AGENDA #4h
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Scheduling a Public Forum on the Draft Bicycle and Pedestrian Corridor Study for Old Durham Chapel Hill Road
DATE: June 27, 2005
The attached resolution would call a Public Forum for September 26, 2005, on the Draft Bicycle and Pedestrian Feasibility Study for Old Durham Chapel Hill Road. It would refer the draft study to the Town Manager for review when it is released this summer and would also refer it to the Active Living by Design Committee, the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board, the Greenways Commission, the Parks and Recreation Commission, the Planning Board and the Transportation Board for comment. We expect to receive the draft study in July.
BACKGROUND
In 2004 the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Transportation Advisory Committee initiated the development of the Old Durham-Chapel Hill Road Bicycle and Pedestrian Feasibility Study. This study is intended to review options for providing bicycle and pedestrian facilities along Old Durham-Chapel Hill Road from U.S. 15-501 Boulevard in Chapel Hill to Garrett Road in Durham. (Attachment 1).
The Town of Chapel Hill has entered into a municipal agreement with the City of Durham to participate in this project. The City of Durham has contracted with Kimley-Horn and Associates to complete the study.
In April 2005, the consultants held a weekend design charrette and then prepared and evaluated design alternatives and constructability drawings.
On June 22, 2005, the consultants held a public open house to review maps and provide feedback on draft proposals for bicycle and pedestrian facility improvements to the corridor. Following the open house, a draft plan and report will be prepared and sent for review to the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization, the City of Durham and the Town of Chapel Hill.
DISCUSSION
The project schedule is to present a final plan to the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Transportation Advisory Committee in October 2005. After tonight’s meeting, the Town Council will meet again on September 12, 2005. We anticipate that a draft feasibility study will be released during the Town Council’s summer recess. In order to facilitate public review of the study, we recommend that the Town Council schedule a Public Forum for September 26, 2005. In the interim we recommend that the Town Council refer the draft study when it is received, to the Town Manager for review and to the Active Living by Design Committee, the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board, the Greenways Commission, the Parks and Recreation Commission, the Planning Board and the Transportation Board for comment.
RECOMMENDATION
Manager’s Recommendation: That the Council adopt the attached resolution calling a Public Forum to be held on the September 26, 2005 regarding the draft Bicycle and Pedestrian Feasibility Study for Old Durham-Chapel Hill Road; referring the draft study to the Town Manager for review; and referring it to the Active Living by Design Committee, the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board, the Greenways Commission, the Parks and Recreation Commission, the Planning Board and the Transportation Board for comment.
ATTACHMENTS
A RESOLUTION CALLING A PUBLIC FORUM ON THE DRAFT BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR THE OLD DURHAM-CHAPEL HILL ROAD (2005-06-27/R-6)
WHEREAS, the Town of Chapel Hill has agreed to participate in the development of the Old Durham-Chapel Hill Road Bicycle and Pedestrian Feasibility Study; and
WHEREAS, the work program for the project calls for a final study to be received by the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Transportation Advisory Committee Metropolitan Planning Organization in October 2005; and
WHEREAS, the Town Council wishes to provide opportunities for citizens and for Town boards and commissions to review the draft study and still meet this project schedule;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council hereby calls a Public Forum for September 26, 2005, at 7 p.m. in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, 405 Martin Luther King, Jr., Blvd., to consider the Draft Bicycle and Pedestrian Feasibility Study for Old Durham-Chapel Hill Road.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council refers the Draft Bicycle and Pedestrian Feasibility Study for Old Durham-Chapel Hill Road when it is received to the Town Manager for review and to the Active Living by Design Committee, the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board, the Greenways Commission, the Parks and Recreation Commission, the Planning Board and the Transportation Board for comment.
This the 27th day of June, 2005.
