Garrison LEARNS (Library, Education, Art, Recreation, Nature & Science)
The City of Gastonia’s Garrison LEARNS (Library, Education, Art, Recreation, Nature, & Science) Project is more than just a transportation project; it aims to transform the transportation infrastructure of the civic core of Gastonia to promote sustainable modes of transportation, enhance connectivity, improve multimodal safety and accessibility, and stimulate economic growth. This is achieved by prioritizing pedestrian-friendly designs and implementing bicycle infrastructure. Moreover, by prioritizing transportation choice, affordability, and environmental responsibility, Garrison LEARNS aims to significantly improve the quality of life for everyone in the community as well as serve as the cornerstone of a regional vision for a vibrant, sustainable, and accessible multimodal corridor.
Garrison Boulevard is home to the most significant concentration of civic anchors outside of Gastonia’s downtown core. Those civic anchors include the Schiele Museum of Natural History, Grier Middle School, Gaston County Library Main Branch, Lineberger Park, and the Avon/Catawba Creeks Greenway trailhead. Garrison LEARNS encompasses not just a stretch of pavement, but the hopes and aspirations of entire communities. In addition to the key civic anchors mentioned above, the Garrison LEARNS Corridor hosts other significant multimodal generators, including two large churches, several healthcare services, and a variety of local businesses. The corridor is a significant part of the City’s transportation network, providing east-to-west mobility south of the City’s downtown area while acting as a parallel route to US 74 (Franklin Boulevard).
GARRISON LEARNS MULTIMODAL CORRIDOR
The Garrison Boulevard Corridor, as it exists today, is automobile-centric and provides limited infrastructure and connectivity for people walking and biking. Currently, the study area is five-lane roadway with a center two-way-left-turn-lane that does not support its growing civic anchors and multimodal demand. There is no sidewalk for most of the south side of the corridor, and back-of-curb sidewalk of varying quality on the north side. The corridor has no bicycle facilities and lacks pedestrian crossing opportunities (average spacing between crossings = 1,700 linear feet), resulting in unsafe crossing conditions or significant out of direction travel for pedestrians and transit riders. Moreover, there is a greenway underpass that is continuously silted, wet, and impassable.
Garrison LEARNS is divided into three (3) primary components consisting of a total of fourteen (14) primary improvements. These seemingly individual improvements come together to create a powerful synergy -- a connected, convenient, and multimodal transportation system that unlocks the corridor's potential.
Component #1 - Safety Improvements
- Reduce posted speed limit by 10 miles per hour (MPH), including supporting traffic engineering evaluation and required approvals
- Right-size the roadway cross-section by reducing travel lane widths from 12 ft. to 11 ft.
- Replace the two-way left turn lane with a raised, landscaped median
- Enhance corridor lighting
- Install a new traffic signal at Laurel Lane
- Improve the Avon/Catawba Creeks Greenway underpass
- Install radar-enabled driver feedback signs
Component #2 - Active Transportation (Bike/Pedestrian) Improvements
- Install bicycle lanes on both sides of Garrison Boulevard
- Construct sidewalk along both sides of Garrison Boulevard
- Install high-visibility crosswalks at signalized intersections and midblock crossings
- Add pedestrian countdown timers at signalized intersections
- Install a pedestrian hybrid beacon (PHB) connecting the school and museum area to the library
Component #3 – Environmental and Quality of Life Improvements
- Reconstruct curb ramps to meet ADA standards
- Install green space in medians and buffer spaces
2026 BUILD Application