AGENDA #9
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Chapel Hill 2007-2013 Transportation Priority List
DATE: April 5, 2005
The adoption of the attached resolution would approve the 2007-2013 Chapel Hill Transportation Project Priority List and forward the List to the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Transportation Advisory Committee for use in the development of the 2007-2013 Regional Priority List.
The Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Transportation Advisory Committee has begun the process of developing the 2007-2013 Transportation Improvement Program. The Committee has requested that local jurisdictions prepare project priority lists for use in the development of the Regional Priority List.
On March 21, 2005, the Council held a public forum to gather comments from the public on the development of the Chapel Hill Priority List. (Attachment 1)
The Council’s 2007-2013 Priority List and comments will be submitted to the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Transportation Advisory Committee for use in developing the Regional 2007-2013 Priority List and the 2007-2013 Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program. The Regional List will also be submitted to the North Carolina Department of Transportation for use in developing the draft State 2007-2013 Transportation Improvement Program.
The following issues were raised during the public forum.
A citizen raised concerns about the lack of pedestrian facilities along Homestead Road, providing connections to Seawell School Road, Smith Middle School and Chapel Hill High School.
Comment: The adopted 2006-2012 Chapel Hill Priority List includes the Homestead Road project (#6). The proposed 2007-2013 Priority List would move this project to priority #5. The project would provide bicycle, sidewalk and intersection improvements between High School Road and NC 86. The North Carolina Department of Transportation is preparing a bicycle and pedestrian feasibility study for Seawell School Road, between Homestead Road and Estes Drive. This study will outline possible bicycle and pedestrian improvements within the Seawell School Road corridor. Seawell School Road bicycle and pedestrian improvements are included in the 2006-2012 Chapel Hill Priority List as project #5. The 2007-2013 Priority List would move this project to priority #4. The current Transportation Improvement Program does not provide funding for either project.
A Council member requested a comparison of projects included in the 2006-2012 Chapel Hill Priority List and the status of those projects in the Chapel Hill Bicycle and Pedestrian Action Plan.
Comment: We have prepared a comparison of projects (Attachment 2). The comparison shows that most of the bicycle and pedestrian projects included in the Chapel Hill Priority List are also included in the Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan. The majority of projects are identified as priority 1, 2 or 3. The greenways projects are not included in the Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan but are included in the Greenways Master Plan.
A Council member suggested that projects of a similar nature, such as greenways, could be combined in the priority list.
Comment: Several years ago the Metropolitan Planning Organization requested that projects be submitted by type, segregating bicycle, pedestrian and transit projects into separate categories from roadway projects. This process was the result of limited flexibility of the funding programs and the lack of funding program for bicycle and pedestrian projects.
Since 1991, the federal regulations governing the use of transportation funds have allowed more flexibility. In addition, several new funding programs were established to provide monies for bicycle and pedestrian projects. We believe that the combining of all transportation projects in a single list without regard to project type provides the most opportunity to take advantage of different sources of funding. It would also be difficult to provide the data necessary to complete the project ranking criteria for corridors. We would be required to prepare project ranking information for each project anticipated within proposed corridors.
We do support the concept that projects focused within a specific geographic area could be grouped together for funding purposes. The NC 86/Airport Road Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety and Mobility Study includes a range of bicycle and pedestrian improvements along the corridor between I-40 and North Street. The Town’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan also proposes geographic groupings of different projects.
ADVISORY BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS
In addition to comments from the public, Town Advisory Boards have provided the Council with comments and recommendations. We have summarized below the Advisory Board recommendations and provided staff responses.
Planning Board Recommendation: (Attachment 3)
The Planning Board reviewed the 2006-2012 Priority List and recommended that:
· The Estes Drive Bicycle project should be removed from the Priority List.
Comment: During negotiations with the Division 7 Board of Transportation representative it was suggested that the proposed Estes Drive project might be delayed due to the uncertainty over the possible realignment of Estes Drive as part of the potential development of the Horace Williams property. The Board member proposed providing funds from the Moving Ahead Program to provide expanded shoulders between NC 86 and Seawell School Road rather than provide funding through the Transportation Improvement Program.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation has initiated a shoulder widening project along Estes Drive, between Airport Road and Seawell School Road as part of the Moving Ahead Program. These improvements are scheduled to be completed by September, 2005. We believe these improvements will provide improvements for bicyclists and pedestrians. We propose removing the Estes Drive project from the Priority List.
Greenways Commission: (Attachment 4)
The Commission reviewed the 2006-2012 Chapel Hill Priority List. The Commission noted the importance of the Transportation Improvement Program to the Greenways Program and recommended that the current funding through the Direct Allocation Program be retained. This funding includes:
· $720,000 for the Morgan Creek Trail
· $624,000 for the Dry Creek Trail
· $640,000 for the Upper Booker Creek Trail
The Commission also recommended that the Bolin Creek Trail project, Airport Road to Estes Drive Extension, be elevated as high on the list as possible.
Comment: Funding for the three projects identified above has been provided by the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization through the Direct Allocation Program. It has been the Town’s practice to remove projects from the Priority List once they are funded. We suggest that these projects be removed from the Chapel Hill List. With these and other revisions the Bolin Creek Trail Greenway would be included as priority #10 in the proposed 2007-2012 List.
Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board: (Attachment 5)
The Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee reviewed the 2006-2012 Chapel Hill Priority List and recommended the following projects be included:
· Airport Road Corridor Improvements, North Street to Homestead Road:
Comment: The Town has received approximately $250,000 from the Direct Allocation Program for pedestrian improvements along Airport Road. Town staff is currently reviewing the recommendations of the NC 86/Airport Road Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety and Mobility Study, prepared by the North Carolina Highway Research Center. We believe that the funding currently available could be used to implement a portion of the recommendations of the Study. Implementation of the remainder of the recommendations would require additional funding from the Transportation Improvement Program. We recommend that the Council include a new project in the 2007-2013 Program proposing pedestrian and bicycle improvements along the NC 86/Airport Road corridor. We have included this project in the proposed 2007-2013 List.
· Fordham Boulevard Corridor Improvements.
- NC 54 and US 15-501
- US 15-501 South, Culbreth Road and Mt. Carmel Church Road
- US 15-501 North and Ephesus Church Road
Comment: These proposed improvements are limited in scope, incorporating improved pedestrian/bicycle crossings. The scope of the proposed improvements differ by location. The suggested improvements at the US 15-501 South/Culbreth Road/Mt. Carmel Road intersection and the US 15-501 North/Ephesus Church Road intersections may be less extensive than improvements within the NC 54/US 15-501 interchange area. We recommend including a project in the Chapel Hill Priority List incorporating these corridor improvements.
- Path/route using a combination of existing streets parallel to Fordham
Boulevard connected with new off-road paths.
Comment:. These improvements are included in the Fordham Boulevard Corridor project we propose to add to the Priority List.
- Bicycle and pedestrian crossings at selected street intersections along the corridor.
Comment: These improvements are included in the Fordham Boulevard Corridor project we propose to add to the Priority List. These projects could also be considered for funding from the Town’s Capital Improvement Program or the North Carolina Department of Transportation Small Urban Capital program.
· NC 54 Corridor Improvements: Fordham Boulevard to Barbee Chapel Road.
- Improvements for bicycle and pedestrians at NC 54 and US 15-501.
- Bicycle and pedestrian crossings at selected intersections
- Extension of existing off-road paths from Finley Golf Course Road to Prestwick Road.
Comment: We suggest that a new project, NC 54 Corridor Pedestrian and Bicycle Improvements, be included in the Chapel Hill Priority List.
Transportation Board Recommendation: The Transportation Board was unable to review the 2006-2012 Priority List and provide the Council with a recommendation due to lack of a quorum.
NEXT STEPS
After action by the Council, the 2007-2013 Chapel Hill Priority List will be submitted to the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Transportation Advisory Committee for its use in developing a Regional Priority List. It is anticipated that the Transportation Advisory Committee will approve a draft Regional List in May 2005, and release the draft List for public comment. During this period the Council will be given an opportunity to review and comment on the draft Regional List. The Transportation Advisory Committee is expected to approve the List in June 2005.
Once approved, the Regional Priority List will be submitted to the North Carolina Department of Transportation for its use in preparing the draft 2007-2013 State Transportation Improvement Program. Representatives from the Transportation Advisory Committee and the Department of Transportation will use the Regional List in negotiations concerning the development of the final State and Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Programs for 2007-2013.
RECOMMENDATION
Manager’s Recommendation: That the Council adopt the attached Resolution, approving the Chapel Hill 2007-2013 Transportation Priority List. We propose the following modifications to the 2006-2012 Chapel Hill Priority List:
· We suggest removing the following projects because funding has been made available.
-Morgan Creek Greenway (#7)
-Dry Creek Greenway (#18)
-Upper Booker Creek Greenway (#19)
With regard to Estes Drive (#3) we recommend the project be removed until there is clarification on the possible realignment of the road as part of any development of the Horace Williams property.
· We propose adding the following projects to the 2007-2013 Chapel Hill Priority List as priorities numbers 21, 22 and 23.
- Airport Road Corridor Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvements
- Fordham Boulevard Corridor Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvements.
- NC 54 Corridor Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvements.
ATTACHMENTS
A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE 2007-2013 CHAPEL HILL TRANSPORTATION PRIORITY LIST (2005-04-05/R-11)
WHEREAS, the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Transportation Advisory Committee has begun the process to develop the 2007-2013 Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program; and
WHEREAS, the Transportation Advisory Committee will develop a Regional Transportation Priority List for use in developing the Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program; and
WHEREAS, the Transportation Advisory Committee has requested local governments develop transportation priority lists for use in preparing the Regional Priority List; and
WHEREAS, the Council has received comments from the public on 2007-2013 transportation priorities;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council adopts the following list as the 2007-2013 Transportation Priority List for submission to the Transportation Advisory Committee:
2007-2013 TRANSPORTATION PRIORITY LIST
1. Transit Capital Projects (FY 2007-2011).
2. Upgrade Chapel Hill Signal System- Improve Chapel Hill signal system.
3. Old Durham-Chapel Hill Road: US 15-501 to I-40-Construct five-foot bikelanes* and sidewalks.
4. Seawell School Road-Improvements from Homestead Road to Estes Drive Extension, including turn lanes, bicycle lanes*, sidewalks and transit accommodations.
5. Homestead Road-NC 86 to High School Road, provide bicycle lanes*, sidewalks and turn lanes.
6. Estes Drive-NC 86 to Curtis Road, widen existing roadway to include two 12-foot travel lanes, four-foot bicycle lanes* and sidewalks.
7. Community Center to Willow Drive-bicycle and pedestrian connection to Bolin Creek Greenway.
8. Franklin Street/Bolin Creek Greenway Pedestrian/Bicycle Access: Install pedestrian/bicycle access between Franklin Street and Bolin Creek Greenway.
9. Estes Drive- Curtis Road to Franklin Street, construct sidewalk along entire length and provide pedestrian signal at intersection with Chapel Hill Library Drive.
10. Bolin Creek Greenway- Construct a greenway from Airport Road to Umstead Park.
11. Barbee Chapel Road- NC 54 to Downing Creek Parkway, provide sidewalks and bicycle lanes*.
12. Southern Railroad Greenway- Construct a greenway along the Southern Railroad right of way from Estes Drive to the UNC Horace Williams property.
13. Pope Road - Ephesus Church Road - construct five foot bicycle lanes*.
14. Piney Mountain Road-Improvements from NC 86 to Riggsbee Road, including turn lanes, sidewalks, bicycle lanes* and transit accommodations.
15. Mount Carmel Church Road: Improvements from US 15-501 South to Chatham County line, to be limited to include bicycle lanes*, sidewalks, transit and safety improvements.
16. Country Club Road-Construct a sidewalk on the east side from South Road to Raleigh Street.
17. Fordham Boulevard- Construct a sidewalk along the north side, Manning Drive to Carmichael Street.
18. Bolin Creek/Little Creek Greenway-Construct a greenway from Chapel Hill Community Center to Pinehurst Drive.
19. Old Mason Farm/Finley Golf Course Road- Construct bicycle lanes* and sidewalks.
20. Erwin Road: Construct bicycle lanes*, sidewalks and safety improvements, Sage Road to Durham County line.
21. Airport Road Corridor: I-40 to North Street- Bicycle and pedestrian improvements.*
22. Fordham Boulevard Corridor: US 15-501 South to Ephesus Church Road- bicycle and pedestrian Improvements.*
23. NC 54 Corridor: Fordham Boulevard to Barbee Chapel Road- bicycle and pedestrian Improvements.*
* Bicycle facilities will be determined consistent with the adopted 2004 Chapel Hill Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan. Projects in bold type are new.
Projects shown in bold type are new.
This the 5th day of April, 2005.