Agenda #7 | Update on 2006-2007 Sidewalk Construction Program

AGENDA #7

MEMORANDUM

TO:	Roger L. Stancil, Town Manager
FROM:	J.B. Culpepper, Planning Director David Bonk, Long Range and Transportation Planning Coordinator
DATE:	January 28, 2008
SUBJECT:	Update on 2006-2007 Sidewalk Construction Program

This memorandum provides an update on the implementation of the 2006-2007 Chapel Hill sidewalk construction program.

BACKGROUND

On January 22, 2007 the Council adopted the sidewalk construction program for 2006-2007. (Attachment 1). The plan included a list of 15 sidewalk projects developed using the project ranking criteria. The list included two projects, North Street and Hillsborough Road, carried over from the 2005-2006 construction program. Approximately $720,000 was available to construct these projects. Because the total estimated construction cost of the projects included on the list exceeded the anticipated funding available, the Council authorized the staff to select projects in a manner that would maximize the effectiveness of the program.

Subsequent to the adoption of the sidewalk construction program it was determined that a portion of the bond interest accumulated on the balance of bond funds could be used for sidewalk construction. The amount of additional funds is approximately $157,000.

DISCUSSION

Since the approval of the sidewalk construction program we have completed or initiated the construction of several projects. These include:

Gomains Avenue, south side, from Craig Street to Bynum Street. Status: Project completed
Sykes Street, east side, from Gomains Avenue to Whitaker Street. Status: Project completed.
Caldwell Street, south side, from Church Street to N. Columbia Street: Included in the Northside Pedestrian Mobility Plan. Status: Project complete.
Pritchard Avenue Ext. and Longview Street, from Umstead Drive to N. Columbia Street. Status: Project Completed.
Hillsborough Street (south side) Bolinwood Drive to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Status: Under construction
Mitchell Lane, west side, from Lindsay Street to McDade/Robers on Street and from McDade/Roberson Street to Caldwell. Status: Under construction

The following projects are expected to begin construction in the next several months:

Tinkerbell Road, west side, Ephesus Church Road to Fountain Ridge Road
Plant Road from E. Franklin Street to Community Center
Sedgefield Drive from Weaver Dairy Road to Honeysuckle Road
McMasters Street, south side, from Church Street to Edwards Street:

In addition to these projects we have set aside bond funds as the required local match for funds provided by the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Urban Area for pedestrian improvements. These projects include $200,000 for pedestrian facilities along Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, consistent with the recommendation of the adopted NC 86/Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd Pedestrian Safety Study. The local match for this project is $50,000, making the total project budget $250,000. The Town is coordinating with the North Carolina Department of Transportation to initiate the pedestrian projects along Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

We have also set aside $85,000 as the local match for the bicycle and pedestrian improvements to Old Durham-Chapel Hill Road, between US 15-501 in Chapel Hill and Garrett Road in Durham. Chapel Hill and Durham have agreed to provide the local match for this project. The total cost of the project is estimated to be $3,428,000 and the Chapel Hill portion of the 20% local match is $239,960, to be paid over three years.

With the completion of these projects, 11 of the 14 projects included in the list approved by the Council in January, 2007, will be implemented. The North Street project and North Graham Street project were removed by the Council due to neighborhood opposition. The other two projects, Honeysuckle Road, Sedgefield to North Lakeshore and East Lakeview Drive, Old Durham Chapel Hill Road to US 15-501, cannot be completed with available funding and we recommend their incorporation into the development of the next construction program.

We also propose to undertake pedestrian improvements at three locations not included in the adopted sidewalk construction list. Although we have generally limited the use of Chapel Hill bond funds to local streets and sought regional or state funds for pedestrian facilities along State maintained roadways, we believe the following sidewalks are necessary to increase pedestrian safety.

Estes Drive at Chapel Hill Public Library Driveway: In conjunction with the expansion of the Chapel Hill Public Library the Town has identified pedestrian safety improvements along Estes Drive at the Library Driveway. We have scheduled these improvements as part of the current construction program. We estimate the cost of this project is $125,000.

Erwin Road at Sage Road: As part of an agreement with North Carolina Department of Transportation to install a traffic signal at Erwin Road/Sage Road, the Town agreed to provide a sidewalk along the north side of Erwin Road between Sage Road and River Birch Lane. We have included this improvement in the sidewalk construction program. The estimate cost of this project is $125,400.

Ephesus Church Road: We have included funding to provide a sidewalk along the south side of Ephesus Church Road, east of Colony Woods Drive to Pope Road. Provision of this sidewalk will provide a continuous sidewalk for pedestrians, including children, using Ephesus Church Road to the Creekside Elementary School. This project is estimated to cost $36,000.

The Town is currently discussing the specific design elements of the sidewalk improvements along Ephesus Church Road and Erwin Road with the North Carolina Department of Transportation. The current cost estimates for these projects may be increased to reflect modifications to their design.

When the Council approved the 2006-2007 construction plan, they agreed to provide up to $50,000 towards the construction of sidewalks in the Gimghoul neighborhood. The Town’s funds would be provided if the neighborhood were able to provide the remainder of the funds for the project, which we estimated to cost approximately $242,000. Although there have been some discussions between neighborhood representatives and Town staff concerning this project, the neighborhood has not indicated they have secured the additional funds necessary to complete the project.

The current allocation of funds for sidewalk construction has not set aside $50,000 towards the Gimghoul project. We are attempting to secure funds from the Chapel Hill Community Development program to help offset the cost of construction of a portion of the Mitchell Lane sidewalk.

If we are successful in securing those funds, an additional $20,000-30,000 might be available to cover the additional costs for the Ephesus Church Road and Erwin Road projects or could be used for a portion of the Gimghoul project. The Gimghoul project could also be considered in the development of a future sidewalk construction program.

NEXT STEPS

With the completion of these projects, we believe we will have expended all available bond funding. As part of development of the FY 2008-2009 Chapel Hill budget, the Council will decide on the sale of additional bonds to fund sidewalk construction. The Council previously adopted a plan to sell $600,000 in sidewalk bonds in the fall of 2008.

In addition to using bond funds for future sidewalk construction, the Town has agreed to provide a total of $239,960 as the local match for completion of the Old Durham-Chapel Hill Road bicycle and pedestrian project. $85,000 will be needed in fiscal year 2008 and $70,000 in 2009.

We have not brought forward a sidewalk plan for 2008-2009 due to the lack of additional available funds. If the Council approves the sale of additional sidewalk bonds, the staff will initiate a process to gather input from Town advisory boards and the public on potential sidewalk projects and develop a proposed construction plan for the Council’s consideration.

ATTACHMENTS

1. January 22, 2007 Council Memorandum (begins new page 1).