AGENDA #4g
MEMORANDUM
TO: Roger L. Stancil, Town Manager
FROM: J.B. Culpepper, Planning Director
David Bonk, Long Range and Transportation Coordinator
SUBJECT: Response to Petition Concerning Bicycle Commuter Access to Research Triangle Park
DATE: January 8, 2007
PURPOSE
This memorandum responds to a petition from the Mayor concerning bicycle commuter access to Research Triangle Park. The attached resolution would refer the petition to the Durham Chapel Hill Metropolitan Planning Organization to take the lead on this initiative and to coordinate with the Chapel Hill Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board, the Chapel Hill Transportation Board, the Carrboro Transportation Board, and the Durham Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission.
On October 23, 2006, the Council received a petition from the Mayor to explore the possibility of a bicycle commuter route from Chapel Hill to Research Triangle Park. The Mayor requested that the petition be referred to the Town Manager, the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board and the Transportation Board so that they could provide input to the Council (Attachment 1).
On October 24, 2006, the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board discussed the Mayor’s petition. It decided to raise the suggestion at a regional bicycle and pedestrian meeting, and recommended that the initiative be referred for action to the planning staff of the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (Attachment 2).
On November 29, 2006, a regional bicycle and pedestrian meeting was held at the Triangle Transportation Authority (TTA) offices in Research Triangle Park. The meeting was attended by members of the Chapel Hill Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board, the Carrboro Transportation Board, the Durham Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission and the Capital Area Bicycle and Pedestrian Stakeholders Group. The Mayor’s initiative was reported to the group and members of the Durham Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission expressed a willingness to support the suggestion and work with the Chapel Hill Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board.
On December 12, 2006, the Transportation Board discussed the Mayor’s petition and recommended the Council request the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization take the lead in coordinating the development of commuter routes between Chapel Hill and the Research Triangle Park (Attachment 3).
Section Seven, Regional Bicycle Route Planning, of the 1993 Regional Bicycle Plan for Durham and Orange Counties produced by the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization includes route plan maps which propose bicycle connector routes for commuting between the urban areas in Durham and Orange Counties (Attachment 4). The Plan identifies that five specific zones of connection require attention:
The plan goes on to say: “Through route planning discussion with bicycle commuters and city planners, it was determined that there were usually several options available for each regional bicycle connection”. The document then lists alternates. The plan states at least one route from each area listed above should be considered initially, and additional routes should be considered as funds permit.
For connections between Chapel Hill/Carrboro and Research Triangle Park, the plan lists the following:
Route C: Option1: NC 54 - Southern Chapel Hill connection to RTP
Option 2: NC 54 to Woodcroft Parkway -Southern Chapel Hill connection to RTP
RECOMMENDATION
Staff Recommendation: We believe that the 1993 Regional Bicycle Plan for Durham and Orange Counties forms the basis for addressing the Mayor’s petition. We believe that the petition should be referred to the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization for action. We recommend that staff from the Metropolitan Planning Organization consider pursuing the initiative with a task force formed from members of the Chapel Hill Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board, the Chapel Hill Transportation Board, the Carrboro Transportation Board, the Durham Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission and bicycle commuters.
Adoption of the attached resolution would refer the petition to the Durham-Chapel Hill Metropolitan Planning Organization to take the lead on this initiative and to coordinate with the Chapel Hill Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board, the Chapel Hill Transportation Board, the Carrboro Transportation Board, and the Durham Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission.
ATTACHMENTS