Roots, Rails, and the Road Ahead // March 2026
This month is about building connections.
We Plant it Forward 🌳
A big thank you to everyone who came out on the 7th to help landscape the pond area in Justice Heights! It was wonderful to see neighbors rolling up their sleeves and working together to transform the space. What was once an overlooked corner of the neighborhood is quickly becoming a welcoming, natural gathering place filled with life and color. Recap the day in photos here!
We’re grateful to We Plant It Forward and Habitat for Humanity of Wake County for organizing the event and providing the tools, plants, and supplies needed to make it happen. Funding support from Habitat, the Wake Audubon Society, and the Town of Apex helped bring the project to life. A special shout-out also goes to volunteers from The Peak Church and F3 Peak City, who brought great energy, positivity, and plenty of helping hands. Apex’s own Mayor Jacques Gilbert was there too, giving back to the community he grow up in.
This coming Sunday, March 22 from 1:00 – 3:00 pm, a small group of neighbors will stake the new trees and install protective wire to keep deer away. If you’d like to help, feel free to stop by! Our new garden will also need a little extra care this spring and summer while the plants establish their roots. Mouloud and Tizita have generously volunteered to help keep an eye on things. It takes a village, so if we all help and do our part, the plants will thrive.
Looking ahead, the benches are currently being stained by Justice Heights’ own Patrick Glaser and we’re close to receiving the permit for the concrete pads that will support them.
Thank you again to everyone who helped make the planting day such a success – it’s a reminder of what a special place Justice Heights is to call home. 🌿
Peak Plan 2055 🏔️
The Town of Apex is inviting residents to help shape the community’s future through Peak Plan 2055, our next comprehensive plan. This long-range roadmap will guide how the town grows, develops, and preserves the qualities that make Apex special over the coming decades.
Date: Wednesday, March 25, 2026
Time: 4:00 – 7:00 pm (drop in anytime!)
Location: Apex Town Hall – 3rd Floor (73 Hunter Street, Apex)
Youth Hour: Middle and high school students are invited to attend a special youth-only session from 3:00 – 4:00 pm.
At Public Forum 2, residents will be able to review five different growth scenarios developed from community input gathered earlier in the process. Each scenario explores different ways Apex could grow which includes development patterns, housing types, density, infrastructure needs, and open space. Community feedback will help shape the final recommendation that becomes part of the plan for the area shown in the image below.
Town staff will be on hand to answer questions and collect feedback on what residents like (or don’t like) about each option. It’s a chance to help answer an important question for Apex: “How do we grow from here?”
Learn more about the plan on the apexnc.org/peakplan website.
Tingen’s Tracks 🚂
Big changes are coming to the railroad crossing at Tingen Road. Under an agreement between the Town of Apex, CSX, and NCDOT, the existing crossing will permanently close once the new Apex Peakway Southwest Connector bridge opens by 2027. While the closure will improve rail safety, it also raises an important question for nearby neighborhoods – how do people continue to cross the tracks conveniently?
To answer that question, the Town commissioned a feasibility study. After they evaluated many different options, the preferred solution is a pedestrian tunnel beneath the railroad. The below map highlights where it would be constructed.
For our neighborhood, the project is an important link. The proposed tunnel would sit just across from Justice Heights Street near the water tower. It would be a direct connection between James Street and South Salem Street. That means residents would still have a short and safe route to places like Apex Elementary School, downtown Apex, and nearby neighborhoods.
The study also includes improvements to the surrounding streets too. Plans show Tingen Road being realigned to meet South Salem Street directly across from Justice Heights Street. It creates a more traditional intersection that shortens pedestrian crossings and simplifies traffic movements. The renderings below illustrate how the tunnel entrance, pathways, and a future landscaped greenway connection could look once complete.
The Planning Board reviewed and approved the feasibility study on March 9. The next step is a Town Council public hearing on Tuesday, March 24 at 6:00 pm in Apex Town Hall (73 Hunter Street, 2nd Floor Council Chamber).
Community input will help determine whether the project moves forward into final design and funding. If it does, this crossing could become a key link that keeps Justice Heights connected, walkable, and bike-friendly for years to come.
Learn more about the plan on the apexnc.org/tingen website.
Well Check Program ✨
Sometimes the best community programs are the quiet ones you don’t hear about until someone points them out. I was not aware of this program until I saw Councilman Terry Mahaffey mention it on his online forum.
The Apex Community Well Check Program, run by the Apex Police Department, is one of those. The program is designed for residents who live alone – especially seniors or those with medical conditions – and simply helps make sure someone is checking in on them each day. It’s a small but meaningful way our town helps neighbors look out for one another.
Participants receive a daily automated phone call at a scheduled time just to confirm they’re doing okay. If the call isn’t answered, the system contacts a designated emergency contact. If no one can be reached, an Apex police officer will stop by the home to make sure everything is alright.
Additional program information can be found online here.
That was such a great, productive day for planting new life…the community came together…and celebrating Daniel’s birthday was the icing on the 🎂cake.