AGENDA #10
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: 2003 Chapel Hill Mobility Report Card
DATE: October 11, 2004
The purpose of this memorandum is to present the 2003 Chapel Hill Mobility Report Card (Attachment 1).
The attached resolution would refer the report to the Town Manager, Town Attorney and Town advisory boards and schedule a public forum on the report for November 22, 2004. Mr. Ray Moe from L.S.A. Associates will attend the meeting and provide information on the Report’s findings and recommendations. L.S.A. Associates is also preparing a parking study for the Town and we will present the report to the Council in November 2004.
BACKGROUND
The Chapel Hill 2000 Comprehensive Plan included a recommendation that a community-wide mobility report card be completed on a periodic basis to assess various elements of the Town’s transportation system and monitor changes in travel behavior.
In 2001, L.S.A. Associates completed the first Chapel Hill Mobility Report Card. The Mobility Report Card provided data on various elements of the Town’s transportation system, including traffic volumes, transit ridership, bicycle and pedestrian counts. The Report also included information on the Town’s sidewalk network. The data was used to evaluate intersection level of service, changes in transit use and to establish a database on pedestrian and bicycle activity. Funding for the 2001 Mobility Report Card was provided by the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization, using Surface Transportation Program Direct Allocation funding. The cost of the 2001 Study was $71,000.
In August 2003, the Council authorized L.S.A. to undertake the preparation of a 2003 Chapel Hill Mobility Report Card. In addition to Chapel Hill information the 2003 Report includes a separate section on Carrboro (Attachment 2). While the Carrboro Report addresses specific transportation issues within Carrboro, other analysis such as corridor travel times and public transit services also includes Chapel Hill. Funding for preparation of the 2003 Chapel Hill and Carrboro Mobility Report Card was provided by the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization through the Direct Allocation Program. The cost of the 2003 Study was $92,800.
DISCUSSION
The attached draft Report includes the following sections:
The draft Report includes a comparison of data collected in 2001 and 2003 at the same locations, as well as the inclusion of base data from additional locations. Added to the 2003 Report is an estimation of multi- modal levels of service along specific corridors. The multi-modal evaluation attempts to assess the combined level of service for automobile, transit, bicycle and pedestrian activity.
NEXT STEPS
We suggest the Council refer the 2003 Report Card to the Town’s Planning Board, Transportation Board, Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board, Parks and Recreation Commission, Active Living By Design Advisory Committee and Greenways Commission for review and comment. We propose the following review schedule:
RECOMMENDATION
We recommend that the Council adopt the attached resolution referring the 2003 Mobility Report Card to the Manager and Attorney and various Town advisory boards. Adoption of the resolution also would schedule a public forum for November 22, 2004.
ATTACHMENTS
A RESOLUTION RECEIVING THE 2003 CHAPEL HILL MOBILITY REPORT CARD, REFERRING THE PLAN TO THE TOWN MANAGER, TOWN ATTORNEY, ADVISORY BOARDS, AND SETTING A PUBLIC FORUM FOR NOVEMBER 22, 2004 (2004-10-11/R-12)
WHEREAS, the Chapel Hill 2000 Comprehensive Plan includes a recommendation to complete a community-wide mobility report card; and
WHEREAS, the 2003 Mobility Report Card has been completed; and
WHEREAS, Town Council wishes to receive comments and recommendations from Town staff, Town advisory boards and the public.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council receives the 2003 Mobility Report Card and refers the Plan to the Town’s Planning Board, Transportation Board, Greenways Commission, Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board, and Parks and Recreation Commission, Active Living By Design Advisory Committee, and the Greenways Committee for review and comment.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Town Council schedules a public forum on the Plan for 7:00 pm, November 22, 2004, in the Town Council Chamber, 306 North Columbia Street, Chapel Hill.
This the 11th day of October, 2004.