Asheville’s Merrimon Avenue Road Diet Shows Promising Safety Improvements and Community Engagement

Asheville’s Merrimon Avenue Road Diet: A Look at the Numbers

Merrimon Avenue in Asheville has undergone a significant transformation in an effort to enhance safety and promote alternative modes of transportation. This past week, safety engineer Carrie Simpson from the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) presented a preliminary analysis of the impact of this road diet to the Asheville City Council, revealing some intriguing findings.

Accident Rates Before and After

According to Simpson’s analysis, there was a noticeable drop in the number of accidents on Merrimon Avenue after the changes were implemented. The average number of annual crashes decreased from 82.4 in the five years leading up to the road diet to 63.38 in the 1.42 years following its initiation. Thankfully, there were no fatal accidents recorded in either timeframe, which is certainly a relief for the community.

The analysis also highlighted the types of accidents that occurred. Class A accidents, which can result in fatalities or permanent disabilities, showed a dramatic decline from an average of 0.6 annually before the road diet to 0 after. On the other hand, Class B crashes, which typically lead to serious injuries or hospitalizations, saw a drop from 5.6 to 1.4 in the same time periods. Class C accidents also showed a decrease, pointing to an overall improvement in road safety.

Trends in Crash Types

One interesting trend emerged when Simpson analyzed the types of crashes that took place. While rear-end collisions surged by 67%, frontal impact crashes plummeted by 55%. This is noteworthy because frontal impacts often result in more severe injuries.

Simpson pointed out that while rear-end crashes now make up almost half of all accidents, the overall safety benefits indicate that this could be a manageable issue. The reduction in frontal impacts is great news since they typically have a higher severity level.

Effect on Pedestrians and Cyclists

The road diet was designed to encourage more people to walk or bike instead of driving everywhere. Initially, there was a reported reduction in crashes involving vulnerable road users. However, the data suggests that bicycle accidents have unfortunately increased. During the five years prior to the study, there were a total of just nine pedestrian accidents and two bicycle crashes. After the changes, these numbers saw slight variations, with a bicycle-related Class B accident occurring in May of this year.

Traffic Volume Changes

While some expected the road diet to significantly reduce traffic, the actual results showed a less drastic change. Traffic on Merrimon Avenue decreased by 1-8%, with daily vehicle counts still ranging between 12,000 to 19,600. However, some neighboring roads saw increases in traffic of 5-16%, leading to a rise in vehicle counts of 600 to 900 on certain streets like Broadway and Kimberly.

Community Engagement and Future Steps

After the presentation, Mayor Esther Manheimer and Councilwoman Kim Roney expressed eagerness to hear resident feedback on the ongoing changes. There’s a vibrant community that wants to participate in these discussions, and Councilwoman Sage Turner expressed interest in helping to bridge that gap between residents and city planners.

To get involved, community members can reach out to the NCDOT or the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) via email at mpo@landofsky.org or by calling 828-251-6622. Public comments are also accepted before and after city council meetings, allowing residents a chance to voice their opinions and concerns.

Honoring Local Heroes

In addition to discussing road safety, the city also took a moment to recognize Terrelle Bowen, a sanitation driver who received the 2024 Herman Drake Award. This prestigious award celebrates exemplary service in solid waste management and is a testament to Bowen’s commitment and bravery in an incident where he helped prevent an accident involving an elderly driver.

The transformations on Merrimon Avenue signify Asheville’s commitment to fostering a safer, more community-oriented environment. Whether it’s reducing traffic accidents or improving bike and pedestrian safety, the city is actively engaging with its residents to promote a better way to navigate their beloved community.