AGENDA #8
TO: Roger L. Stancil, Town Manager
FROM: Ray L.
“Butch” Kisiah, Director of Parks and Recreation
Bill Webster, Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation
SUBJECT: Adoption of the Concept Plan for the Dry Creek Greenway Trail
DATE: June 9, 2008
This is a continuation of a Public Hearing first held on May 5, 2008. The continuation of the Public Hearing presents the Council an opportunity to review changes to the Concept Plan for the Dry Creek Greenway Trail based on recommendations from citizens and a number of advisory boards.
Adoption of the attached resolution would adopt the Concept Plan for the Dry Creek Greenway Trail and authorize the Manager to begin detailed design for Phase I of the project.
In 2003 Chapel Hill voters approved a $5,000,000 parks bond that the Council has designated for greenways purposes.
In January 2006, the Council adopted an updated version of the Chapel Hill Greenways Comprehensive Master Plan which recommended development of a paved bicycle and pedestrian multiple-use trail along Dry Creek from Perry Creek Road to Eastowne Road in the northeast area of Chapel Hill.
A public forum was held on September 26, 2007.
On November 19, 2007 the Council accepted the Concept Plan for the Dry Creek Greenway Trail and referred it to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board, Greenways Commission, Parks and Recreation Commission, Transportation Board, and Town staff for comment and recommendations.
On May 5, 2008 the Council held a Public Hearing to consider adoption of the Concept Plan for the Dry Creek Greenway Trail. Comments were referred to the staff and the Greenways Commission.
The trail would cross Erwin Road by utilizing a pedestrian crossing and refuge. A pedestrian refuge is a type of raised median that would split traffic, allowing pedestrians and bicyclists an opportunity to cross Erwin Road one lane at a time. Preliminary feedback from NCDOT indicates that the pedestrian refuge idea would be acceptable.
Once on the east side of Erwin Road the trail would utilize a portion of the Duke Energy access road that leads to an electrical sub-station. This would allow us to avoid additional clearing and grading for about 800 feet. The trail would leave the sub-station road and meander through the woods to the edge of the extensive wetlands that border Dry Creek in this area.
The single most challenging element of the plan would involve a crossing of the 500 foot wide wetland area and braided channel of Dry Creek. This would require some sort of bridge and boardwalk structure that would have to be designed in an environmentally sensitive manner with the smallest possible footprint.
Once on the southeast side of Dry Creek the trail would continue to Providence Road in the Eastowne development.
PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE CONCEPT PLAN
Changes Based on Public Hearing Comments: One citizen spoke at the May 5, 2008 Public Hearing. Her comments were supportive of the plan. She asked that the grassy area near Perry Creek Road be preserved and improved. The plan recommends that the trail be designed to preserve the open space as a play area.
A Council member asked that changes to the project budget be brought to the attention of the Council. We will update the Council as changes take place for all of the current major greenway projects including the Bolin Creek, Dry Creek, and Morgan Creek Trail projects. This request for updated budget information would not affect the concept plan document.
Changes Based on Advisory Board Comments: We made the following changes based on board and commission recommendations.
Changes Based on Citizen Comments: Throughout the process citizens provided comments and advice. In response to citizen comment:
Recommended Phasing Plan: We believe that the Dry Creek Trail would likely be built in 2 phases. Phase I would likely be the section from Perry Creek Road to Erwin Road. Phase II would likely be the portion of the planned trail from Erwin Road to Eastowne.
A two phase approach is recommended due to high construction costs we anticipate in the eastern portion of the site. We believe that the single most expensive element of the project would be the bridge/boardwalk structure that would span Dry Creek and its adjacent wetlands.
We recommend that once a concept plan is adopted, the initial detailed design be limited to the portion of the project from Perry Creek Road to Erwin Road, including the parking lot and Erwin Road pedestrian refuge.
Budget: Our design team has created a preliminary cost estimate for this project:
Phase I - Perry Creek Road to Erwin Road (including pedestrian refuge) $421,000
Phase II - Erwin Road to Providence Road $683,000
Total Preliminary Cost Estimate $1,104,000
Following are the current and planned revenue sources for the project, utilizing both Town and NCDOT funds. At this time we are $65,000 short of meeting the schematic level cost estimates prepared by our design team for the entire project. However, based on recent construction costs we believe that actual construction costs might be significantly higher than current estimates. We will have more accurate cost estimates prepared once detailed construction plans are complete. A possible source of additional construction funds, if needed, might be from the 2003 Parks bond.
Current and Proposed Revenue Sources
Town Parks Bond (already allocated) $275,000
Town Parks Bond (scheduled) 140,000
NCDOT MPO-DA Funds (already allocated) 1 64,000
NCDOT MPO-DA Funds (scheduled) 2 560,000
Total Preliminary Budget $1,039,000
1 The Town is currently using design funds from NCDOT Metropolitan Planning Organization Direct Allocation funds.
2 The Town is currently scheduled to receive construction funds from NCDOT Metropolitan Planning Organization Direct Allocation funds for construction.
Proposed Schedule: We propose that the following preliminary schedule be followed:
Sale of Parks bonds Fall 2008
Detailed Design November 2008 – August 2009
Permitting Summer/Fall 2009
Start Construction of Phase I Winter 2010
Complete Project Fall 2011
The schedule is speculative and is contingent upon early success in dealing with wetland, flood, and stream regulatory agencies. If problems arise related to permits related to the floodway or stream encroachments, the process might take considerably longer.
RECOMMENDATION
That the Council adopt the attached resolution which would adopt the Concept Plan for the Dry Creek Greenway Trail and authorize the Manager to begin detailed design for Phase I of the project.