AGENDA #4v

 

MEMORANDUM

 

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

 

FROM:            W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

 

SUBJECT:       Preliminary Report on Ways to Improve Pedestrian Travel Around Town Hall and at the Intersection of Airport Road and North Columbia Street

 

DATE:             June 30, 2004

 

 

The attached Engineering Department Staff Report identifies several measures that could be implemented in the vicinity of Town Hall to improve pedestrian access and circulation. This report was requested by the Town Council earlier this year, following citizen comments received at a budget work session.

 

The Manager recommends that the Council receive and refer this report to the Transportation Advisory Board and the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board for comment.

 

BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION

 

The Town Hall/Fire Station property, which is the subject of this report, is a parcel of land bounded by Airport Road, North Columbia Street, and Stephens Street.  Please see the attached map.

 

The Town Hall and Fire Station One have been on this property for decades.  Major changes occurred on the property in the 1989-90 when the Town Hall building was expanded and the parking deck was constructed.  Minor changes around the perimeter of the property have also occurred over the years, including:

 

           Construction of sidewalk infill projects to create a continuous sidewalk along the east side of North Columbia Street between Longview Street and Carr Street.

 

           Installation of curb-and-gutter along the south side of Stephens Street to create designated on-street parking for Town employees.

 

           Creation of one-way traffic regulations on Carr Street (west of the fire station driveway).

 

           Construction of “bulb-outs” at both ends of Stephens Street to shorten pedestrian crossing distances at the intersections.

 

In an effort to improve pedestrian access to, from, and through the Town Hall/Fire Station property, the Council requested that we study the property and surrounding area to identify pedestrian access, circulation, and safety improvement opportunities.

 

Town Engineering Department staff performed a field study of the Town Hall/Fire Station area, including the surrounding street and sidewalk networks.  As a result of that study, several opportunities for improving pedestrian access, circulation, and safety were identified.  The attached Engineering Department Staff Report includes a preliminary list of potential improvement projects.

 

MANAGER’S COMMENTS ON PROJECTS #6 AND #10

 

We recommend no further consideration be given to the following projects listed in the attached Engineering Department Staff Report:

 

6.        FUTURE PROJECT – Make North Columbia Street one-way southbound between Noble Street and Airport Road.

 

We believe that making this street section one-way would create significant traffic circulation problems for cars, delivery trucks and buses.  We also believe that the problem of Airport Road traffic traveling at relatively high speeds and exiting northbound onto North Columbia Street could be mitigated by other measures listed in the report, without creating the problems associated with one-way travel restrictions on North Columbia Street.

 

10.      FUTURE PROJECT - Construct a pedestrian bridge across Airport Road between the south end of the Town Hall/Fire Station property and a location north of the North Street intersection with Airport Road.

  

We do not believe that this idea is practical from an economic standpoint, nor do we believe that most pedestrians wishing to cross Airport Road at this location would use a pedestrian bridge rather than crossing at grade.

 

We suggest that the Council receive and refer this preliminary report, excluding items #6 and #10, to the Transportation Advisory Board and the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board for review and comment.

 

Once the boards have reviewed, commented on, and supplemented the ideas presented in the Engineering Department’s preliminary report, we would return to the Council with a final list of potential improvement projects and request direction on those ideas that the Council wishes us to pursue further through the design and cost estimate stages. We would then bring those projects back to the Council for further consideration and action.

 

 

 

 

MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION

 

That the Council adopt the attached resolution receiving and referring an Engineering Department Staff Report on measures that could be implemented on and in the vicinity of the Town Hall/Fire Station property to improve pedestrian access and circulation.

 

ATTACHMENTS

 

1.                  Engineering Department Staff Report dated June 30, 2004 (p. 5).

 

 

A RESOLUTION RECEIVING AND REFERRING AN ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT STAFF REPORT ON MEASURES THAT COULD BE IMPLEMENTED ON AND IN THE VICINITY OF THE TOWN HALL/FIRE STATION PROPERTY TO IMPROVE PEDESTRIAN ACCESS AND CIRCULATION (2004-06-30/R-15)

 

WHEREAS, the Chapel Hill Town Council is interested in providing safe and effective means of access and circulation for pedestrians on the Town Hall/Fire Station property; and

 

WHEREAS, the Town Engineering Department has studied the property and has prepared a preliminary list of improvement measures for consideration; and

 

WHEREAS, the Council wishes to receive comments and suggestions from applicable advisory boards regarding the preliminary list of improvement opportunities;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council herewith receives the Engineering Department’s preliminary report and refers it to the Transportation Advisory Board and the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board for review and comment.

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council directs the Manager to return with a final report and recommendations for pedestrian access and circulation improvement projects on and around the Town Hall/Fire Station property, including recommendations from the advisory boards.

 

This the 30^th day of June, 2004.