Parents and neighbors calling for changes near Panther Creek High School in Cary after several crashes nearby.
In October, a student was hit by a car on McCrimmon Parkway in front of the school. According to Cary police, another student driving a car struck the student crossing the street around 7 a.m. on Oct. 14.
Other WRAL Top Stories
Kelly Foster has lived nearby for five years. She remembers seeing the flashing lights and police presence across the street from her home the morning the student was hit.
“Someone got hurt. Am I shocked by it? No,” she said. “People drive here like crazy. It’s unfortunate that it did happen.”
WRAL News has reported on safety concerns in this same area since at least 2009.
Parents say the closest crosswalk to the school is about 800 feet down the road, too far for many students who walk. They say it’s time for that to change.
“I want to see a sense of urgency,” Foster said. “We are putting people at risk.”
Town leaders said several safety upgrades are already in the works, including a long-term project in partnership with the North Carolina Department of Transportation. Plans and funding for the initial concept have already been approved.
The project aims to improve safety and traffic flow for both pedestrians and drivers near Panther Creek High School. Proposed features include:
- A traffic signal at the eastern PCHS driveway
- A midblock crosswalk near the Morris Branch Greenway with a pedestrian-activated rapid flashing beacon, advance flasher device, and median refuge island
- Median modifications at the western PCHS driveway to improve visibility
Town Councilmember Sarika Bansal said the council is aware of parents’ concerns and recently met with families to discuss plans and potential solutions.
“The concerns are real. They’re not misplaced,” she said.
Parents like Umesh Raj are glad action seems to be underway, but wish these changes had come sooner.
“When you plan a neighborhood by a school you should have a way for kids to cross safely,” Raj said.
Bansal acknowledged those frustrations and said the council has been aware of the need for change, but it's taken time to get to where they are now.
According to the Town of Cary, McCrimmon Parkway is owned by NCDOT and the state has ultimate authority over any street modifications.
“There are a lot of different partners in this equation,” she said. “We have to follow a process. That process takes time.”
Aside from the long-term improvements, Bansal said there with likely be other short-term projects coming soon as well.