memorandum

to:	Roger L. Stancil, Town Manager
from:	Lance Norris, Public Works Director JB Culpepper, Planning Director Steve Spade, Transit Director David Bonk, Long Range and Transportation Planning Manager Kumar Neppalli, Engineering Services Manager
subject:	Report on Transportation Impact Analysis Related to the Carolina North Development
date:	March 16, 2009

PURPOSE

The purpose of this report is to provide an update on the Transportation Impact Analysis (TIA) related to the Carolina North Development.  The tentative completion date of the TIA is May 1, 2009.

No action is required by the Town Council.   

BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION

The Town Council, in June 2001 approved a process and guidelines for conducting a traffic impact analysis for developments in Chapel Hill. The process includes the Town contracting with private consulting firms to perform necessary traffic impact studies for proposed developments and the associated costs are paid by the developers. 

We sent Requests for Qualifications (RFQ) to interested firms for the Carolina North TIA so that we can select a firm with nationwide experience with developments similar to Carolina North.  The time line of the RFQ and the TIA is provided below:

• RFQ Sent Out: January 22, 2009
• RFQ Proposals Due: February 27, 2009
• Selection of Firm: March 20, 2009
• TIA Start Date: March 25, 2009
• Tentative TIA Report Submission: May 1, 2009

We received proposals from ten firms. A Staff Committee reviewed the proposals and selected three firms to interview.  The Staff Committee is expected to complete the interviews on March 17^th and recommend a firm to the Town Manager.  The University agreed to provide the funds for the cost of the TIA.  Consistent with the current Town’s TIA policy, the cost includes the consulting fee for the preparation of the TIA and the Town staff time on the project.

The required consultant services will be based on the Town’s approved Guidelines for Transportation Impact Analysis and may include, but are not limited to:

• Trip Generation and LRTP and Mode Split
• Trip Distribution
• Determination Study Boundary
• Analysis Methodology:
  • Existing Conditions
  • No-Build Conditions with Background Developments
  • Build Conditions with Background Developments
  • Analysis with and without new roadway options
  • Assessment of impact of parking policy on mode split and trip generation
  • Various levels of mode split measures
  • Corridor transportation analyses
  • Assessment of impact on current transit service
  • Bicycle and pedestrian analyses
  • Traffic signal warrant band accident analyses
  • Assessment of impact of anticipated parking              
  • policy/restrictions on trip generation and mode split
  • Impact on adjacent neighborhoods
  • Assessment of mode split on the level of service
• Typical Mitigation Measures
• New streets
• New traffic control measures
• Roadway widening
• Bicycle and pedestrian measures
• Traffic calming measures in adjacent neighborhoods
• Expanded public transit consistent with the recommendations of the Chapel Hill Long Range Transit Plan and regional transportation plans.

We propose to include a section in the Carolina North Development Agreement that references the Transportation Impact Analysis, future mitigation measures, a mechanism for developing periodic TIA reports that test the assumptions and findings and means for adjusting requirements based on the findings. 

NEXT STEP

The Town will enter into an agreement with the selected consulting firm for preparation of the TIA.  The Tentative TIA completion date is May 1, 2009.