AGENDA #8
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Mason Farm Road Feasibility Study
DATE: August 25, 2003
Adoption of the attached resolution would provide the North Carolina Department of Transportation with comments on a proposal to prepare a Mason Farm Road relocation feasibility study.
BACKGROUND
On May 14, 2003, the North Carolina Department of Transportation requested comments from the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization on a feasibility study to review the relocation of Mason Farm Road (Attachment 1). The letter requested comments by June 16, 2003.
On June 11, 2003, the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Transportation Advisory Committee notified the North Carolina Department of Transportation that it would not be able to prepare comments by the deadline proposed and requested an extension until September 1, 2003. On August 13, 2003, the Transportation Advisory Committee agreed to forward comments to the North Carolina Department of Transportation (Attachment 2).
The Chapel Hill Town Manager also responded to the request from the Department of Transportation, providing them with information on the Town Council approval in 2001 of the University Development Plan. The Manager also notified the Department that the Town Council would not be able to provide comments on the feasibility study until August 31, 2003. The Manager also noted that the Council had adopted specific stipulations on improvements to Mason Farm Road in their approval of the University Development Plan. A copy of the stipulations was attached to the Manager’s letter (Attachment 3).
DISCUSSION
The proposal to relocate and upgrade portions of existing Mason Farm Road was included in the University of North Carolina Master Plan approved by the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Board of Trustees in 2001. The Town Council took no formal action on the Master Plan. Attachment 4, drawn from the Master Plan, shows the proposed realignment of Mason Farm Road. The North Carolina Department of Transportation has proposed to prepare a feasibility study on the proposed Mason Farm Road modifications and related improvements. The feasibility study has been included in the 2004-2010 State Transportation Improvement Program adopted by the Board of Transportation in June, 2003. The Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Transportation Advisory Committee is reviewing the draft 2004-2010 Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program. At this time the Mason Farm Road feasibility study is included in the draft Plan. The Transportation Advisory Committee is expected to approve the 2004-2010 Transportation Improvement Program in September, 2003.
Planning studies of this type use funds set aside for project development and do not count against the State Transportation Equity Formula. Typically feasibility studies of this kind are the first step in including roadway projects in the Transportation Improvement Program for funding.
The proposal to relocate Mason Farm Road and create a new southern entrance to the University’s main campus has been included in the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro 2025 Regional Transportation Plan, recommended for adoption by the Town Council on December 12, 2002. Mason Farm Road would connect to both South Columbia and Manning Drive under the University proposal. The University proposal, which will be evaluated in the feasibility study, would construct a new roadway, adjacent to existing Mason Farm Road in some locations. Existing Mason Farm Road is a Town street.
We note that the Council considered portions of the proposed modifications to Mason Farm Road during the approval of the University Development Plan, which was based on the Campus Master Plan. On October 3, 2001 the Council approved the University Development Plan and included specific stipulation regarding modifications to the lower portion of Mason Farm Road. (Attachment 3) These stipulations include a provision that “the design of any street or transit facility to be built in either of these Transportation Corridors shall be approved by the Town Council prior to construction” (Stipulation 1-32, paragraph A).
As part of consideration of the Development Plan in 2001, the Council reviewed the possible modifications to Mason Farm Road in the vicinity of Fordham Boulevard. The Council did not consider the proposed modifications to Mason Farm Road south of East and West Drive that are now being proposed for study.
We believe that any feasibility study of the proposal to relocate Mason Farm Road should:
The inclusion of the Mason Farm Road relocation in a future Transportation Improvement Program should be approved by both the Town and Metropolitan Planning Organization.
RECOMMENDATION
Manager’s Recommendation: That the Town Council adopt the attached resolution providing the North Carolina Department of Transportation with the following comments on the Mason Farm Road relocation feasibility study.
ATTACHMENTS
A RESOLUTION PROVIDING COMMENTS TO THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ON THE FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR THE PROPOSED RELOCATION OF MASON FARM ROAD (2003-08-25/R-19)
WHEREAS, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has included the relocation of Mason Farm Road in the Campus Development Master Plan; and
WHEREAS, the North Carolina Department of Transportation has requested comments on the development of a feasibility study for the relocation of the Mason Farm Road;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council provides the North Carolina Department of Transportation with the following comments:
This the 25th day of August, 2003.
