AGENDA #4h
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Process for Developing a Sidewalk and Bicycle Facilities Construction Plan
DATE: October 11, 2004
The purpose of the report is to recommend a process for developing a Sidewalk and Bicycle Facilities Plan.
Adoption of the attached Resolution A would schedule a November 8 public forum on developing a sidewalk and bicycle facilities construction plan for 2004-05.
Resolution B would authorize the expenditure of residual Capital Improvements Program funds for completion of sidewalks on Legion Road.
On September 8, 2003, the Town Council adopted a sidewalk and bicycle facilities construction plan for 2003-04. The resolution approved continuing work on ten sidewalk projects that were identified for construction as funds allowed in 2002-03 (please see Attachment 1).
In November 2003, Chapel Hill voters approved $29.36 million in bonds, including $5.6 million for sidewalks and streets. On April 14, 2004, the Council established a schedule for the issuance of the 2003 General Obligation bonds (please see Attachment 2).
On September 20, 2004, the Council referred a Draft Bicycle and Pedestrian Action Plan to the Town Manager for recommendations to the Council on the draft action plan and how to implement it. Action on the long range plan is scheduled for October 27, 2004.
2003 General Obligation Bonds
During 2004, the Town will issue $4 million in bonds as the first in four projected bond issues between 2004 and 2009. The first issue includes $600,000 for sidewalk construction, $100,000 for pedestrian amenities and $300,000 for neighborhood traffic calming and pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements (please see Attachment 2).
State Transportation Direct Allocation Funds
It is also possible that as much as $200,000 in Direct Allocation funds will be available for the region as a whole beginning in October 2004. If the Town Council chooses to apply for a portion of these regional funds, a 20 percent local match would be required.
PROCESS
We will provide preliminary recommendations for a construction program to the Council at the public forum. We anticipate identifying a list of projects that will allow flexibility in scheduling the work that will be programmed by public works crews. We acknowledge that most projects will require more than one year to plan, design and acquire rights-of-way or easements. We also acknowledge that projects involving works to State-maintained streets will require approvals and likely funds from the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), so this will influence planning and lead in time.
Adoption of the attached resolution would schedule a public forum on the sidewalk and bicycle facilities construction plan for November 8, 2004. We propose the following schedule:
October 11: Schedule public forum
November 8 : Council receives preliminary staff recommendations and holds a public forum.
November 16: Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board reviews preliminary staff recommendations and makes recommendation to Town Council.
November 16: Transportation Board reviews preliminary staff recommendations and makes recommendation to Town Council.
December 6: Council selects projects for funding.
Capital Improvements Program Funds
About $50,000 is available from residual Capital Improvements Program funds for new sidewalk and bicycle facilities projects. Please see Attachment 3 for a status update on projects included in the 2003-04 construction plan.
We believe that it would be beneficial to identify a project to construct now, before approval of the new construction plan. This would allow us to continue constructing needed sidewalks and would maximize the productivity of town construction crews.
In 2003 Town employees constructed two phases of sidewalks on Legion Road at the northern and southern ends of Legion Road. These sections were identified in the 2003-04 construction plan. However, there are still missing sections of sidewalks, 300 feet on the west side north of Clover Drive and 800 feet on the east side at the American Legion property. The last 100 feet of Legion Road at the intersection of Ephesus Church Road has no sidewalk. Please see attached Map.
We believe that it would be beneficial to identify a project to construct now, before approval of the new construction plan. This would allow us to continue constructing needed sidewalks and would maximize the productivity of town construction crews.
We recommend that the Council authorize with the remaining funds, construction of the missing sections of sidewalk on Legion Road.
We recommend adoption of Resolution A to schedule a public forum for November 8, 2004. We also recommend Resolution B approving construction of sidewalks on Legion Road as funding permits.
MAPS
RESOLUTION A
A RESOLUTION CALLING A PUBLIC FORUM TO HEAR CITIZEN COMMENTS AND INPUT REGARDING A SIDEWALK AND BICYCLE FACILITIES CONSTRUCTION PLAN FOR FY 2004-2005 (2004-10-11/R-5a)
WHEREAS, the Chapel Hill Town Council desires to develop a Sidewalk and Bicycle Facilities Construction Plan for FY 2004-2005;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council hereby calls a Public Forum for Monday, November 8, 2004, at 7 p.m. in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, 306 N. Columbia Street, to consider a preliminary Sidewalk and Bicycle Facilities Construction Plan for FY 2004-2005.
This the 11th day of October, 2004.
RESOLUTION B
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE TOWN MANAGER TO CONSTRUCT SIDEWALK(S) AT LEGION ROAD (2004-10-11/R-5b)
WHEREAS, the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill has available approximately $50,000 in residual Capital Improvements Program funds;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Town Manager is authorized to construct the missing sections of sidewalk on Legion Road as funds permit as shown on Map 1 of the Manager’s memorandum to Council of October 11, 2004.
This the 11th day of October, 2004.
SIDEWALK PROJECT STATUS
Council Resolution of September 8, 2003
|
PROJECT |
STATUS |
|
Legion Road #2 (south side), Clover Road to Ephesus Church Road |
Completed May/June, 2004 Construction by Town crews. |
|
Culbreth Road (south side), between Cobble Ridge Drive and Rossburn Way |
Unfunded: Cost estimate $36,000, difficult topography and utility constraints to resolve. Construction by contract. |
|
Seawell School Road #3 (east side), Savannah Terrace to High School Road |
Completed in 2002-2003 Construction by contract. |
|
McCauley Street (south side), Brookside Drive to Pittsboro Street |
Unfunded: Historic District, need to resolve question of impact on trees and agree appropriate materials with Historic District Commission. Cost estimate unknown at this time. Construction would be by Town crews. |
|
South Graham Street (east side), Cameron Avenue to Franklin Street (Community Development funds |
Completed in 2002-2003 Construction by Town crews. |
|
University Drive (north side), Pittsboro Street to Ransom Street |
Unfunded: Historic District, need to resolve question of impact on trees and agree appropriate materials with Historic District Commission. Cost estimate unknown at this time. Construction would be by Town crews. |
|
Legion Road #1 (south side), Scarlette Drive to Martin Luther King Jr. Street |
Completed May/June, 2004 Construction by Town crews. |
|
Ephesus Church Rd #1 (south side), Eden Lane to 15-501 Bypass |
Unfunded: 3,000 linear feet rough cost estimate at $50 per linear foot $150,000. Construction by contract. |
|
Estes Road Extension #3 (south side), Seawell School Road to Airport Road. |
Unfunded: 4,100 linear feet rough cost estimate at $50 per linear foot $205,000. Possible State “Moving Ahead” project to fund shoulders Summer 2005. Construction by contract. |
|
PROJECT |
STATUS |
|
Airport Road (east side), Timber Hollow Court to Homestead Drive. |
Funded: April, 23, 2004 executed inter-local agreement with State. Construction to be undertaken within two years of the agreement’s execution. Allocated $50,000 from CIP as local match for $200,000 in State project funds. Commence design work after Town Council consider NC86/Airport Road Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety and Mobility Study prepared by Highway Safety Research Center. Public Forum scheduled for November 22, 2004. Construction by contract. |