Click here to learn about the current project to study and plan for the future of Downtown 

What is Franklin Street?

Franklin Street is the main road in Chapel Hill's downtown space, home to some of the community's most popular restaurants and shops, and serves as the front door to UNC Chapel Hill. The street itself is currently maintained and controlled by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) which means the Town must seek approval to make changes to the street or sidewalk.

What is next on Franklin Street?

Town Council wants to explore transferring maintenance of Franklin Street from NCDOT to the Town. Staff and Town Council have discussed various options for the street layout, including a presentation to Town Council at their October 12, 2022 Regular Meeting.

What's next?

Town Council directed staff to explore what the community wants in Downtown. This will inform whether the Town should transfer maintenance of Franklin St. and what should go in the public space (sidewalks, brick strips, and the street itself). Staff are working with Toole Design on a two part study first to examine how vehicles, bikes and pedestrians get around Downtown and then how we want to use our sidewalks and open spaces. Click here for more information on that effort.

Questions about Franklin Street? Email or call Sarah Poulton at spoulton@townofchapelhill.org or 919-969-5009.