Implementation Report on Recommendations for Improvements at and in the Vicinity of the NC 54/Hamilton Road Intersection

SUBJECT: Implementation Report on Recommendations for Improvements at and in the Vicinity of the NC 54/Hamilton Road Intersection

This report discusses the implementation of the recommendations of the “Special Work Group to Study the NC 54/Hamilton Road Intersection Area” regarding pedestrian safety and mobility issues at this intersection.

BACKGROUND

At the November 23, 1998 Town Council meeting, we presented a report in response to concerns expressed by several residents and Councilmembers regarding pedestrian issues at the NC 54/Hamilton Road intersection. We proposed that the Town Transportation Board lead a Work Group of citizens to compile and evaluate improvement ideas for the NC 54/Hamilton Road intersection, and to make recommendations to the Council of those improvements that would be most feasible and effective. The Work Group, comprised of 15 residents and 3 members of the Town Transportation Board, began meeting in February 1999.

At the July 7, 1999 Town Council meeting, members of the Work Group presented its June 28, 1999 report and recommendations, which were received and referred to the Town Manager for evaluation and comment. (A copy of this report is included in the attached September 27, 1999 agenda item #8.)

At the September 27, 1999 Town Council meeting, we presented our comments on the Work Group recommendations, including estimated construction and maintenance costs where applicable. (Please refer to the attached September 27, 1999 Council agenda item #8.) Based on our analysis, several of the recommendations required State approval for implementation because they would affect NC 54, which is a State road. The Council adopted the attached resolution R-11 directing the Town Manager to seek State approval to perform those improvements involving State facilities, and to proceed with those recommendations not requiring State approval.

The following are those recommendations adopted by the Council which DO require State approval:

3) Construct sidewalks and planting strips along NC 54 from Burning Tree Drive to Hamilton Road.

4) Place rumble strips in all lanes of both NC 54 approaches in advance of the NC 54/Hamilton Road intersection.

The following are those recommendations adopted by the Council which do not require State approval:

B. Work with the State to reduce sign clutter and confusion along NC 54 in the vicinity of Hamilton Road.

C. Provide uniform clothing and equipment to clearly designate school crossing guards, and make every reasonable effort to assure that backups are available in case of crossing guard absences.

D. Submit a letter on behalf of the Town Council to the Chapel Hill-Carrboro School Board requesting that consideration be given to developing a pedestrian education program in the schools.

E. Provide consistent traffic enforcement efforts at and in the vicinity of the NC 54/Hamilton Road intersection to the maximum extent possible with available resources.

On October 12, 1999, the Mayor, the Town Manager, and Town Traffic Engineer met with State Transportation Secretary McCoy to discuss various Town issues, including the above recommendations requiring State approval. Secretary McCoy referred the recommendations to Mr. James Lynch, State Traffic Engineer, for review and response.

The Council requested an update regarding the status of the adopted recommendations in January 2000, which is the subject of this report.

DISCUSSION

The State has completed its evaluation of Items 1-8 as noted above, and we have attached a copy of the November 16, 1999 letter from Mr. Lynch which identified those recommendations that the State would approve. The letter also notes the items which the State would agree to fund and those that the Town would need to fund.

The following are recommendations that the State would agree to fund and complete:

Item 3 – Provide a continuous sidewalk on both sides of NC from US 15-501 to Burning Tree Drive.

Item 6 – Provide school pavement markings, signs, and overhead school speed limit flashers on NC 54.

Item 7 – Provide pedestrian signals on all approaches at the NC 54/Hamilton Road intersection.

The following are recommendations approved by the State which would be the Town’s responsibility to fund and complete:

(This would require removal of an existing concrete island and curb and gutter construction, in addition to the landscaping and irrigation work.)

Item 4 – Place rumble strips in all lanes of both NC 54 approaches in advance of the NC 54/Hamilton Road intersection.

The State did not approve Item 8, which would prohibit right-turns on red at this intersection. The Town and State are presently working on Item 5, which involves reevaluation of signing along NC 54 near and at the Hamilton Road intersection.

If the Council agrees with the funding and construction responsibilities outlined in Mr. Lynch’s letter, a municipal agreement would be prepared which would define responsibilities, cost-sharing, and scheduling.

The following is an update on adopted recommendations not requiring State approval:

Relating to Item 3 above, we have completed design work for these sidewalk improvements and are awaiting State approval to solicit bids. We expect to receive approval to bid in March 2000, in which case the sidewalks could be constructed next summer.

If it is agreed that the State would construct a portion of the sidewalk improvements (as discussed in Item 3 above) the corresponding portion of our current sidewalk improvement budget could be assigned to other projects.

Item B. Work with the State to reduce sign clutter and confusion along NC 54 in the vicinity of Hamilton Road.

Relating to Item 5 above, we are presently working with the State to review the signing in this area with an objective to reduce clutter and improve clarity to the extent possible.

Item C. Provide uniform clothing and equipment to clearly designate school crossing guards, and make every reasonable effort to assure that backups are available in case of crossing guard absences.

The Police Department has provided hats and improved vests as part of the school crossing guards’ uniform and the Police will continue to carefully monitor and implement policies and procedures to assure that backups are available in case of crossing guard absences.

On a related issue, the Police Department is presently recruiting for two additional crossing guards to serve at the NC 54/Hamilton Road intersection. These guards are expected to be hired and trained for duty by March or April 2000. However, it is our understanding that the School system will continue to consider this a “no walk” zone and will continue to provide bus service whether or not crossing guards are assigned.

Item D. Submit a letter on behalf of the Town Council to the Chapel Hill-Carrboro School Board requesting that consideration be given to developing a pedestrian education program in the schools.

The Mayor submitted a letter to the School Board in December 1999 requesting that consideration be given to developing a pedestrian education program in the schools. We have not received the Board’s response to date.

Item E. Provide consistent traffic enforcement efforts at and in the vicinity of the NC 54/Hamilton Road intersection to the maximum extent possible with available resources.

The Chapel Hill Police Department now schedules this area for traffic enforcement on a routine basis and patrols will be scheduled to the extent possible based on other community-wide needs and available resources.

The following table compares Town and State cost estimates for those items the State proposes for funding and construction by the Town:

	Town’s Estimate	State’s Estimate
Create textured and colored crosswalks	$ 25,000	$ 24,000
Landscape the NC 54 medians from US 15-501 to Burning Tree Drive	121,200	210,500
Place rumble strips in all lanes of both NC 54 approaches in advance of the NC 54/Hamilton Road intersection	15,000	4,000
TOTAL	$161,200	$238,500

We discussed the discrepancies in the estimates with the State, and determined that both the Town and State developed their respective estimates based on previous project costs. We believe that our cost estimates more closely reflect actual costs the Town could expect to incur if we undertake these projects.

We think that funding for implementation of the Work Group recommendations for which the Town would be responsible could come from Surface Transportation Program - Direct Allocation funds through our MPO Transportation Advisory Committee. This program requires a 20% local government cost share.

The proposed improvements would have to be brought to the Transportation Advisory Committee for funding consideration. We do not expect funding to be available for these projects until Fiscal Year 2000-2001 due to other projects already identified for currently available Direct Allocation funding. If such funding were approved next year, the Town share could come from our Capital Improvements Program which has $40,000 currently available for “traffic calming” projects Town-wide.

We will continue to work with the State and the School system to improve pedestrian safety and mobility concerns at and around the NC 54/Hamilton Road intersection.

Unless directed otherwise, we will request that the State prepare a municipal agreement for improvements outlined in the November 16, 1999 letter from the State and as discussed in this report.

We will also begin working with our Transportation Advisory Committee to obtain Direct Allocation funds to construct those improvements for which the Town would be responsible.