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The improvement of 15th Street has been a point of contention among the community for well over a decade and public opinion is necessary to form an improvement plan that may solve the issues plaguing the roadway.

North Carolina’s Department of Transportation has identified the corridor of 15th Street between U.S. 17/Carolina Avenue and Brown Street as an issue. The road often sees traffic and creates unnecessary congestion. This congestion causes headaches for those who live, work and travel through this area.

15th Street has been plagued with a high number of accidents over the years. While none of these accidents would be considered major, there is still a chance that a major accident could occur at some point. It is clear that something needs to be done to ensure the safety of everyone in our community and diminish the risk of a potentially severe wreck.

For those who live and work along the 15th Street, the thought of change can be frightening. Even after enduring the strain of construction, there is no telling what will happen in the redesign and how their lives will be affected. This is why the public comment period is so important.

Even if you are not concerned about 15th Street, many in our community are. Public input is the only way for city officials to learn about these concerns. It is crucial that these opinions be brought up during the planning process before any plans are set and agreed to. This project will impact every member of the community in some capacity regardless of location.

The city deserves recognition for including the public in the planning and development of the redesign of 15th Street. Because the road is such a large source of disagreement among the community, the survey conducted by the City of Washington must see interaction from a high volume of community members.

The survey is open to all and can be taken online at your convenience on the City of Washington website.