However, as a tight-knit community that neighbors another small town — separated, Barrick said, by a simple street sign — Rutherfordton needed to find a way to improve the appearance and functionality of its main street. 

“It doesn’t have great pedestrian access or bus access,” Barrick said. “It doesn’t connect the greenway systems and it actually serves as a barrier. And there are stormwater issues plus a variety of 60s-era transportation planning elements that have not been proactive or produced good results.”

By teaming up with the town manager in adjacent Spindale, as well as North Carolina transportation partners, Rutherfordton is working with its rural neighbor to implement a more than $20 million federal grant, allocated as part of the Department of Transportation’s RAISE grant program funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The grant will help reshape the look, feel and functionality of a 2.5-mile stretch of a road known locally as 221A Business. 

“It’s been fantastic,” Barrick said of the grant funding and the progress the project has made. “The more we looked into the raw data in the corridor, we were shocked about the pedestrian activity.”

While commuter traffic between the towns of Rutherfordton and Spindale is a major focus for the road improvements, upgrades for pedestrian access are just as important, since a number of residents living near the road do not have vehicles. That means that the road that provides access to the county’s only full-service hospital in Rutherfordton sees quite a bit of pedestrian traffic, be it to the grocery store, the hospital, or the bus stop.

“We’ve got a bus route through there and the stop is just a sign. There’s nowhere to stop and wait,” he said. “It’s unbelievable the ridership, and they’re just excited about the changes that are coming.”

Planned improvements range from aesthetic touches, like landscaping upgrades, to the construction of full bus stops, the installation of EV charging stations, and the introduction of crosswalks. 

“As far as I know, this is the single biggest infrastructure investment in Rutherford County since I’ve been here,” Barrick said of the grant, which preceded the town being recognized as one of 16 “Strong Towns” in the country. “Those types of things are great for our local community and can show that the things we are doing are truly innovative and keep us relevant and thriving even in a rural setting.”

In addition to creating connectivity for vehicles and pedestrians, the project will also link major trail systems in the area and improve stormwater management controls. As a resident of Rutherfordton, Barrick said he shares the excitement his neighbors have expressed about the changes that are on the horizon.