to: Roger L. Stancil, Town Manager
from: J.B. Culpepper, Director of Planning
David Bonk, Long Range and Transportation Manager
subject: Call for Public Forum on 2011-2017 Chapel Hill Transportation Priority List
date: September 8, 2008
Adoption of the attached resolution would call a Public Forum for September 22, 2008 to receive public comment on the development of a Chapel Hill 2011-2017 Priority List.
The Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Transportation Advisory Committee has initiated the process for developing the 2011-2017 Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program. The North Carolina Department of Transportation has also begun the process to develop the 2011-2017 State Transportation Improvement Program.
The Transportation Advisory Committee has asked that local jurisdictions prepare transportation project priority lists. These local lists will be used by the Urban Area to develop a Regional Transportation Priority List. The Regional List will then be used to develop a draft Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program. The Regional List will also be submitted to the North Carolina Department of Transportation for their use in developing the State Program.
PROCESS
The development of local transportation project priority lists is the first step in the process of the development of the Metropolitan and State Transportation Improvement Programs. The attached diagram illustrates the process for developing the transportation improvement program (Attachment 1). The Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Transportation Advisory Committee is scheduled to adopt a regional priority list on January 14, 2009 (Attachment 2).
The Town Council adopted a Chapel Hill Transportation Priority List as part of the development of the 2009-2015 Metropolitan and State Transportation Improvement Programs. We have used the adopted list to initiate discussion with Town advisory boards on the development of a 2001 Town Priority List. During this first review, the town advisory boards have beenn asked to comment on projects currently identified on the priority list and suggest any new projects for consideration. We anticipate a second review and comment period for the town advisory boards will follow before the Town Council submits their comments to the Transportation Advisory Committee. The TAC is currently scheduled to approve the regional priority list on January 2009.
We have provided below the adopted Chapel Hill Transportation Priority List for review. We have noted where projects have been either partially or fully funded.
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1. |
Transit Capital Projects: (FY 2007-2011). (Partial funding FY07) |
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2. |
Martin Luther King Jr.
Boulevard/NC 86 Corridor: I-40 to North Street- Bicycle and pedestrian
improvements. |
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3. |
Bolin Creek Greenway: Construct a greenway from Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. to Umstead Park. (STPDA funding, $750,000 in FY10) |
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4. |
Homestead Road: NC 86 to High School Road, provide bicycle lanes, sidewalks and turn lanes. |
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5. |
Seawell School Road: Improvements from Homestead Road to Estes Drive Extension, including turn lanes, bicycle lanes, sidewalks and transit accommodations. (Safety Improvements, STPDA funding, $150,000 in FY09) |
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6. |
Pedestrian and Bicycle Overpass/Underpass Across Fordham Boulevard: Construct a pedestrian and bicycle overpass or underpass across Fordham Boulevard in the area between Manning Drive and Old Mason Farm Road. |
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7. |
Townwide Intersection Improvements: Safety improvements for pedestrians and bicyclists in 15 locations, as identified in 2006 Townwide pedestrian safety evaluation. (See #2) |
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8. |
Estes Drive: NC 86 to Curtis Road, widen existing roadway to include two 12-foot travel lanes, four-foot bicycle lanes and sidewalks. |
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9. |
Estes Drive: Curtis Road to Franklin Street, construct sidewalk along entire length and provide pedestrian signal at intersection with Chapel Hill Library Drive. (Town sidewalk project, partially complete) |
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10. |
Pope Road - Ephesus Church Road: Construct sidewalks and five foot bicycle lanes. |
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11. |
Fordham Boulevard: Construct sidewalk from Ephesus Church Road to Elliott Road |
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12. |
Culbreth Road: Construct sidewalk from Adam Way to Smith Level Road (Under contract) |
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13. |
Barbee Chapel Road: NC 54 to Downing Creek Parkway, provide sidewalks and bicycle lanes. (Gateway Bank and Woodmont developments would provide partial implementation of sidewalks) |
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14. |
Southern Railroad Greenway: Construct a greenway along the Southern Railroad right of way from Estes Drive to the UNC Horace Williams property. |
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15. |
Franklin Street/Bolin Creek Greenway Pedestrian/Bicycle Access: Install pedestrian/bicycle access between Franklin Street and Bolin Creek Greenway. (STPDA funding, $150,000 in FY10) |
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16. |
Piney Mountain Road: Improvements from NC 86 to Riggsbee Road, including turn lanes, sidewalks, bicycle lanes and transit accommodations. |
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17. |
Mount Carmel Church Road: Improvements from US 15-501 South to Chatham County line, to be limited to include bicycle lanes, sidewalks, transit and safety improvements. |
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18. |
Country Club Road: Construct a sidewalk on the east side from South Road to Raleigh Street. Pedestrian path on East side to remain Chapel Hill gravel. |
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19. |
Fordham Boulevard: Construct a sidewalk along the north side, Manning Drive to Carmichael Street. Mason Farm safety improvements include sidewalk on Fordham |
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20. |
Bolin Creek/Little Creek Greenway: Construct a greenway from Chapel Hill Community Center to Pinehurst Drive. |
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21. |
Old Mason Farm/Finley Golf Course Road: Construct bicycle lanes and sidewalks. |
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22. |
Erwin Road: Construct bicycle lanes, sidewalks and safety improvements, Sage Road to Durham County line. |
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23. |
Fordham Boulevard Corridor: US 15-501 South to Ephesus Church Road- bicycle and pedestrian Improvements. (See #6 and #19) |
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24. |
NC 54 Corridor: Fordham Boulevard to Barbee Chapel Road- bicycle and pedestrian Improvements. (54 East, Woodmont (if approved), and Aydan Court (if approved), would extend combined bike/ped path along NC54) |
NEXT STEPS
We will return to the Council with recommendations for the revised Chapel Hill priority list on October 13, 2008. At that time the Council will be asked to approve 2001-2017 Priority List. The approved Chapel Hill Priority List will be submitted to the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization for the development of a draft Regional Priority List. We anticipate that the Transportation Advisory Committee will release a draft Regional Priority List at their November 12, 2008 meeting and hold a public hearing on the draft List on December 10, 2008. The Transportation Advisory Committee is expected to approve a final Regional Priority List on January 14, 2009.
That the Council adopt the attached resolution scheduling a public forum for September 22, 2008.