Project Background

Downtown Rocky Mount is poised for an exciting revitalization. Its strategic location in the heart of eastern North Carolina, existing successful catalyst projects like the renovated Train Station, the spectacular Imperial Centre for the Arts and Sciences, and the Douglas Block are among the key foundational initiatives demonstrating strong public commitment to the urban core of Rocky Mount. These projects, in combination with the beautiful architecture and tremendous urban fabric of downtown and the history and vitality of the rail line, sets the stage for beginning a streetscape improvement plan to further show the public promise of a new traffic and parking pattern, wider, tree-lined sidewalks, an integrated way-finding system, and an art program to accentuate the heart of Rocky Mount.

Because of the significance of the trains (40 + per day) and the unparalleled public/private commitments to living and working downtown, the “All Aboard” theme is the rallying idea upon which the components of the streetscape plan are based. Train conductors still cry “All Aboard” on each of the eight Amtrak trains serving Rocky Mount every day. The “All Aboard” call has long been confirmation passengers were indeed seated and ready to go as well as an alert to folks standing by to get on board. As such, this streetscape plan is a rallying cry for all of Rocky Mount to “get on board” the plan to revitalize downtown Rocky Mount.

The first phase of the Downtown Streetscape Project has its origins in the Urban Streetscape Plan for Downtown Rocky Mount. This plan was driven by a series of public workshops, meetings with local stockholders and City officials, analysis of previous planning efforts, and numerous site visits. The Design Team included urban designers, traffic engineers, wayfinding specialists, art consultants, and landscape architects. This effort ultimately led to development of a Conceptual Plan which was submitted and approved in July 2007, offering various ideas and conceptual plans and schemes intended to support the City’s efforts to revitalize downtown.

The unique nature of Rocky Mount, coupled with the City’s desire for change and need for downtown revitalization led the City to commission the planning, design, and now construction of the first phase of the Downtown Streetscape Project. This project is intended to support economic revitalization and development through improved traffic patterns, aesthetics, and connections to surrounding areas. So to learn more about the Downtown Streetscape Project and to “get on board” with the city’s efforts to further revitalize downtown, we invite you to use this webpage to learn more about one of the newest initiatives within Downtown Rocky Mount.