of the roundabout.  When this happens, the junction will begin working as a roundabout with traffic yielding to vehicles already traveling within the circular portion of the intersection. The stop sign at South Main Street will be replaced with yield signs at all three legs of the new roundabout.

A roundabout is a form of intersection design and control that accommodates traffic flow in one direction around a  central island, operates with yield control at the entry points, and gives priority to vehicles within the roundabout. Studies have shown that modern roundabouts restrict speeds to about 15 miles per hour (mph) for minor roadways and about 25 mph for major roadways. Slower speeds require smaller gaps in the circulating traffic for vehicles trying to enter the roundabout. This reduces delays, shortens queue lengths and reduces the threat of serious accidents. All modern roundabouts are governed by the "yield-at-entry" rule that requires all vehicles entering the roundabout to yield to traffic circulating within the roundabout. This allows the roundabout to maintain traffic flow even with high traffic volumes.

Roundabouts are able to handle higher traffic volumes than traffic signals because they allow continuous traffic flow. The only delay in entering a roundabout is the wait for a gap in the circulating traffic. As speeds are low, about 15 mph, only a small gap is necessary to move into the roundabout flow. In contrast, the sole purpose of a traffic signal is to allocate time between competing traffic streams. As time is taken from one stream, it experiences a long delay in flow. With high volume roadways, the delay brought about by the traffic signal leads to long traffic queues.

For more information about roundabouts, click HERE.


Public Hearing Set for April 18 on 2006-07 Budget
The Town of Wake Forest is developing its Fiscal Year  2006-07 Budget. The budget is a comprehensive listing of anticipated revenues and proposed expenditures for the fiscal year. It is also the primary instrument for monitoring and controlling local spending and is intended to monitor the quality of work performed by local government personnel.

As part of Wake Forest’s budget process, the Town’s management team is analyzing current service levels, determining what level of service is needed, and figuring the costs of providing those services to Wake Forest residents. During the April 18 Board of Commissioners meeting, the Town will host a public hearing to receive input on budget needs. Wake Forest residents are urged to attend the meeting and provide input in this important process.


Wake Forest Remains at Stage 2 Mandatory Water Conservation Measures
The long-term weather forecast for the coming spring  and summer months is for less than normal rainfall. These circumstances require the Town of Wake Forest to remain in a mandatory water conservation status.

Fines of $200 for first offense of unlawful use of water became effective Nov. 16 following the Raleigh City Council's Nov. 15 unanimous vote to move to Stage 2 mandatory water conservation measures. The fine for a second offense under Stage 2 is $1,000 and the third offense will result in water service being shut off. 

Among the Stage 2 restrictions, vehicles may be washed only at professional vehicle washing establishments and  lawn watering is allowed only twice weekly; Tuesdays and Saturdays for properties with odd-numbered addresses and on Wednesday and Sundays for even-numbered addresses. Additionally, customers are allowed to clean porches and decks of mold, mildew and pollen for personal health reasons and not merely for esthetic purposes.


New Drop Box in Town Hall
Tired of standing in long lines waiting to pay your utility bill? If so, the Town of Wake Forest’s new drop box in Town Hall is designed just for you.

Utility customers who wish to pay their bill and have it processed that day can now deposit their payment in a convenient, secure drop box. Located on the receptionist’s desk just inside the front door of Town Hall, the drop box is the perfect remedy for customers who are paying by check and do not need a receipt. Cash and money orders are not accepted, so customers opting to utilize the drop box must pay with a check only.

Anyone with questions should contact Drew Brown, customer service supervisor, at (919) 554-6107.

Wake Forest Pedestrian Plan Update
Community residents, Greenways Inc. consultants, and Wake Forest staff met in a public meeting on March 16 to discuss progress on the Wake Forest Pedestrian Plan. The Plan, funded in part by the North Carolina Department of Transportation, is being developed to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses in existing pedestrian networks and to develop policies to guide the location, design and timing of pedestrian facilities in the future.

Brian Bergeler, from Greenways Inc., moderated a Power Point presentation that showed some of the good, the bad and the ugly Wake Forest has to offer pedestrians. He also illustrated a few quick maintenance fixes in contrast to long term construction projects. An interconnected downtown, an impressive plan for obtaining and building greenways, and pedestrian culverts under the new NC 98 Bypass were among the good elements Bergeler noted. Some of the bad: ADA obstacles in high foot traffic areas, gaps in the system, dangerous intersections and Capital Boulevard.

Local residents nibbled on snacks and pored over maps, using markers to add their own commentary making this a “hands on” opportunity to build the Pedestrian Plan into a document that can result in the type of pedestrian system the community wants and deserves.

Presently, most of the town’s sidewalks are installed as property is developed - one lot at a time. During the meeting, Town Planner Ann Ayers conceded that this  approach has caused a degree of frustration in the community. She compared the current method of sidewalk construction to the building of the Cadillac ohnny Cash refers to in the song, “One Piece at a Time.” In the recording, Cash croons about an auto worker who pilfers Cadillac parts over the years and eventually constructs a very strange looking hodge-podge auto of his own.

Some in the audience expressed a desire to see sidewalk installation coincide with street construction in opes of a more efficient design and to accommodate walkers as well as drivers. Others indicated that the sidewalks would be damaged by construction activity if they are installed prior to development. Others noted that where a driveway is located, the base under the driveway needs to be more substantial, requiring wide sidewalk sections to be torn out and replaced to handle the additional weight of vehicles - adding to the cost of construction. The consultants are expected to make design recommendations in the near future to ameliorate the differences.

Interested citizens can still make their wishes known by completing a “Wanted” list describing their “Top 10 Most Wanted Pedestrian Improvements for Wake Forest,” review documents or view the Power Point Presentation at the Greenways Inc. website. Anyone with comments, concerns or questions should contact Ann Ayers at (919) 570-7999.


Arbor Day Celebration Draws Large Turnout
Over 150 people were on hand for this year’s Arbor Day celebration, including first and second graders from Wake Forest Elementary School and many of their parents.

Mayor Vivian Jones kicked off the festivities by welcoming everyone and providing a brief history of  Arbor Day. She also introduced Brian Bockhahn, a park ranger with the NC Division of Parks & Recreation, who  was the day’s featured speaker. Bockhahn talked about his responsibilities as a park ranger, but focused on the  importance of trees to both people and wildlife. As part of his presentation, he brought along several stuffed animals, which proved to be popular with the kids and their parents.

Following Bockhahn’s address, a representative from the NC Division of Forest Resources presented the mayor with the Tree City USA and Growth Awards. Urban  Forestry Board Chair Hughen Nourse then presented the Arbor Day Poster Contest awards to Liam Finn (Best  Picture); Brett Zeck (Most Creative); and Elise King (Honorable Mention). Town Planner Lisa Potts presented each child with a framed certificate and a $50 US Savings Bond. Finn received a special honor as his picture served as the illustration on this year’s Arbor Day T-shirts.

Next, Nourse presented the Green Medal Awards to this year’s winners: Pete Jordan (Corporate Green Medal), Wake Forest Woman’s Club (Civic Green Medal), and Hughen Nourse and Liz Ford (Community Forrester Green Medals).

A musical performance by the first graders from Wake Forest Elementary School wrapped up the morning’s celebration. The children used props, including kazoos and sunglasses, throughout their performance and even performed a few dance steps to the delight of everyone in attendance. By the time the performance concluded, the cheering crowd left little doubt as to who stole the show at this year’s Arbor Day Celebration!


Jackie Robinson: A Game Apart
Mike Wiley brings his one-man show, Jackie Robinson: A Game Apart, to the DuBois Campus auditorium on Thursday, April 6, at 6:30 p.m. This gripping drama lifts the shadow of African-American segregated athletics from the dark depths of yesteryear into the daylight of a new sports millennium. 

Wiley holds a M.F.A. in acting from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and a B.A. from Catawba College of Salisbury. He has performed his one-person plays for hundreds of schools, colleges and arts centers around the country and has also worked with outstanding production companies such as Theatre IV, Playmakers Repertory, and the Shenandoah Shakespeare Express.

Sponsored by the Parks and Recreation Department and United Arts of Raleigh and Wake County, Jackie Robinson: A Game Apart, lasts 45 - 50 minutes and is open free to the public. All ages are welcome. For more information, contact Susan Simpson at (919) 554-6182.


Phone Book Recycling
Wake Forest residents and business owners can recycle their outdated phone books through May 1 by dropping them off at the Town of Wake Forest Operations Center, located on Friendship Chapel Road. In the past, Wake County has provided a phone book recycling container at Town Hall. This year, the county decided not to provide a dumpster at Town Hall, but to instead locate two containers at the Operations Center, which will serve as a 24-hour-a-day drop-off location. A sign at the entrance of the facility will direct residents to the designated phone book recycling receptacles. The telephone books recycled in Wake County will be used to make environmentally friendly insulation for houses, mulch for gardens, egg cartons, and a variety of assorted paper products, such as utility bill envelopes, cereal boxes, and grocery bags. For more information, contact Betty Pearce at (919) 554 6120. 


Community Calendar
Our Community Calendar provides useful information concerning programs, activities, and events taking place in the Wake Forest community. Please note, submissions to the Community Calendar should be emailed to Bill Crabtree at least one month prior to the event. Additional notice is recommended to maximize event exposure. Please include the event name, date, time, and location, as well as any additional relevant information. For more information, call (919) 554-6196.


Online Utility Bill Payment Service is Available
All Town of Wake Forest residential and commercial utility customers are eligible to make online utility bill payments. Getting started is easy. Just visit the Town of Wake Forest website, click on “Utility Billing”, then click on “Online Services” and follow the simple instructions. Following your enrollment in the online payment program, you can:

• Pay your utility bill with a MasterCard or Visa credit card or debit card with MasterCard or Visa logos
• View your bill, current balance and due date 
• Access billing history, payments, and charges
• View historical consumption data

Customers with questions concerning the new online bill payment service should contact Customer Service Supervisor Drew Brown at (919) 554-6107.


Parks and Recreation
Track and Field Series Coming in May
The Town of Wake Forest Parks & Recreation Department is sponsoring a series of Track & Field meets each month from May through August at Wake Forest-Rolesville Middle School. For more information or to obtain a registration form and meet-day schedule, contact Edward Austin, Athletics Coordinator at (919) 554-6183.

Cultural Programs
The Wake Forest Parks and Recreation Department offers a wide variety of cultural activities for both youth and adults. Click HERE for information concerning upcoming classes, workshops, and special events sponsored by the Parks & Recreation Department. For more information, contact Cindy Fergeson at (919) 556-4818.


Town News
If you want to keep informed about what’s happening in the Town of Wake Forest, be sure to check out Town News for the latest press releases, Town Manager Weblog and Weblog archives, Community Calendar, and much more!


Calendar of Events
Board of Commissioners Work Session – Tuesday, April 4, at 5:30 p.m.

Joint Public Hearing and Planning Board Meeting – Tuesday, April 4, at 7:30 p.m. Joint Public Hearings and Planning Board meetings are aired live on Community Channel 10 and re-broadcast over the next two weeks throughout the day on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

Board of Commissioners Meeting – Tuesday, April 18, at 7:00 p.m. A public hearing on the Fiscal Year 2006-2007 Budget is scheduled for this meeting. Board of Commissioner meetings are aired live on Community Channel 10 and re-broadcast over the next two weeks throughout the day on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.


Equal Payment Plan, Bank Draft, & Load Management
The Town of Wake Forest offers several utility billing programs designed to help our utility customers save time and money, including online bill pay, Equal Payment Plan, Bank Draft, and Load Management. For more information on these customer-friendly programs, click on the links or call 554-6107.


H.O.P.E.
Helping Others by Providing Electricity or H.O.P.E. is offered by the Town of Wake Forest to help financially disadvantaged electric customers reconcile their utility bill. The initiative is funded by the generous donations of area residential and commercial utility customers. Donating is quick and easy, and contributions are tax-deductible. The program is administered through a partnership between the Town and ChurchNet, a local non-profit organization assisting people in need. For more information, click contact Drew Brown at (919) 554-6107.


Employment Opportunities
For a complete listing of job openings at the Town of ake Forest, click HERE.