AGENDA #5e
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Response to Petition Requesting Crosswalk and Sidewalk on South Estes Drive
DATE: June 15, 2005
This memorandum responds to a petition from Dino Lorenzini received April 11, 2005, to finish a sidewalk on both sides of South Estes Drive and to provide a crosswalk on South Estes Drive directly across from the Community Center (please see Attachment 1).
The construction of a sidewalk on the south side of Estes Drive from Franklin Street to Willow Drive is already scheduled.
South Estes Drive is a State-maintained street. There is currently a sidewalk on the north side of South Estes Drive from East Franklin Street to Fordham Boulevard. On the south side of the street, there is sidewalk from East Franklin Street to the Chamber of Commerce, from this point to the intersection of Willow Drive/Camelot Drive is a worn dirt path. At the intersection there is a pedestrian activated signal. (Please see map in Attachment 2)
The Town’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Action Plan adopted in October 2004, identifies the completion of a sidewalk on the south side of S. Estes Drive to Willow Drive as a first priority project for implementation. The objective is to provide permanent sidewalk connections to the Community Center. The Action Plan also reflects the Greenways Master Plan which identifies a future greenway extending from the current eastern end of the Bolin Creek greenway, east to Fordham Boulevard and beyond.
On January 24, 2005, the Town Council adopted an annual sidewalks and bicycle facilities construction plan for 2004-2005. The plan identified projects for construction using sidewalk bond funds issued by the Council in 2004. (Please see Attachment 3). The approved list of projects included eight sidewalk projects located on State maintained streets, including project # 3 for the completion of a sidewalk from East Franklin Street to Willow Drive. Design of the sidewalk is complete and the project will be put out to contract later this summer.
Approximately 500 feet to the east of the Community Center there is an existing pedestrian activated crosswalk at the intersection of South Estes Drive and Willow Drive. We referred this request for an additional crosswalk to the North Carolina Department of Transportation and the request was denied. The North Carolina Department of Transportation states that if the Town extends the existing sidewalk on the south side of Estes Drive to the intersection of Willow Drive/Camelot Drive, as planned, it would add a pedestrian activated crosswalk across Camelot Drive.
Being so close to the existing pedestrian activated crossing, we do not believe that it is necessary to provide an additional crosswalk at the Community Center. We believe that the construction of the permanent sidewalk as planned will make it much easier for pedestrians to use the crossing facilities at Willow Drive.
We believe that a sidewalk on the south side of Estes Drive east of Willow Drive/Camelot Drive to Fordham Boulevard is not warranted at this time. Travel to the east can be made by crossing the street to the north side at Willow Drive
Manager’s Recommendation: That the Town Council take no further action on this petition and that work continue as planned for the completion of a sidewalk project on the south side of South Estes Drive from East Franklin Street to the intersection of Willow Drive/Camelot Drive.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Petition from Dino Lorenzini (p. 3).
3. 2004-2005 annual Construct Plan project list adopted January 24, 2005 (p. 5).