AGENDA #3s

MEMORANDUM

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

FROM:            Council Member Ed Harrison

SUBJECT:       Status of U.S. 15-501/ NC 54 Fixed Guideway Corridor in Chapel Hill

DATE:             January 15, 2004

In October 2001, the Town Council gave comments and recommendations to the Durham-Chapel Hill- Carrboro MPO on the U.S. 15-501 Major Investment Study (Phase Two).  In 2002-03, Mayor Foy and Council Member Strom participated in a Feasibility Study Committee on the NC 54/I-40 Corridor.  Inside Chapel Hill, the proposed Fixed-Guideway Corridor for the former is identical to the potential NC 54 corridor.  The Triangle Transit Authority and the jurisdictions which participated in both studies are confronting questions of corridor protection and reservation with increasing frequency. 

The most recent and significant question for our Town probably involves the new UNC Married Student Housing project along Mason Farm Road, and whether the Council’s vote for this will actually lead to protection of a Fixed Guideway Corridor which will be feasible to build and use.  My intention is to re-start Council discussion and analysis of this issue, with active inclusion of our new members.