NoDa’s new Neighborhood Matching Grant mural improves pedestrian safety and inspires new traffic work from CDOT
Neighbors in NoDa now have a new street mural that helps pedestrians cross the street safely and several new pieces of art on trash receptacles that help beautify the neighborhood. NoDa received a $10,000 neighborhood matching grant to install a street mural at a busy intersection to address a traffic safety issue and to incorporate mixed art media on trash receptacles.
The intersection between North Davidson Street and North Brevard Street is a highly trafficked area for vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians. Cars flowing from North Davidson Street to North Brevard Street. tend to accelerate, cutting the corner and driving outside of the traffic lines, which negatively impacts pedestrians who are waiting to cross the street. So, the neighborhood invested in a street mural that covers the empty space between the edge line and sidewalk. This new mural brings attention to the solid line in the road and encourages drivers to slow down, increases pedestrian safety in this area and provides a beautiful and engaging piece of art for the neighborhood.
Charlotte Department of Transportation’s (CDOT) Street Maintenance Division noticed that this intersection needed to be paved to allow the mural to endure and the neighborhood to proceed with their schedule. Additionally, CDOT’s Angela Berry, who manages the Traffic Safety & Special Projects Section in the Engineering & Operations Division, also noticed that this intersection was wider than it should be. This beautification project became an opportunity to improve the intersection, widen the crosswalk and use ceramic channel markers to reduce traffic speeds for vehicles turning off North Davidson, making it safer for pedestrians and cyclists.
During the painting of the mural, a water main started to leak. Charlotte Water took extra care to minimize impact to the mural during their repair. Throughout the project, CDOT provided traffic management and several staff protected the artist and the artwork to ensure the safety and longevity of the community project. All and all, nearly 20 city staff participated in helping this project come to life.
In addition to the mural, the neighborhood wanted to beautify eight trash receptacles that have been serving the community since 2018. The neighborhood believed it was time to turn them into functioning art pieces, so emerging artists were able to apply, design, and install their artwork (using mixed art media, e.g. ceramics, paint, metal, tiles) in a public setting. These newly created pieces help beautify the neighborhood and provide a platform for emerging artists.
The Neighborhood Matching Grants Program (NMG) awards funds of up to $25,000 to eligible neighborhood-based organizations to complete projects that allow neighborhoods to determine and drive projects to improve their neighborhood quality of life. The program funds a broad range of projects including beautification, signage, festivals, safety improvements, community gardens, and recreational features. Learn more on the NMG program website.
