AGENDA #4j
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to: |
Roger L. Stancil, Town Manager |
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from: |
J.B. Culpepper, Planning Director David Bonk, Long Range Planning and Transportation Coordinator Kumar Neppalli, Engineering Services Manager |
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subject: |
Recommendations for Bicycle Lanes on NC 86/Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard |
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date: |
June 27, 2007 |
This memorandum provides recommendations for the provision of bicycle lanes on NC 86/ Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. in response to comments received at the May 7, 2007 Council meeting. The Council requested additional information regarding the ability to accommodate bicycle lanes on the existing roadway without additional pavement.
The attached resolution would direct staff to work with the North Carolina Department of Transportation to re-stripe Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard with striped bicycle lanes and wide outside lanes to accommodate bicyclists.
In May 2006, the Town contracted with Lappas and Havener, PA, Landscape Architects to prepare an implementation plan for the NC 86/Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard Corridor. On February 26, 2007, the Council referred the Plan to the staff, Town advisory boards, and commissions for comment and recommendations. In April of 2007, a public forum was held to receive citizen comments on the draft Plan.
On May 7, 2007, the Council approved the recommendations of the NC 86/Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard Corridor/Town Wide Pedestrian Safety Evaluation Study. In response to some concerns raised about the ability to provide bicycle lanes through re-striping of the existing roadway, the Council requested that the Transportation Board and Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee review the issue and provide recommendations.
In response to concerns raised at the public forum, staff developed measurements of the pavement width at key locations along the NC 86/Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd (Attachment 1). These estimates are based on review of aerial photographs, supplemented by measurements taken at selected locations along NC 86/Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. Staff also evaluated potential re-striping options based on the various widths of the cross sections (Attachment 2). The options show various configurations for the inner lanes, outside lanes, center turn lanes, and bicycle lanes. Provision of striped bicycle lanes is possible where the pavement width is 65 feet or greater, but would require a narrowing of the five automobile travel lanes. In areas where pavement width is less than 65 feet, wide outside shoulder lanes for bicycles may be more appropriate, except for relatively short sections of the road.
Transportation Board (Attachment 3):
1. On May 24, 2007, the Transportation Board voted 6-0 that, pending approval from the North Carolina Department of Transportation, the Town of Chapel Hill pursue provision of striped bicycle lanes on the portion of NC 86/Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard between Homestead Road and Barclay Road. This section has a relatively wide paved section, with only short portions as narrow as 65 feet.
2. For the section south of Barclay Road to North Street, the Board recommended striping for wide outside lanes to accommodate bicyclists. The Board also recommended continued pursuit of permission to use the shared arrow (“Sharrow”, Attachment 4) marking as a possible pilot program.
Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board (Attachment 5):
1. On June 5, 2007, the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board voted 8-0 that, pending the approval from the North Carolina Department of Transportation, the Town pursues the provision of striped bicycle lanes for the portion of NC 86/Marin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard between Homestead Road and Barclay Road.
2. For the section south of Barclay Road to North Street, the Board recommended wide outside lanes and continued pursuit of permission to pilot the use of the shared arrow (“Sharrow”).
Staff Recommendation:
We recommend that the Council adopt the attached resolution directing staff to work with the North Carolina Department of Transportation to provide striped bicycle lanes on the portion of NC 86/Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard between Homestead Road and Barclay Road. This section has a relatively wide paved section, with only short portions as narrow as 65 feet. For the section south of Barclay Road to North Street, we recommend striping for wide outside lanes to accommodate bicyclists. The resolution also directs staff to continue efforts to initiate a pilot program to evaluate the use of the shared arrow (“Sharrow”) marking.
1. Existing Pavement Widths on NC 86/Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. (p. 5).
2. Possible Roadway Cross Sections on NC 86/Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. (p. 6).
3. Shared Arrow ("Sharrow") (p. 7).
4. Summary of Transportation Board Recommendations from May 24, 2007 (p. 8).
5. Summary of Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board Recommendations from June 5, 2007 (p. 9).