AGENDA #4d

MEMORANDUM

TO:	Roger L. Stancil, Town Manager
FROM:	George Small, P.E., Engineering Director JB Culpepper, Planning Director Gordon Sutherland, Principal Long Range Planner Kumar Neppalli, Engineering Services Manager
SUBJECT:	Response to a Petition for Designated Bike Lanes on South Columbia Street between Manning Drive and South Road
DATE:	May 7, 2007

PURPOSE

The following information responds to a petition submitted by the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board requesting installation of a designated bicycle lane on South Columbia Street between Manning Drive and South Road.  Please refer to the attached petition (Attachment 1) and area map (Attachment 2).

The attached resolution would authorize the following interim lane configuration on South Columbia Street between Manning Drive and South Road:

• one 14-foot wide bus lane
• two 12-foot wide travel lanes
• one 5-foot wide striped bicycle lane

We recommend that the Council adopt the attached resolution.

BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION

At its April 11, 2007 meeting, the Council received a petition from the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board requesting installation of a five-foot wide designated bicycle lane on South Columbia Street between Manning Drive and South Road.  The Board indicated in its petition that, because the proposed State TIP Project on South Columbia Street between Purefoy Road and Manning Drive includes designated bicycle lanes, it would be reasonable for the north-bound bicycle lane to continue on the one-way section of South Columbia Street between Manning Drive and South Road. 

At its October 3, 2001 meeting, the Town Council approved the following improvements on South Columbia Street as part of the University Development Plan:

1. Columbia Street and South Road Intersection: Reconstruct the separate right-turn slip lane from South Columbia Street onto South Road to provide a tighter urban-type intersection.  The University completed this project in Fall of 2006.
2. South Columbia Street between Manning Drive and South Road:
   • Narrow the street to three lanes (two 11-foot traffic lanes and one 14-foot bus/bicycle lane on the east side).
   • Widen the eastern sidewalk by four feet to narrow the pavement to the required dimensions noted above.
   • At the southern end of the street section, eliminate the excess pavement on the west side by extending the curb out to achieve a symmetrical section.

The University has developed design plans for the above roadway configuration to include two 11-foot wide travel lanes and one 14-foot wide bus/bicycle lane.  The project also includes installation of a mid-block pedestrian traffic signal at Medical Drive and landscaping improvements, sidewalk relocation, and service pull-offs along the corridor to discourage jay-walking. The University expects to receive bids for this project in May. 

The State TIP Project on South Columbia Street between Purefoy Road and Manning Drive, which includes bicycle lanes on both sides of the road, is expected to start construction in 2009.

The University has agreed to the following work plan if the Town Council and N.C. Department of Transportation approve the requested bicycle lane:

• Temporarily restripe South Columbia Street between Manning Drive and South Road to accommodate a bike lane as requested by the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board.
• Defer construction of remaining improvements (mid-block signalized crosswalk at Medical Drive, landscaping improvements, sidewalk relocation, and service pull-offs) until 2009, to be completed prior to the State’s South Columbia Street Project.

Please see Attachment 3 for the written response from the University. 

Existing, proposed, and interim-final recommended lane configurations for South Columbia Street between Manning Drive and South Road are provided in Attachment 4.

Town and the University staff met with the State concerning the proposed lane configurations and the State has agreed to the interim and final recommendations including the addition of the bike lane.

We think this is a reasonable approach to this matter, and we recommend that the Council adopt the attached resolution that would allow the University to defer construction of the previously stipulated lane configuration on South Columbia Street between Manning Drive and South Road until 2009.

If the attached resolution is approved by the Council, the Manager would approve a minor modification to the Development Plan stipulations as discussed above, regarding lane configurations on South Columbia Street between Manning Drive and South Road.

The University has agreed to develop the interim lane configuration plan and install them at no cost to the Town.

RECOMMENDATION

We recommend that the Council approve the attached resolution that would authorize the following interim lane configuration on South Columbia Street between Manning Drive and South Road:

• one 14-foot wide bus lane
• two 12-foot wide travel lanes
• one 5-foot wide striped bicycle lane

ATTACHMENTS

1. Petition from the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board (p. 5).
2. Area Map (p. 6).
3. Response from the University (p. 8).
4. Existing, Proposed, and Recommended Lane Configuration Conditions (p. 9).