South Greensboro Area Plan - Public Review Draft - 9.25.25

Front Door of the Community The primary corridors within the study area serve as the front door to the community, shaping first impressions and influencing how residents and visitors experience the place. Unfortunately, these corridors are prioritizing the movement of vehicles at the expense of other modes of travel. How these corridors look, feel, and function speaks volumes about the community’s values and priorities, and right now, they fail to reflect the vibrancy and potential of the neighborhoods they traverse.

Dividing vs. Connecting Beyond aesthetics, the current design of these corridors— including their extra wide pavement, additional lanes of travel, or unmarked crossings, disconnected adjacent land uses—acts as a barrier rather than a bridge. Instead of linking neighborhoods and fostering interaction, they divide communities, isolate residents, and limit access to essential services and opportunities. By incorporating safe pedestrian crossings, appropriate separated bikeways, accessible transit stops, and inviting public spaces, these corridors may improve access and mobility for all residents.

“Complete” Streets Approach This challenge is not unique to south Greensboro. Across the country, cities, including Greensboro, are actively reimagining their major corridors as multimodal, Complete Streets—places that safely and comfortably accommodate people walking, biking, driving, and using transit. A wealth of case studies and best practices demonstrate how thoughtful design can transform car dominated roads into vibrant, inclusive, and economically resilient corridors. By drawing on these national examples and tailoring them to local context, we can begin to reshape our corridors into places that truly serve everyone.

Solving the Suburban Corridor Problem

Building Healthy Places Initiative Draft BUILDING THRIVING PLACES TRANSFORMING URBAN AND SUBURBAN ARTERIALS INTO Healthy Corridors BUILDING HEALTHY CORRIDORS: TRANSFORMING URBAN AND SUBURBAN ARTERIALS INTO THRIVING PLACES Urban Street Design Guide

Converting suburban corridors into multimodal, people-centered places—often referred to as “Complete Streets”—is a complex but increasingly common challenge faced by cities and towns across the United States. Fortunately, this widespread issue has given rise to a robust body of research, case studies, tools, design guides, professional organizations, and conferences dedicated to supporting communities in this transformation. The following are three key examples of such resources, with additional references provided in the appendix of this plan.

Complete Streets Transformations Six Scenarios to Transform

Arterials using a Complete Streets Implementation Strategy

YOUR SPEED

Urban Land Institute (ULI) Outlines strategies to redesign urban corridors for better health, mobility, and community outcomes. Building Healthy Corridors

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA ) Complete Streets Transformations Illustrates how streets can be redesigned to improve safety, equity, and access for all users.

National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) Provides modern street design principles to support safe, multimodal, and vibrant urban streets.

108 / SOUTH GREENSBORO AREA PLAN

MOVING AROUND

PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT - 9/25/25