Raleigh leaders push to ban new drive-thrus in walkable areas to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

The city is already banning new drive-thrus along future bus rapid transit corridors, starting with Western Boulevard and Wilmington Street.

Downtown, the Village District, Hillsborough Street and Blue Ridge Road could be added to the area that bans new drive-thrus as part of a push to get people out of their cars.

“You’re still going to have to drive over here, park your car, then start it back up,” said Raleigh resident Jordan Latta. “I don’t know how much more climate change gets affected by that.”

However, U.S. Department of Energy says if all of us eliminated unnecessary idling, it would be like taking 5 million cars off the roads.

“We’re trying to cultivate an environment where folks feel safe being out of their cars, where folks can build really strong neighborhoods, where you can walk to a coffee shop, you can walk to a place to get food,” said Raleigh At-Large City Councilmember Jonathan Melton.

The city of Raleigh estimates about 42% of the greenhouse gas emissions in the city come from transportation and land use. Because the city is spread out, most people drive to get around.

In 2021, the Raleigh City Council approved the Community Climate Action Plan. Its goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80% by the year 2050.

City leaders are in the process of drafting a Clean Transportation Ordinance. City staff presented the ordinance to the Raleigh City Council this week. It would restrict new drive-thrus from walkable sections of the city, including downtown, along Hillsborough Street by the North Carolina State University Campus and in the Village District.

“Since most of our greenhouse gas emissions come from the community, it’s really vital we look to these types of strategies to lead in the community,” said Raleigh Sustainability Manager Megan Anderson.

Also, new apartment buildings would be required to include parking spaces for residents to charge their electric vehicles. Plus, developers would have to create pedestrian connections to and from new projects.

The city's Sustainability Office plans to put this package of regulations together by the fall.

“Nearly everything that’s built in the city is through private development, and so we have to update our rules to help guide the private development in the right direction as well,” Melton said.

There will be opportunities for people to weigh in, both online and in-person. Then, it's up to the Raleigh City Council to approve the ordinance.

Apex, Carrboro and Wilmington already have requirements for EV charging parking spaces. For years, Carrboro and Chapel Hill have had bans on new drive-thrus in certain areas.