Raleigh Traffic Changes After Fatality
City takes steps to curb pedestrian deaths.
Defined by quiet family homes and strolling NC State students, Clark Avenue is typically a calm connector between the Hillsborough Street Corridor and Downtown. But the familiar scene was upended last November when NC State University assistant professor Dr. Natalia Duque-Wilckens was struck and killed by a vehicle at the Pogue Street intersection.
Her tragic death wasn’t swept under the rug—and she hasn’t been the only one affected by Clark Avenue’s risk. Raleigh police data has logged hundreds of crashes along the road over the years, with at least 100 occurring since 2023.* While just one death has resulted from those crashes since at least 2015, the number of reported injuries has held steady.
Now, the City is stepping in—installing four-way stops at key Clark Avenue intersections to improve pedestrian safety and help curb pedestrian fatalities. The move follows one resident’s request for an analysis of three intersections on Clark Avenue in the wake of Duque-Wilckens’ death. According to Will Shumaker at the Raleigh Transportation Department, that single complaint submitted to the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program immediately triggered a review of the corridor.
Before the request was submitted in February, students and community members promptly launched a local campaign to install better safety infrastructure along the pedestrian-heavy residential road. A subsequent petition drew over 1,200 signatures from residents concerned for pedestrians not just around NC State, but across the city.
Just over a month later, the engineering evaluation wrapped and their recommendation reached City Council—by March 17, it was official. The stops went live at Clark Avenue’s intersections with Pogue, Horne and Chamberlain streets a week later. The takeaway: It only takes one request to trigger a review—and there are multiple ways to make the city take notice of a local issue.
For residents looking to push for changes, early outreach matters—and is encouraged, says Shumaker. “Many neighborhoods hold discussions internally, but no formal request is made until someone takes the lead to contact the City. Starting that conversation is often the key to initiating meaningful change.”
City Council also hosts public commentary during meetings, but if you miss the call time—or aren’t apt to public speaking—voicemails are accepted Thursday through Monday prior.
Additionally, Raleighites can report a traffic problem in their area or request a traffic calming project via the Transportation Improvement Request portal. Drop a virtual pin on the location of the issue, attach a picture if needed and describe the nature of the problem—plus a possible solution.
Any resident can be the catalyst. Your input matters, and the City has the tools to act on it.
*As of press time
