A waterfront boardwalk? Southport's busiest tourist spot could get an upgrade.
From April through mid-October, Southport’s Yacht Basin is crowded with pedestrians, golf carts, bicycles, and cars. It is undoubtedly the busiest — and most congested — spot in the city.
During lunar tides, the issue is exacerbated by flooding, forcing some restaurant owners to block the streets with bridges to allow access.
Now city officials are considering ways to alleviate traffic congestion. The Southport Board of Aldermen recently heard a presentation from the Cape Fear Council of Governments suggesting changes to the traffic pattern in the Yacht Basin.
Here’s what you need to know.
Who put together the draft plan, and how was it developed?
The draft was assembled and presented by Cape Fear Council of Government staff members: Patrick Flanagan, the rural transportation planning organization director, and Wes MacLeod, local government services director.
“This project is a compilation of some of the previous efforts for the Yacht Basin,” MacLeod said. “This is not an engineering level study or a licensed survey-type operation.”
More from SouthportSouthport ABC appointment struggles leave store leadership in limbo
Flanagan said the purpose of the draft plan was to “identify improvements to address safe travel for all modes of transportation,” and in arriving at the options presented, staff used existing land survey data and conducted multiple site visits.
To alleviate congestion and improve traffic flow, the city has already marked pedestrian lanes and created one-way traffic patterns on Yacht Basin Drive, Brunswick and Short streets.
What opportunities are available for improving traffic flow?
In the presentation, Flanagan highlighted some of the opportunities that exist for improving traffic flow. They include creating a defined, such as a separate Yacht Basin district, through visual and physical improvements, embracing the waterfront asset through a boardwalk connection, increasing the availability of bicycle and golf cart parking, establishing branding to promote the area, and accentuating the unique setting through a designed Woonerf or “Living Street” concept.
The Woonerf concept was originally developed in the Netherlands, and it embraces shared spaces. It also incorporates reduced speed limits, and encourages all traffic — pedestrian, bicycle, golf carts and vehicles — to “yield to each other,” which Flanagan noted is great for all users.
More:The 'enigma' of Southport: How a local celebrity brings city's past to the present
“It’s also great for the businesses,” he added.
Flanagan said due to the different modes of transportation and the limited space, sidewalks are not a viable option for the area.
What are the specific recommendations?
The draft plan includes specific recommendations. On Bay Street, it recommends repainting the existing striping on West Bay Street to separate non-motorized traffic, installing armadillo dividers, and formalizing parking. On Yacht Basin Drive, it suggests creating a “Yield Roadway” or Living Street and constructing a waterfront boardwalk.
Along West Moore and South Caswell, it recommends repainting parking spaces to ensure they are in line with modern vehicles, installing bulb outs and high visibility crosswalks, and building additional sidewalks and stormwater features. Along Brunswick Street, it recommends painting striping to separate motorized and non-motorized traffic, installing armadillo dividers, and constructing a boardwalk to connect to the Yacht Basin.
Flanagan also recommended burying or relocating the utilities in the Yacht Basin and completing any changes in phases.
The board took no action on the draft plan. Southport Mayor Joe Pat Hatem said the aldermen would likely hold a workshop to discuss these options.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Southport solutions for Yacht Basin congestion could include boardwalk
