AGENDA #4h
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Response to a Petition Requesting Relocation of Highland Woods Road
DATE: May 24, 2004
This report responds to a petition requesting relocation of Highland Woods Road such that its intersection with Old Mason Farm Road would be located farther away from Fordham Boulevard.
Adoption of the attached resolution would: (1) endorse the Alternative #1 conceptual plan for relocation of Highland Woods Road, (2) request State funding for construction of the improvement project, and (3) authorize the Town Manager to work with the University to secure dedication of right-of-way necessary for the relocation project.
The Manager recommends adoption of the attached resolution.
BACKGROUND
At its January 12, 2004 regular business meeting, the Council received a petition from Mr. Paul Neebe, 1002 Highland Woods Road, requesting that the Town consider relocating Highland Woods Road such that its intersection with Old Mason Farm Road would be located farther away from Fordham Boulevard (US 15-501 Bypass). Attachment #1 is a copy of the petition.
In his petition, Mr. Neebe states that traffic on Old Mason Farm Road often backs up across the intersection with Highland Woods Road, thus blocking traffic entering and exiting Highland Woods Road to and from the Highland Woods neighborhood.
Highland Woods Road is maintained by the Town. It intersects Old Mason Farm Road within 50 feet of the existing signalized intersection of Fordham Boulevard and Old Mason Farm Road. Highland Woods Road is a paved street approximately twenty feet wide. It serves as the only access to the Highland Woods neighborhood. Please see the map presented in Attachment #2.
DISCUSSION
Town Engineering Department staff visited the site and observed that vehicles on Old Mason Farm Road back up at its intersection with Fordham Boulevard, often blocking access to/from Highland Woods Road, as stated by the petitioner. This problem is significant during peak traffic hours.
Based on our preliminary investigation, we determined that Highland Woods Road could be relocated with minimal disturbance to existing public infrastructure or private property.
Relocation Alternatives:
We developed two alternative relocation possibilities, as shown on the map presented in Attachment #3. Both alternatives would relocate the Highland Woods Road/Old Mason Farm Road intersection approximately 200 feet east of its existing location, and both would require acquisition of right-of-way on University-owned property currently leased by the Ronald McDonald House.
If either relocation alternative proceeds to construction, the University would plan to relocate the existing Old Mason Farm Road entrance to the Botanical Gardens to align with the new location of Highland Woods Road.
Right-of-Way:
The Executive Director of the Ronald McDonald House gave a positive response for the proposed relocation of Highland Woods Road that would pass through an unoccupied portion of land it leases from the University.
We have had preliminary discussions with University staff regarding dedication of the right-of-way that would be necessary for the relocation alternatives. The University staff expressed preference for the Alternative #1 alignment that would require the least amount of right-of-way dedication. We have provided conceptual plans of Alternative #1 to the University staff to present to the University Property Committee for consideration.
We expect to receive the University’s response concerning this right-of-way by the end of June.
Neighborhood Meeting:
Town Engineering Department staff attended a neighborhood meeting hosted by residents of the Highland Woods Road neighborhood and discussed the relocation alternatives. All residents who attended the meeting supported Alternative #1 and requested the staff present it as the alternative preferred by the neighborhood. A copy of this report was mailed to all property owners/residents on Highland Woods Road.
Cost of Alternative #1:
We estimate that the Alternative #1 project would cost approximately $85,000 (exclusive of right-of-way acquisition costs) including the necessary grading, street construction and drainage improvements. We do not believe that significant utility relocations would be necessary. This cost estimate is based on the existing characteristics of Highland Woods Road such as no curb and gutter and no sidewalks.
Funding Options:
Old Mason Farm Road is State maintained, and it is possible that this project could qualify for discretionary small urban project funds available through our State Transportation Board Member, Mr. J. Douglas Galyon. Town staff met with North Carolina Department of Transportation staff and reviewed the relocation alternatives under consideration for Highland Woods Road. State staff preferred Alternative #1 and expressed support for the project, because it would improve intersection efficiency and safety. We were advised that the State would consider cost-sharing in the project if funding is available, provided that the Town Council submits a resolution of support for the project including a formal request for State funding.
CONCLUSION
We believe that the relocation of Highland Woods Road would improve traffic circulation and safety conditions in the area. We also believe that Alternative #1 would provide an effective improvement with the least cost and the least disturbance of property and/or infrastructure.
RECOMMENDATION
The Manager recommends that the Council adopt the attached resolution that would endorse the Alternative #1 conceptual plan for the relocation of Highland Woods Road, request State funding for construction of the improvement project, and authorize the Town Manager to work with the University to secure dedication of right-of-way necessary for the relocation project.
ATTACHMENTS
A RESOLUTION ENDORSING A CONCEPTUAL PLAN FOR THE RELOCATION OF HIGHLAND WOODS ROAD, REQUESTING STATE FUNDING FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT, AND AUTHORIZING THE TOWN MANAGER TO WORK WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA TO SECURE DEDICATION OF RIGHT-OF-WAY NECESSARY FOR THE RELOCATION PROJECT (2004-05-24/R-5)
WHEREAS, the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill has received a petition for relocation of Highland Woods Road; and
WHEREAS, the Highland Woods neighborhood supports the relocation of Highland Woods Road; and
WHEREAS, the Council received a staff report on May 24, 2004 including design alternatives for the relocation of Highland Woods Road;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council endorses the Alternative #1 conceptual plan for the relocation of Highland Woods Road as attached hereto.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council requests State funding for the proposed relocation project that would benefit the State road system.
BE IT FURTHER RESLOVED that the Council authorizes the Town Manager to work with the University of North Carolina to secure dedication of right-of-way necessary for the relocation project.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council directs the Manager to report back before the end of 2004 with the status of the endorsed project and associated State funding request.
This the 24th day of May, 2004.