TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: Dorothy Verkerk, Council Member
James Ward, Council Member
SUBJECT: Allocation of Moving Ahead Funding for Homestead Road
DATE: May 9, 2005
This memorandum reviews the proposal to fund Homestead Road bicycle and pedestrian improvements with North Carolina Moving Ahead Program funds. The attached resolution supports the allocation of Moving Ahead funds for the Homestead Road project.
Representatives of Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Orange County have participated as part of the Homestead Road and High School Road Safety Task Force. This Task Force is composed of elected officials, representatives from the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools and residents of adjacent neighborhoods. Representatives from the North Carolina Department of Transportation have also participated on the Task Force. Partial funding for the proposed improvements has been tentatively provided through Deputy Secretary David King and Board of Transportation Chair Doug Galyon.
The purpose of the Task Force is to develop recommendations for bicycle and pedestrian improvements along Homestead Road to improve safety and access to Chapel Hill High School, Smith Middle School and Seawell School Elementary School located along High School Road and Seawell School Road. We have both represented Chapel Hill on the Task Force.
DISCUSSION
The Homestead Road and High School Road Task Force last met on April 11, 2005, and discussed the status and implications of the decision by the North Carolina Department of Transportation not to fund the Homestead Road project and not to include the project on the list of projects for the Moving Ahead program. The Department of Transportation has suggested that the project could be considered as part of a future round of Moving Ahead funding.
At the April 11, 2005 meeting, Carrboro representative Alex Zaffron, suggested that the Carrboro Board of Aldermen might support the reallocation of existing Moving Ahead funds, $1.3 million, currently allocated to Smith Level Road improvements. Alex Zaffron, Orange County representative Alice Gordon and we agreed to ask our respective Boards/Council to support a request to the Department of Transportation “Moving Ahead” Committee to reallocate these funds to provide a sidewalk along Homestead Road and Rogers Road. The Task Force also discussed the need to ensure that the Smith Level Road Moving Ahead funding be allocated to projects in Orange County.
It is estimated that this project will cost approximately $650,000 (sidewalks/curb and gutter) plus $100,000 (signal at High School Road and Homestead Road intersection). This estimate does not include the purchase of additional right of way. The Task Force supported the full allocation of Moving Ahead funds if necessary to complete the Homestead Road project. The Task Force also supported initiation of this project in 2005.
RECOMMENDATION
We ask that the Council approve the attached resolution requesting that the North Carolina Department of Transportation allocate Moving Ahead funding from the Smith Level Road project for sidewalk and bicycle improvements along Homestead Road consistent with the recommendations of the Task Force. We recommend that the Moving Ahead funds be used for both construction and purchase of right-of- way as needed.
A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THAT THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ALLOCATE FUNDING FROM THE MOVING AHEAD PROGRAM FOR BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS ALONG HOMESTEAD ROAD (2005-05-09/R-20)
WHEREAS, representatives from Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Orange County have been developing recommendations for bicycle and pedestrian improvements along Homestead Road as part of the Homestead Road and High School Road Safety Task Force; and
WHEREAS, the North Carolina Department of Transportation had allocated $1.3 million in Moving Ahead funding for proposed improvements along Smith Level Road in Carrboro; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Carrboro and the Department of Transportation have concluded that they will not use Moving Ahead funds for the Smith Level Road project; and
WHEREAS, bicycle and pedestrian improvements along Homestead Road are high priorities for Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Orange County; and
WHEREAS, we believe the proposed improvements along Homestead Road are consistent with the goals of the Moving Ahead Program and eligible for Moving Ahead funds;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council requests that the North Carolina Department of Transportation allocate Moving Ahead funds previously allocated to the Smith Level Road project to the bicycle and pedestrian improvements along Homestead Road consistent with the recommendations of the Homestead Road and High School Road Safety Task Force.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council supports the use of Moving Ahead funding for the purchase of right-of-way as necessary.
This the 9th day of May, 2005.