On Thursday night, a group of Cary merchants will address the town council to demand greater transparency about the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s (NCDOT) proposed $84 million railroad project on Maynard Road. The coalition, which includes longtime family‑run stores such as Cooper’s Furniture, The Sea Depot, Patel Brothers and several ethnic markets, wants clear answers on how the design could impact their businesses, customers and livelihoods.
Project overview
NCDOT plans to lower Northeast Maynard Road beneath the active rail line near East Chatham Street, eliminating the at‑grade crossing that currently forces vehicles and trains to share the same level. The project also calls for a realignment of part of East Chatham Street. NCDOT estimates the total cost at about $83.8 million, with roughly $37.3 million earmarked for property acquisition and $46.5 million for construction and utilities. The work is part of the agency’s Sealed Corridor Program, which seeks to remove or improve hazardous crossings along the Raleigh‑Charlotte rail corridor.
Safety and traffic benefits
Supporters point to a history of accidents at the crossing, including a May 2026 incident in which an Amtrak train struck a construction trailer, injuring six passengers and closing the road for more than seven hours. A 2014 crash at the same crossing resulted in a fatality. By separating road and rail traffic, the project aims to reduce the risk of future collisions and improve traffic flow for the growing Cary commercial corridor.
Business concerns
While the safety rationale is widely accepted, merchants fear the project could force relocations or severely disrupt access during construction. Cooper’s Furniture owner Alex White, whose store has operated at its current location since 1949, said, “We understand the safety side of it and the traffic flow component. And we’re all for that. It’s just a shame that the plan they chose will wipe out at least a dozen businesses, and certainly affect dozens more during construction.”
Li‑Chun Young, whose family runs The Sea Depot, echoed the sentiment, asking, “How do we create progress that doesn’t erase the small family business?” The coalition estimates that earlier design studies suggested about a dozen businesses might be affected, but NCDOT now believes the number could be higher as the design becomes more detailed and the area’s commercial activity has grown.
Five specific requests
The merchants have outlined five concrete requests for NCDOT and the town:
- Clarify business impacts: Provide a reconciled list of all potentially affected businesses and explain the specific effects on each.
- Release project reviews: Make environmental and traffic studies publicly available.
- Assess relocation needs: Detail property‑specific impacts, including lease obligations, equipment and financial considerations.
- Protect customer access: Develop a mitigation plan to ensure customers and delivery drivers can reach businesses throughout construction.
- Coordinate before major decisions: Convene NCDOT, Cary officials, railroad representatives and merchants before any property decisions limit access or relocation options.
Local officials respond
Cary Town Councilwoman Sarika Bansal expressed empathy for the merchants, noting that staff are actively collaborating with NCDOT to gather resident feedback. “Ultimately, the decision rests with NCDOT, but we can advocate on behalf of those who may be affected,” she said. Councilwoman Brittany Richards added that public input will be an important part of the process as the council continues to learn about the project.
Timeline and next steps
NCDOT plans to begin acquiring property in the summer of 2027, with construction slated to start in the summer of 2030, though those dates may shift as design work proceeds. Residents and businesses may submit comments through October 27 via the NCDOT project page, email (maynardroad‑[email protected]) or phone (984‑205‑6615, project code 7714).
The coalition hopes that a more detailed, transparent review will lead to solutions that preserve Cary’s vibrant small‑business community while delivering the safety improvements the town needs.
Original reporting: WRAL Raleigh — read the source article.
