MATTHEWS, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Safety improvements are on the way for a major corridor in Matthews.
The town received more than $17 million in federal grant money to improve mobility and accessibility along John Street.
The John Street corridor is a heavily traveled one. It goes right through the heart of downtown Matthews. Town leaders have long wanted to make it safer for people to bike and walk. Now, they’re getting that chance.
People who live there told Queen City News it can’t come soon enough.
“I try to bike at least once a week if I can,” said Matt Tsui, a Matthews resident.
That’s not always possible for Tsui.
“It’s a little tough in Matthews,” he said. “The town is a little bit more car-centric than I would like.”
The hope is that this will soon change with the help of a $17.4 million grant.
“On the sidewalk or on the streets, you’re definitely a second-class citizen, so I think any improvements to bike transit or transit that’s not cars, I think would be highly helpful,” said Tsui.
The plan is to focus on about a mile and a half stretch of East and West John Street.
“We really want to focus on making the corridor safe, whether you’re walking, biking, using public transportation, or driving the corridor,” said Mayor John Higdon.
Mayor Higdon was part of the decision late last year to turn down a multi-million dollar NCDOT widening project for the corridor.
“People just didn’t feel comfortable with a four-lane Independence Boulevard-type corridor going through the middle of our downtown,” he said.
The mayor said there have been some pedestrians killed along the stretch in the past few years.
Tsui had his own accident in Matthews not long ago while biking.
“Especially if you’re at an intersection, I notice this every day, cars don’t necessarily pay attention for the pedestrian,” he said. “They pay attention for the other car.”
The transformation is supposed to help cyclists and walkers get around safely, while allowing for the same level of car traffic.
Non-car drivers have their own ideas about what they want implemented.
“I’d like to see more protected bike lanes,” said Tsui.
Mayor Higdon said town officials are in the early planning stages. They want to hear from community members about what safety upgrades they’d like to see. The mayor estimates it’ll be a few years before they’re put into place.
