AGENDA #6
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Recommended Implementation Plan for Bicycle and Pedestrian Corridor Study of Old Durham Chapel Hill Road
DATE: October 10, 2005
PURPOSE
This report provides the Town Manager’s recommendations concerning the Draft Bicycle and Pedestrian Corridor Study for Old Durham Chapel Hill Road. We recommend that the Town Council endorse the proposed design of the improvements and support implementation of Option 1, which would construct bicycle and pedestrian facilities between US 15-501 in Chapel Hill and the New Hope Creek Greenway (east of Githens Middle School) in Durham. We also recommend that the Town Council request the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Transportation Advisory Committee seek additional funding to implement the study recommendations.
BACKGROUND
On September 19, 2005, the Town Council held a Public Forum for citizen comment on the Draft Bicycle and Pedestrian Corridor Study for Old Durham Chapel Hill Road. The background and a description of the study are set out in the Town Manager’s memorandum of September 19, 2005, please see Attachment 1. Attachment 2 is a map which shows the project limits.
The Metropolitan Planning Organization has set this project as its top priority for bicycle/pedestrian improvements. It has secured a total of $1.9 million in funds for the project. This includes $1.2 million from the federal Surface Transportation Program Direct Allocation fund (STP-DA). This allocation represents 80% funding, requiring a $300,000 (20%) local match. The local match requirement would be split between the City of Durham and the Town of Chapel Hill. We estimate the Town’s share would be approximately $120,000. $400,000 in State Bicycle and Pedestrian funding has also been secured for the project. These funds do not require a local match.
KEY ISSUES
The following comments and issues were raised during the public forum.
Five citizens spoke in support of the study recommendations for sidewalks and bicycle facilities along Old Durham-Chapel Hill Road.
Comment: We believe the proposed design of bicycle and pedestrian facilities along Old Durham-Chapel Hill Road will result in improved safety and expanded mobility for pedestrians and bicyclists. The proposal will also improve the design of the intersection of US 15-501 and Old Durham-Chapel Hill Road for all modes of transportation and facilitate safe bicycle and pedestrian movement across US 15-501. The design also incorporates the innovative use of traffic circles at the intersection of Pope Road and Mt. Moriah Road.
One citizen endorsed Option 1 and the use of bond funds approved in 2003 to meet the Town’s portion of construction costs.
Comment: The funding allocated for construction by the Metropolitan Planning Organization is sufficient to construct a first phase of the project, from US 15-501 to the New Hope Creek Greenway. The Study estimates that additional funds will be required to construct the second phase of the project from the New Hope Creek Greenway to Garrett Road.
The estimated costs identified in the study only include the costs of construction; additional funds will be required to acquire right-of-way, relocate utilities, complete a survey and prepare detailed construction design.
The Study identifies two possible phases for implementing the project. This includes Phase I, from US 15-501 to New Hope Creek and Phase II from New Hope Creek to Garrett Road. Within the Phase I portion of the corridor the Study offers three possible options. These include:
Option 1: Construct bicycle and pedestrian facilities from US 15-501 in Chapel Hill to New Hope Creek in Durham. The estimated construction cost of this option is $1.92. Additional funding will be required for right-of-way purchase and project design.
Option 2: Construct pedestrian facilities between US 15-501 in Chapel Hill and Garrett Road in Durham. Estimated construction cost of this option is $425,000. Additional funding will be required for right-of-way purchase and project design.
Option 3: Construct bicycle facilities from US 15-501 in Chapel Hill to Garrett Road in Durham. Estimated construction cost of this option is $2.1 million. Additional funding will be required for right-of-way purchase and project design.
We believe implementing Phase 1, Option 1 would provide the greatest improvements for both bicyclists and pedestrians. Based on unit costs for right-of-way prepared by the City of Durham we believe that an additional $375,000 will be needed to purchase right-of-way along the entire project. In addition, we believe that based on cost estimates used for constructing both bicycle and pedestrian improvements between US 15-501 and New Hope Creek, the construction cost for the remaining portion of the corridor, from New Hope Creek to Garrett Road, is approximately $700,000.
We believe that in order to construct the entire project proposed by the Study, the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization will need to secure $1 million to $1.5 million of additional funds from Federal, State and local funding sources.
We agree that Chapel Hill bond funds could be utilized to provide the Town’s share of the 20% local match required for the Surface Transportation Program Direct Allocation funds.
ADVISORY BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS
Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board Recommendation: (Please see Attachment 3) The Board supports the recommendations of the study and recommended that:
· Future detailed design work should address how best to accommodate bicyclists and pedestrians across the space restricted-bridge crossings.
· Wide outside lanes should be considered instead of striped bicycle lanes. This would reduce the costs of land acquisition and construction, because wide outside lanes would require less width to provide than striped bicycle lanes.
Comment: The design of the bicycle and pedestrian facilities across the I-40 bridge should be refined to ensure the safety of bicyclists and pedestrians. The Town’s adopted bicycle facilities policy states a preference for striped bicycle lanes and is consistent with the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Urban Area Bicycle Plan.
Chapel Hill Active Living by Design Advisory Committee Recommendation: The Committee supported the recommendations of the study and Option 1 for implementing the project. (Please see Attachment 4)
Comment: We agree that Option 1 should be pursued for implementation of the project.
Greenways Commission Recommendation: The Greenways Commission endorses the study recommendations. (Please see Attachment 5)
Parks and Recreation Commission Recommendation: The Board supported the recommendations of the study and suggested that a direct connection should be made from the northeast corner of US 15-501 and Sage Road, directly to Dobbins Road. This connection would increase the connectivity of the project and allow pedestrians and bicyclists to avoid the Dobbins/Sage Road intersection. (Please see Attachment 6)
Comment: We agree that that the option of providing a direct connection from the northeast corner of US 15-501 and Sage Road, directly to Dobbins Road, should be considered during final design.
Planning Board Recommendation: The Board supports the recommendations of the study and Option 1 for implementing the project. (Please see Attachment 7)
Transportation Board Recommendation: The Board supports the recommendations of the study and Option 1 for implementing the project. (Please see Attachment 8)
NEXT STEPS
Following tonight’s meeting, we will forward the Town Council’s recommendation and comments to the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Transportation Advisory Committee.
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.
Detailed design plans must be approved by the North Carolina Department of Transportation. We believe that it will require twelve to eighteen months to prepare and receive approval for the design plans and also to acquire easements and additional right of way. Construction would be unlikely to begin until FY 2009.
Manager’s Recommendation: That the Council adopt the Resolution endorsing the recommendations for bicycle and pedestrian improvements described in the Draft Facilities Study for Old Durham Chapel-Hill Road and expressing a preference for implementation Option 1. The resolution also recommends that the Durham-Chapel-Hill-Carrboro Transportation Advisory Committee seek additional funds for the project.
ATTACHMENTS
