AGENDA #1
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
DATE: September 19, 2005
PURPOSE
The purpose of tonight’s Public Forum is to review the Draft Bicycle and Pedestrian Corridor Study for Old Durham Chapel Hill Road. Attachment 1 is a copy of the draft study. Tonight’s Forum will also allow the Council to receive public comment and review the recommendations of Town advisory boards.
We recommend that the Council refer comments and suggestions received at this Public Forum to the Manager. The Manager will prepare recommendations to the Council on the draft study and will forward these to the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Transportation Advisory Committee.
BACKGROUND
In 2004, the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Transportation Advisory Committee of the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization initiated the development of the Old Durham-Chapel Hill Road Bicycle and Pedestrian Feasibility Study. This study was 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 (approximately 2.7 miles). Please see Attachment 2 (Study Area Map).
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 was prepared and sent for review to the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization, the City of Durham and the Town of Chapel Hill.
SUMMARY OF DRAFT STUDY
The study recommends:
It should be noted that the two roundabouts shown on the study drawings may be funded using other sources. Construction of the Mt. Moriah roundabout is a requirement placed by the City of Durham on a local developer of the Patterson Place development. Also, the Pope Road roundabout has been identified as a potential for State “Small Urban” funds according to Durham city staff.
KEY ISSUES
Funding:
The identified funding for construction is sufficient to build only a portion of the entire project, so additional funds or selective phasing of construction will be necessary.
The Metropolitan Planning Organization has set this project as its top priority for bicycle/pedestrian improvements. The Metropolitan Planning Organization has allocated $1.5 million for construction from the federal Surface Transportation Program – Direct Allocation (STP-DA). This allocation represents 80% funding, requiring a 20% local match. The amount available from the Direct Allocation program would total $1.5 million. The State of North Carolina and the Metropolitan Planning Organization have matched the federal funds with $400,000 in state and local funds. The local match requirement would be split between the City of Durham and the Town of Chapel Hill. While there is currently $1.9 million available for improvements to Old Durham-Chapel Hill Road, this is not enough funding to make all the improvements recommended in this report.
The draft study sets out three options to phase funding as follows:
Option 1 — Build phase 1 of the bicycle and pedestrian improvements from US 15/501 on the west to connect with the New Hope Creek and Greenway on the east. Kimley-Horn’s opinion of probable construction cost for such a phase 1 is $1.92 million. Additional funds would be necessary to cover right-of-way, utilities, survey, design and contingencies.
On-road Improvements (widening) $1,780,000
10 foot Multi-use Path (north side) $ 93,000
5 foot Sidewalks (north side of road) $ 47,000
Total: $1,920,000
Phase 2 would extend the project east from the New Hope Creek Greenway.
Option 2 — Build phase 1 of the project from US 15/501 on the west to Garrett Road on the east, building only the pedestrian improvements first. Kimley-Horn’s opinion of probable construction cost for such a phase 1 is nearly $425,000, leaving funds for right-of-way, utilities, survey, design, contingencies, and perhaps a portion of the roundabout at Pope Road. Additional funds would be necessary to widen the road to provide bicycle lanes, which would be expedited because right-of-way would not be needed at that time.
Option 3 — Build phase 1 of the project from US 15/501 on the west to Garrett Road on the east, building only the bicycle lanes first. Kimley-Horn’s opinion of probable construction cost for such a phase 1 is estimated at $2.1 million. This option exceeds the current construction funds available. Additional funds would also be required to acquire any miscellaneous right-of-way, utilities, survey, design and contingencies. For a phase 2, additional funds would be necessary to build the sidewalks and multi-use path.
DISCUSSION
Funding Implications: This feasibility study and the future construction of facilities are being carried out in partnership with the City of Durham through the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization. Funding for the study was provided from the Surface Transportation Program – Direct Allocation (STP-DA) and required a 20% local match, split between the Town of Chapel Hill and the City of Durham. A 20% local match for STP-DA funds, split between the Town of Chapel Hill and the City of Durham will also be required for construction of the project.
We suggest that the Chapel Hill portion of the local match could be provided from a future sale of the bond funds approved in 2003.
Detailed Plans: The feasibility study is a preliminary plan for making improvements in this corridor. It identifies a vision for the corridor and identifies what might be possible, the opportunities and constraints, and what would be needed to achieve that vision. The preparation of detailed designs would be the next step in the design process.
Old Durham Chapel Hill Road is a State-maintained street. Improvements must be approved by the North Carolina Department of Transportation. Therefore, the final design and specification of elements of the facilities envisioned in this study are subject to approval by the North Carolina Department of Transportation. The study has been provided to the Department of Transportation for preliminary review and comment. These comments will be used to help prepare a future detailed design of facilities.
The study includes recommended improvements at the intersection of US 15-501 and Old Durham Chapel Hill Road. These modifications are similar to those shown as part of the recent Performance Motors Special Use permit which was approved by the Council earlier this year. The study consultants took into account the Performance Motors development proposal as part of their work. The Council’s permit approval allows the Town Manager to approve the final design of improvements in this location. The North Carolina Department of Transportation will issue an approval for any works to the street.
Easements and Right-of-Way: In some locations easements and additional right-of -way would need to be acquired. For example the study envisions improving the existing gravel path which meanders through the Blue Cross Blue Shield property. This would involve reconstructing the path as a multi-use path. We believe this would require the agreement of Blue Cross Blue Shield. No formal approach has been made to Blue Cross Blue Shield at this time.
Phasing: The Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization currently has $1.9 million in funds for this project. The total project distance is 2.7 miles.
Option 1 in the consultant’s study estimates that for $1.92 million, bicycle and pedestrian facilities could be constructed for approximately two miles of the project between US 15-501 and the New Hope Creek Greenway (east of Githens Middle School). This estimate does not cover costs for the acquisition of right-of-way, utilities, survey, design and contingencies. On the basis that phase 1 of option 1 would cost approximately $1 million per mile. We estimate that the remaining 0.7 miles would cost approximately $700,000 for construction.
Option 2 suggests constructing the pedestrian elements first which would leave enough money for the acquisition of right-of-way, utilities, survey, design and contingencies. Additional funds would then be required for the bicycle elements of the project.
Option 3 suggests constructing the bicycle lanes first. The construction cost exceeds the money currently available and would require additional funds for the acquisition of right-of-way, utilities, survey, design and contingencies. Additional funds would then be required for the pedestrian elements of the project.
The estimated costs identified in the study only cover costs of construction. Therefore, except for Option 2 (pedestrian facilities first), additional funds will be required for the costs to acquire right-of-way, relocate utilities, survey, design, and contingencies. The total cost to acquire right-of-way through the corridor is estimated at $375,000.
We believe that in order to construct the project envisioned by the feasibility study, the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization would need to secure $1 million to $1.5 million of additional funds from Federal, State and local funding sources. The Town of Chapel Hill would then need to provide a 20% local match for the use of any additional federal Surface Transportation Program – Direct Allocation (STP-DA) funds.
NEXT STEPS
Following tonight’s public forum, we will prepare a recommendation for the Council’s consideration at its October 10, 2005 meeting. This will include a list of comments to be forwarded to the Transportation Advisory Committee of the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization.
On October 17, 2005, the Durham City Council is scheduled to consider the draft study at its business meeting.
In November 2005, the Durham-Chapel-Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization is scheduled to consider a revised draft study, which would take into account the public feedback and the recommendations from the project partners.
At the completion of this review process we anticipate that the Metropolitan Planning Organization will issue a request for proposals for the preparation of a detailed design for the project. We also anticipate that the Metropolitan Planning Organization will need to seek additional funding for phased completion of the project.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Advisory Board recommendations received to date are attached (Please see Attachments 3 through 7). The Greenways Commission will meet after the public forum date, indicated in the list below:
Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board Recommendation: The Board supports the recommendations of the study and highlights two items for more thought during detailed design. Please see Attachment 3.
Chapel Hill Active Living by Design Advisory Committee Recommendation: The Committee supports the recommendations of the study and Option 1 for implementing the project. Please see Attachment 4.
Greenways Commission Recommendation: The Greenways Commission is scheduled to meet September 28, 2005.
Parks and Recreation Commission Recommendation: The Board supports the recommendations of the study and suggests an item for more thought during detailed design. Please see Attachment 5.
Planning Board Recommendation: The Board supports the recommendations of the study and Option 1 for implementing the project. Please see Attachment 6.
Transportation Board Recommendation: The Board supports the recommendations of the study and Option 1 for implementing the project Please see Attachment 7.
Manager’s Preliminary Recommendation: That 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 October 10, 2005 meeting.
ATTACHMENTS
