RALEIGH - The Vision for Hillsborough Street, the driving force behind the current proposal to include two roundabouts on Hillsborough Street near N.C. State University's North Campus, was developed in 1999. It was the result of an intensive planning effort lasting over a year and culminating in a five-day-long citizen-based workshop involving over 500 members of the community.

This was a comprehensive approach to reversing the long-declining fortunes of Raleigh's historic street connecting the state Capitol with our leading university focused on technology, science, engineering and applied research. This stretch of Hillsborough Street has at times been a ceremonial corridor, a business center and the focus of neighborhoods along the old streetcar line.

Since the 1970s, however, it -- like many "college town main streets" around the country -- had become a poor reflection of its past. Businesses had suffered as buying patterns and demographics changed, the street's appearance suffered from lack of investment and safety declined as congestion and conflict between automobiles and pedestrians became worse.

The 1999 Vision for Hillsborough Street proposed to change that.

Roundabouts were included in the proposal because when properly designed they are proven in city after city in this country to lessen the number of crashes and their severity.

From 1998 through 2000, 719 vehicle crashes cost the public and the owners of the vehicles over $12 million in insurance claims and property damage on this stretch of Hillsborough alone. There were 16 accidents involving pedestrians, including at least one fatality. This street was considered one of the most dangerous areas for pedestrians in the city and in the state.

After the 1999 Vision was developed, a nonprofit partnership involving the university, the city, businesses and neighborhoods was created to support efforts to address urban decline and the increasing danger to users of the street. The Hillsborough Street Partnership has worked to make improvements and has seen success slowly make its way back to the street.

In 2002, N.C. State University and the city cooperated to construct the first roundabout, on Pullen Drive at Stinson, at a cost of just over $300,000. This project was greeted with skepticism and negative comment, but is now widely hailed by frequent users of the street as a great improvement. There has not been a single pedestrian accident reported. Congestion entering and leaving the Riddick lot has significantly declined, particularly in the 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. period. This is a marked change from former conditions.

Also, since the Vision was adopted, the the state Department of Transportation and Raleigh have cooperated to install new crosswalk markings, pedestrian-activated crossing signals and "countdown" signals, all improving pedestrian safety. Approximately 80 parking spaces on Hillsborough have been added at night and on the weekends, greatly helping businesses during those hours. An off-street lot of over 50 parking spaces has been opened by the city between Logan Court and Chamberlain Court.

Murals have been painted, and street trees planted. Private property owners have invested millions in property improvements, bringing new business to the street, including Frazier's, Porter's, Jimmy John's, Dunkin' Donuts, Charlie's Grilled Subs, the Marakech, Pi, two convenience stores, numerous pizza shops and three coffee shops.

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Much remains to be done, and the current proposal for roundabouts is just a part of the job. A cost estimate of $3.7 million for two roundabouts actually includes nearly a million dollars to put utilities underground for the proposed project between Logan Court and Gardner Street. It also includes another million dollars for new, wider sidewalks, street trees, improved pedestrian and trafficway lighting, and pedestrian safety islands, all of which will improve safety for residents, students, faculty and university staff.

These are efforts to make this a place to come to -- not just a place to go through. The partnership is working to address problems of homelessness and aggressive panhandling, recycling and trash removal, along with programs to bring more people to the street as customers and residents.

We invite everyone to join us in our efforts to rebuild a community on Hillsborough Street. Once people become involved, perhaps they will realize that the Vision for Hillsborough Street is not about roundabouts. It is about bringing vibrant, self-sustaining and economically viable life back to the street.

(George Chapman, who retired last year as Raleigh's planning director, is chair of the Hillsborough Street Partnership.)

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