memorandum

to:	Roger L. Stancil, Town Manager
from:	Lance Norris, Public Works Director JB Culpepper, Planning Director Steve Spade, Transit Director David Bonk, Long Range and Transportation Planning Manager Kumar Neppalli, Engineering Services Manager
subject:	Report on Transportation Impact Analysis Related to the Carolina North Development
date:	May 11, 2009

PURPOSE

The purpose of this report is to provide you the draft Transportation Impact Analysis (TIA) report related to the Carolina North Development. The Town staff and the Consultant will make presentation of the TIA at tonight’s meeting.

We request that the Council provide input on the report.

BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION

The Town Council, in June 2001 approved a process and guidelines for conducting a traffic impact analysis for developments in Chapel Hill. The process includes the Town contracting with private consulting firms to perform necessary traffic impact studies for proposed developments and the associated costs are paid by the developers.

We sent Requests for Qualifications (RFQ) to interested firms for the Carolina North TIA so that we can select a firm with nationwide experience with developments similar to Carolina North. We received proposals from ten firms. A Staff Committee reviewed the proposals and selected Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc (VHB). The estimated cost of the TIA is approximately $300,000 which the University agreed to provide the funds. Consistent with the current Town’s TIA policy, the cost includes the consulting fee for the preparation of the TIA and the Town staff time on the project.

The Town entered into an Agreement with VHB and the work related to the TIA including data collection was started on March 24. The draft report is now available and is posted on the Town website on May 5. Executive Summary of the TIA is provided in Attachment 1. Detailed report is provided in Attachment 2.

The Town staff is currently reviewing the report and is expected to make recommendations at the joint work session meeting on May 21. We think that some of the recommendations will be included in the Development Agreement for the Council consideration.

The Town staff and VHB will present the report at tonight’s meeting.

RECOMMENDATION

We request that the Council provide input on the report. We expect to finalize the report before May 21 based on the guidance and input received from the Council and public.

ATTACHMENTS

1. Draft Executive Summary of TIA http://townhall.townofchapelhill.org/news/current_issues/carolina_north/draft_tia/draft_executive_summary_of_transportation_impact_analysis.pdf

2. Draft Main Report of TIA