MEMORANDUM

to:                  Roger L. Stancil, Town Manager

from:            George Small, P.E., Director of Engineering

                        Lance Norris, Public Works Director

                        Kumar Neppalli, E.I.T., Engineering Services Manager

SUBJECT:      Approval of Resolution Supporting Improvements to South Columbia Street between Cameron Avenue and Franklin Street

DATE:            October 15, 2008

PURPOSE

The purpose of this report is to request that the Council adopt the attached resolution concurring with the State for several roadway improvements to South Columbia Street between Cameron Avenue and Franklin Street.

 

The attached resolution would support the following improvements on South Columbia Street between Cameron Avenue and Franklin Street:

 

We recommend adoption of the attached resolution.

BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION

Town staff recently met with the State staff and requested funding for the following projects in Chapel Hill:

1)      Improvements to South Columbia Street between Cameron Avenue and Franklin Street

2)      Construction of bus pull-offs on Fordham Boulevard at Old Mason Farm Road

3)      Replacing 36 catch basin grates on Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard between Rosemary Street and Estes Drive

4)      Replacing the deteriorating curb and gutter at several locations on East Franklin Street between Hillsborough Street and Plant Road

5)      Improvements to bus stops and street pavement on NC 54, South Road, and Pittsboro Street.

 

A detailed scope of the above projects, estimated costs, and location maps are provided in Attachment 1.  The State staff agrees to fully fund the above projects pending the State Board of Transportation approval.  No local share is required for these projects and it is our understanding that these projects will be presented to the State Board of Transportation at their next monthly meeting for review and approval.  If funding is approved, the Town will hire private contractors to construct these projects through a Municipal Agreement with the State.

 

The Mayor received a letter (Attachment 2) from the State requesting that the Council approve a resolution supporting the improvements on South Columbia Street between Cameron Avenue and Franklin Street. This is required because of the estimated cost of this project exceeds $150,000. 

 

The proposed improvements include the following elements on South Columbia Street between Cameron Avenue and Franklin Street:

 

We believe that the above improvements would enhance safety and improve vehicular and pedestrian flow on South Columbia Street. 

RECOMMENDATION

That the Council adopt the attached resolution supporting the following improvements on South Columbia Street between Cameron Avenue and Franklin Street:

ATTACHMENTS

  1. Project Scopes and Location Maps (p. 4).
  2. Letter from NCDOT (p. 9).