memorandum
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to: |
Roger L. Stancil, Town Manager |
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from: |
Lance Norris, Public Works Director Stephen Spade, Transit Director Kenneth C. Pennoyer, Business Management Director Kumar Neppalli, Engineering Services Manager
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subject: |
Approval of Municipal Agreement for South Columbia Street Improvement Project
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date: |
February 23 , 2009 |
PURPOSE
The attached resolution would authorize the Town Manager to enter into an agreement with the North Carolina Department of Transportation for certain improvements on South Columbia Street between Fordham Boulevard and Manning Drive. The resolution also authorizes the Town Manager to:
We recommend that the Council adopt the attached resolution.
Preliminary estimates indicate that the financial impact on transit service can be in the range of $620,000 to $1.1 million (for all transit partners) to reroute the transit routes and/or increase frequency of certain routes to minimize the delay to the transit riders during construction. The estimated cost to the Town could be as high as $250,000 to $500,000. These estimates are rough and will be affected by the level of acceptable effects on service, actual timing and route of detours and other potential changes in the transit budget. We believe it important for the Manager and Council to know that this construction project, while yielding significant benefits to the Town, may require additional operating funds in a already difficult budget year.
The improvement of South Columbia Street between Fordham Boulevard and Manning Drive has been under consideration by the Town and State since the mid-eighties. The segment of South Columbia Street under consideration for improvement is approximately eight tenths of a mile in length. Please see the area map provided in Attachment 1.
After many public forums and work sessions, on June 24, 2002, the Town Council approved limited improvements and associated drainage improvements on South Columbia Street between Fordham Boulevard and Manning Drive. Detailed history of the development of this project is provided in Attachment 2. The proposed project consists of the following key elements:
The proposed typical section is provided in Attachment 3. The project is funded by the State Transportation Improvement Program and is administered by the State. The project bid date is July 21, 2009 and the construction is expected to start in September 2009.
Funding for this project is outlined below:
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Total estimated cost of the project: |
$4,400,000 |
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Town cost-share: |
$25,300 |
The Town is responsible for forty percent of the cost of the sidewalk on the west side of the street. The total estimated cost of the sidewalk on the west side is approximately $63,249. The estimated Town cost is $25,300. We have budgeted funds for the local share in the current Capital Improvements Program. A copy of the proposed agreement with the State is provided in Attachment 4.
CONSTRUCTION TRAFFIC CONTROL AND IMPACT ON TRANSIT SERVICE
The project’s construction sequence requires the roadway section between Mason Farm Road and Manning Drive to be completed during the day using lane closures and flaggers. This portion of the project has a wider existing roadway that can accommodate motorists and pedestrians while using flaggers to construct the proposed improvements.
However, the existing roadway from Purefoy Road to Mason Farm Road is not wide enough to maintain two-way traffic and pedestrian traffic while constructing the proposed improvements. The use of a one-way detour from Purefoy Road to Mason Farm Road will allow northbound traffic on South Columbia Street while southbound traffic, including buses, will need to use Manning Drive to Fordham Boulevard or Mason Farm Road to Fordham Boulevard.
Attachment 5 provides detailed information regarding options considered for construction and the detour maps. We note that the duration of construction can be reduced if the Town allows work during night time.
The project is expected have significant impact on the Chapel Hill Transit (CHT) System. CHT has 7-weekday routes (D, J, NS, V, CCX, CPX, and JFX) that utilize South Columbia Street to and from the University campus, from approximately 5:20 am to 12:56 am. These 7 routes account for over 512 daily trips along South Columbia Street, carrying over 15,279 passengers. During the construction process, northbound trips will continue to utilize South Columbia Street, assuming little or no delay as a result of the project, and southbound trips (256 weekday trips) will need to be rerouted.
Transit service options at this time include:
1. Detour Via Mason Farm Road:
a. Requires traffic signals at Mason Farm Road and West Drive, Mason Farm Road and Jackson Circle/East Drive, and at Mason Farm Road and Fordham Boulevard.
b. Removal of speed humps along Mason Farm Road.
c. Elimination of southbound stops along South Columbia Street between Mason Farm Road and Purefoy Road.
d. Relocation of southbound Ambulatory Care Center (ACC) stops on Mason Farm Road and South Columbia Street. (150 daily boardings).
e. Estimated Cost for additional transit service: $617,970
2. Detour Via Manning Drive:
a. Travel time would increase due to traffic volume and delays.
b. Elimination of southbound stops along South Columbia Street between Mason Farm Road and Purefoy Road.
c. Relocation of southbound Ambulatory Care Center (ACC) stops on Mason Farm Road and South Columbia Street (150 daily boardings).
d. Estimated Cost for additional transit service: $1,059,345
Additionally, CHT has 12 weekday routes (A, CM, DX, FCX, G, HU, N, NU, S, T, U and RU) that travel along Manning Drive (750 daily trips). It is expected that these routes will also experience delays, especially during the AM and PM peak hours, due to increased travel demands on Manning Drive. The project will require minor modifications to CHT’s weekend service but the cost impact will be minimal.
In summary, preliminary estimates indicate that the financial impact on transit service could be in the range of $620,000 to $1.1 million (for all transit partners) to reroute the transit routes and/or increase frequency of certain routes to minimize the delay to the transit riders during construction. The estimated cost to the Town could be in the range of $250,000 to 500,000. The attached resolution would authorize the Town Manager to program funds in the FY 2009-10 budget that are required to maintain transit service during construction of the South Columbia Street project.
NEXT STEP: If the Council approves the attached resolution, the Town will enter into an Agreement with NCDOT. We will work with NCDOT and the University to explore options for construction traffic control to minimize the impact to the public, transit service, and University services. We will provide a follow-up report to the Council in May regarding the construction traffic control including construction schedule, detour plans, and detailed estimated financial impact on Transit Service.
RECOMMENDATION
We recommend that the Council approve the attached resolution that would authorize the Town Manager to enter into an agreement with the North Carolina Department of Transportation for certain improvements on South Columbia Street between Fordham Boulevard and Manning Drive. The resolution also authorizes the Town Manager to:
ATTACHMENTS
