AGENDA #8
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Proposed Weaver Dairy Road Improvements (N.C.86 to Erwin Road)
DATE: October 23, 2000
The following information regards improvement alternatives for Weaver Dairy Road between N.C.86 and Erwin Road. Please see the attached map.
The attached resolution would schedule a public forum to discuss proposed improvement alternatives for Weaver Dairy Road.
Improvements to Weaver Dairy Road have ranked high on the Town’s Transportation Improvements Program since the early 1990’s.
In April 1999, the Town and the State hosted a Citizens Informational Workshop to present information on proposed Weaver Dairy Road improvements. Two alternatives were presented at the workshop:
Alternative 1. Five-lane cross section with curb-and-gutter including a 12-foot center turn lane, four 12-foot travel lanes (two in each direction), two 5-foot bike lanes (one in each direction), and 5-foot sidewalk along both sides of the roadway.
Alternative 2. Four-lane divided section with curb-and-gutter including a 16-foot raised center median, four 12-foot travel lanes (two in each direction), two 5-foot bike lanes (one in each direction), and 5-foot sidewalk along both sides of the roadway.
Following the workshop presentation, the Council requested that the State study other alternatives for Weaver Dairy Road, in addition to those described above. The State agreed to study the following additional project alternatives:
Alternative 3. Four-lane cross section with curb-and-gutter including four 12-foot travel lanes (two in each direction), two 5-foot bike lanes (one in each direction), 5-foot sidewalk along both sides of the roadway, and additional widening as needed for turn-lanes at intersections.
Alternative 4. Three-lane cross section with curb-and-gutter including a 12-foot center turn lane, two 12-foot travel lanes (one in each direction), two 5-foot bike lanes (one in each direction), and 5-foot sidewalk along both sides of the roadway.
Sketches of these alternative cross sections are attached for reference.
The State has completed a preliminary evaluation of the alternatives, including differentiation between 5-foot wide striped bike lanes versus wide outer travel lanes (to accommodate bikes) for each alternative. The following Table One, which was prepared by NCDOT staff, summarizes key impacts, costs, advantages and disadvantages of each improvement alternative.
U-3306 WEAVER DAIRY ROAD WIDENING
Alternatives |
1 |
1A |
2 |
2A |
|
Description |
Five lane, Curb and Gutter |
Four lane, Median Divided |
||
|
Bike Accommodation |
Wide outside lanes |
5’ bike lanes |
Wide outside lanes |
5’ bike lanes |
|
Construction Cost |
$7,300,000 |
$7,850,000 |
$8,600,000 |
$8,775,000 |
|
Right of Way Cost |
$2,655,500 |
$2,655,500 |
$3,324,500 |
$3,324,500 |
|
Estimated Project Cost |
$9,955,500 |
$10,505,500 |
$11,924,500 |
$12,099,500 |
IMPACTS |
||||
|
Relocations |
5 Residences |
5 Residences |
6 Residences |
7 Residences |
|
Close Proximity |
3 Residences |
11 Residences |
9 Residences |
10 Residences |
|
Wetland Impacts |
None |
None |
||
|
Stream Impacts |
370 feet |
390 feet |
400 feet |
420 feet |
|
Historic Architecture |
None |
None |
||
|
Archeology |
None |
None |
||
|
UST’s* |
None expected |
None expected |
||
|
Park Land |
Avoided |
Avoided |
||
|
Country Road |
Removes road |
Removes road |
||
ADVANTAGES |
®Unlimited access to and from all properties |
®Median landscaping opportunities ®Substantial separation of directional travel lanes |
||
DISADVANTAGES |
®Limited landscaping opportunities ®Wide “runway” appearance |
®Limited access to some properties ®Most impacts/relocations ®Most cost |
||
*Underground Storage Tanks
U-3306 WEAVER DAIRY ROAD WIDENING
|
ALTERNATIVES |
3 |
3A |
4 |
4A |
5 |
|
Description |
Four land, Curb and Gutter |
Three lane, Curb and Gutter |
No Build |
||
|
Bike Accommodation |
Wide outside lanes |
5’ bike lanes |
Wide outside lanes |
5’ bike lanes |
None |
|
Construction Cost |
$6,100,000 |
$6,900,000 |
$5,100,000 |
$5,965,000 |
None |
|
Right of Way Cost |
$2,189,500 |
$2,189,500 |
$1,704,500 |
$1,704,500 |
None |
|
Estimated Project Cost |
$8,289,500 |
$9,089,500 |
$6,804,500 |
$7,669,500 |
None |
IMPACTS |
None |
||||
|
Relocations |
3 Residences |
3 Residences |
3 Residences |
3 Residences |
None |
|
Close Proximity |
3 Residences |
5 Residences |
2 Residences |
2 Residences |
None |
|
Wetland Impacts |
None |
None |
None |
||
|
Stream Impacts |
315 feet |
335 feet |
275 feet |
305 feet |
None |
|
Historic Architecture |
None |
None |
None |
||
|
Archeology |
None |
None |
None |
||
|
UST’s* |
None expected |
None expected |
None |
||
|
Park Land |
Avoided |
Avoided |
None |
||
|
Country Road |
Removes road |
May save road/not trees |
None |
||
|
ADVANTAGES |
®Reduced cross section |
®Least impacts/relocations ®Least Cost |
|||
|
DISADVANTAGES |
®No center turn lane ®Statistically less safe than other alternatives ®Limited traffic capacity ®Requires extra turn lanes to maintain capacity |
®Limited traffic capacity ®Requires extra turn lanes to maintain capacity |
|||
The alternative with the highest cost and greatest impact on adjacent properties is the median divided 4-lane cross section with designated bike lanes. The estimated cost is $12.1 million. This cross section would be identical to the recently completed N.C.86 improvements north of Homestead Road.
Comparatively, the least expensive and disruptive alternative would be the 3-lane cross section with wide outside lanes for bicycles. The estimated cost for this alternative is $6.8 million. This cross section would be similar to Merritt Mill Road south of Cameron Avenue.
CAPACITY CONSIDERATIONS
Currently, the average daily traffic (ADT) volume on Weaver Dairy Road is between 10,000 and 13,000 vehicles per day. The projected ADT volumes for the year 2025 are between 17,000 and 20,000 vehicles per day.
We think that all of the design alternatives could adequately handle current traffic volumes. However, we believe that turning lanes at selected locations would need to be included in the design of Alternative #3 (4-lane undivided) and Alternative #4 (3-lane) to adequately accommodate projected growth in traffic volumes on Weaver Dairy Road. Alternative #1 (5-lane) and Alternative #2 (4-lane divided) could handle future traffic volumes as proposed.
EXISTING IMPROVEMENTS
Several segments of Weaver Dairy Road have been widened to all or part of a 5-lane cross section as a result of Town requirements for adjacent private developments. Also, Weaver Dairy Road is planned to connect to Sage Road, which is an existing 5-lane roadway. The existing 5-lane improvements do not include designated bike lanes or wide outer lanes.
If it is the Council’s desire to improve Weaver Dairy Road to other than a 5-lane cross section, careful design work would be necessary to create acceptable transitions between the new and existing cross sections. It is possible that significant portions of the existing 5-lane roadway segments would need to be removed and reconstructed depending on the new cross section selected.
NEXT STEPS
The State is now awaiting the Council’s selection of its desired improvement alternative. Once that decision is made, the State would perform an environmental assessment of the proposed project and would hold a public hearing to solicit citizens’ comments before preparing final construction plans and specifications.
We suggest that the Council hold a public forum in November to receive comments from citizens and to discuss Weaver Dairy Road improvement alternatives. Following the public forum, we would return to the Council for consideration of a selected improvement alternative to forward to the State.
That the Council adopt the attached resolution scheduling a public forum to discuss proposed improvement alternatives for Weaver Dairy Road.
1. Map (p. 6).
2. Sketches of Alternative Cross Sections (p. 7).
A RESOLUTION SCHEDULING A PUBLIC FORUM TO DISCUSS PROPOSED IMPROVEMENT ALTERNATIVES FOR WEAVER DAIRY ROAD (2000-10-23/R-8)
WHEREAS, the Chapel Hill Town Council has expressed interest for several years in having the State improve Weaver Dairy Road between N.C.86 and Erwin Road; and
WHEREAS, the Council has requested that the State study several improvement alternatives for Weaver Dairy Road; and
WHEREAS, the State has studied the alternatives and has prepared preliminary information for the Council’s consideration; and
WHEREAS, the Council wishes to discuss the alternatives and receive citizens’ comments before selecting improvements with which it wishes to proceed;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council will hold a public forum on Monday, November 20, 2000 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Meeting Room at Town Hall to receive citizen comments and to discuss improvement alternatives for Weaver Dairy Road.
This is the 23rd day of October, 2000.