AGENDA #2.2

 

MEMORANDUM

 

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

 

FROM:            W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

 

SUBJECT:       Public Forum: N.C. 86/Airport Road Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Study

 

DATE:             November 22, 2004

 

 

The purpose of tonight’s public forum is to review a recently completed N.C. 86/Aiport Road Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Study. Copies of the Study were distributed to the Council on October 11, 2004.  Tonight’s Forum will also allow the Council to receive public comment and review the recommendations of Town advisory boards. A representative from the North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center will present an overview of the Study’s findings.

 

BACKGROUND

 

The University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center completed the N.C. 86/Airport Road Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Study as part of the Chapel Hill Active Living By Design grant. The Active Living By Design program is intended to increase public awareness of the health impacts of active lifestyles, identify barriers to mobility and promote greater physical activity.

 

The Study was undertaken in response to Council concerns about pedestrian and bicycle safety along this corridor. The Study was intended to review existing conditions, identify safety concerns and barriers to increased mobility and present possible improvements.

 

KEY ISSUES

 

The N.C. 86/Airport Road Study identifies safety and mobility issues, including the following:

 

  • The N.C. 86/Airport Road corridor provides the principle access into Chapel Hill from the north. The corridor has high traffic volumes and high speeds.
  • Significant pedestrian and bicycle use was identified within the corridor. High levels of transit use were also identified within the corridor.
  • The traffic volumes and speeds within the corridor, coupled with the design of current bicycle and pedestrian facilities or lack of facilities, have created unsafe conditions for bicyclists and pedestrians.
  • There are other design issues within the corridor, including wide curb radius, numerous driveways, wide intersections and integration of the Bolin Creek Greenway.
  • A large number of bicycle/pedestrian accidents were observed at the Umstead Drive/Hillsborough Street intersection with Airport Road.

 

The Study also identifies several strategies to improve pedestrian/bicycle mobility and safety within the corridor. These include:

 

  1. Provide a median refuge within the existing center turn lane to assist pedestrians and bicyclists.
  2. Complete pedestrian facilities.
  3. Enhance pedestrian safety and aesthetic environment.
  4. Provide consistent space for bicyclists.
  5. Improve intersection safety.
  6. Lower motor vehicle speeds.
  7. Improve sight distance at connectors.
  8. Enhance transit stop access and appeal.
  9. Encourage more walking and bicycling through changes in land use and design.

 

DISCUSSION

 

The N.C. 86/Airport Road Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety and Mobility Report highlights a number of issues along this corridor. We believe that the recommendations of the Report should be pursued, in cooperation with the North Carolina Department of Transportation. We have provided the Department with a copy of the Study and asked for their comments. We will include these comments in a memorandum to be provided to the Council on January 24, 2005.

 

We believe a detailed implementation plan should be developed to guide the design and scheduling of improvements in the corridor. Funding is currently available to provide signal improvements at Northfield Drive and construct additional sidewalks along Airport Road  between Homestead Road and Estes Drive. We suggest that these improvements be implemented consistent with the recommendations of the Study. 

 

NEXT STEPS

 

We recommend the Council refer comments made by the public and Council members at tonight’s public forum to the Manager and Attorney to prepare a recommendation for the Council’s consideration at its January 24, 2005 meeting.

 

RECOMMENDATIONS

 

Manager’s Preliminary Recommendation: That the Council adopt the attached resolution endorsing the recommendations of the Study and directing staff to prepare an implementation plan.

 

ATTACHMENTS

 

  1. Planning Board Recommendation (p. 4).
  2. Transportation Board Recommendation (p. 5).
  3. Active Living By Design Advisory Board Recommendation (p. 6).
  4. Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board Recommendation (p. 7).
  5. Greenways Commission Recommendation (p. 8).

 

A RESOLUTION ENDORSING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE NC 86/AIRPORT ROAD PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE SAFETY AND MOBILITY STUDY

 

WHEREAS, NC 86/Airport Road corridor is an important transportation corridor for the Town of Chapel Hill; and

 

WHEREAS, the NC86/Airport Road Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety and Mobility Report Card provides an assessment of current conditions within the corridor; and

 

WHEREAS, Study has identified improvements within the NC 86/Airport Road corridor that would improve safety and mobility for pedestrians and bicyclists.

 

WHEREAS, the Town Council has reviewed the recommendations of the NC 86/Airport Road Study.

 

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council endorses the recommendations of the NC 86/Airport Road Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety and Mobility Study.

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council directs the Manager to develop a plan to implement the recommendations of the Study.

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council directs that future improvements within the NC 86/Airport Road corridor be consistent with recommendations of the Study.

 

This the _______of____________.