ZEBULON — Coffee Connections continued on May 2 when Mayor Glenn York hosted a group of commissioners, program directors and residents at the Zebulon Chamber of Commerce. York started Coffee Connections in March as a way to promote conversation on topics of importance to the community.
Focusing on a different topic each month, this meeting was all about transportation. Zebulon Planning Director Michael Clark delivered a presentation of the town’s 2045 Comprehensive Transportation plan, pinpointing some of the changes and priorities needed as the area continues to grow.
Clark listed several priorities, including roundabouts at the intersections of Gannon Avenue and Arendell Avenue, along with the intersection of Pearces Road and Proctor Street up to the section of Shepard School Road and Old Bunn Road.
“From the research CAMPO (Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization) did, we found out that corridor had six times the number of accidents in that stretch between Pearces and Proctor,” Clark said. 
“There’s an elementary school there — so if it’s a section we’re making sure we’re addressing — that’s it. From Gannon to Arendell, we have an AT&T pole that gets taken out a couple times every year. Our transportation plan, NCDOT and CAMPO all call for a roundabout to help navigate traffic in a much safer manner.”
Clark said there’s a focus on North Arendell to Pearces Road as well.
“There are a lot of unsafe movements there because of the number of driveways and people trying to go left,” Clark said. “At some point, there needs to be access roads in the back to accommodate that.”
Clark said the planning department is looking to be proactive in another area.
“It’s not a problem now, but it’s going to be — Highway 39 by Five County Stadium,” Clark said. “Stop signs are going to be needed, as well as exit ramps to accommodate traffic.”
Clark also specified the amount of truck traffic going through downtown and a method to not only reduce it, but enhance the area as well.
“One of our goals is finding a way to control congestion by slowing cars down,” Clark said. “For the trucks, time is money so they’re not going to want to sit idle — that will reroute truck traffic and creates economic incentive for business owners downtown. When you’re going 80 miles down the freeway, you’re looking in front of you. When you’re going 5-10 miles an hour, you’re able to look around and see the new businesses here.”
The next Coffee Connections is set for Monday, June 6.