AGENDA #8
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Sidewalk Ranking System and Process for Developing a Sidewalk and Bicycle Facilities Construction Plan for 2001-2002
DATE:
The attached resolution endorses the sidewalk ranking system recommended by both the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board and the Transportation Board and calls a public forum on the sidewalk and bicycle facilities construction plan for 2001-2002.
At the
Since October, the two Boards have met separately on several occasions to develop a ranking system to be applied to the next cycle of sidewalk and bicycle facilities planning in 2001-2002. In July 2001, the chairs of the Transportation Advisory Board and the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board met and agreed to a single ranking system to recommend to the Council (see Attachment 1).
The ranking system last approved by the Town Council in use in prior years is included as Attachment 2. The Council adopted this system in June 1998 and again in July 1999.
The sidewalk ranking system proposed by the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board and the Transportation Board is based on the ranking system currently in place (see Attachment 2), with a few notable exceptions. The primary difference is that the proposed system does not include the factors that the Boards classified as feasibility factors, including construction feasibility, right-of-way availability, and project length.
In essence, the Boards propose a ranking system that is need-based. The Boards propose that once a need-based list of projects is generated, then staff and the Boards can review the projects at or near the top of the need-based list, evaluate those projects based on feasibility factors, and make a recommendation to the Council. The Boards noted that feasibility criteria are difficult to quantify and should be evaluated in a more qualitative fashion.
Another difference between the proposed ranking system and the system currently in place is the proposed system awards more points to sidewalk projects along streets with higher speed limits. For example, the proposed system awards 5 points to sidewalk projects along arterial streets, whereas the current system awards 5 points for projects along streets with speeds less than 35 mph and 3 points to projects along streets with speed limits between 35 and 45 mph. The current system emphasizes neighborhood streets and streets that make connections between neighborhoods, as opposed to major or minor arterials. In terms of pedestrian safety, it should be noted that high traffic speeds increase the potential for pedestrian/auto accidents. Sidewalks along major arterials would help to prevent pedestrian/auto conflicts, and also serve as effective links between major pedestrian generators.
The proposed ranking system expands the current system by splitting the pedestrian generators category to award more points to projects that are closer to pedestrian generators, giving highest priority (5 points) to projects within ¼ mile of schools, transit service, and other pedestrian generators, such as the University, parks, and shopping. Projects within ½ mile would be awarded 3 points, and if there are no significant pedestrian generators within one mile no points are awarded in that category.
The proposed system also awards more points to small “gaps” (600 feet or less) than the system currently in place, and decreases the value of citizen requests from 5 points to 1 point.
PROCESS
The Council has available a budget of $250,000 this year for sidewalk and bicycle construction. This amount consists of $150,000 from the Capital Improvements Program, and $100,000 in 1996 bond funds. Agreeing on a ranking system is a first step in planning for the 2001-2002 Sidewalk and Bicycle Facilities Construction Plan.
If the Council adopts the attached resolution endorsing the proposed ranking system, we propose the following schedule for selecting sidewalk projects for 2001-2002:
October 2: Transportation Advisory Board reviews initial staff project proposal and makes recommendation to Town Council.
October 9: Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board reviews initial staff project proposal and makes recommendation to Town Council.
October 22: Council receives preliminary staff and board recommendations and holds a public forum.
November 12: Council selects proposed projects for spending $250,000 in available funds
We also propose to mail notices to interested citizens approximately one month before the public forum.
We believe the proposed system presents a reasonable approach to ranking sidewalk requests and establishing priorities. The system is intended to be a guide to assist the Council in making decisions. The proposed system includes consideration of construction feasibility in addition to the ranked factors. We would continue to use the following factors to evaluate the overall feasibility of projects:
· Significant safety issues;
· Recognition of community wide needs in concert with fiscal restraints;
· Reasonableness of costs compared to benefit attained;
· Efficient coordination of resources when other construction projects are underway;
· Consideration of prior commitments;
· Contributions of funds from an outside source to help defray costs; and
· Distribution of funding throughout the Town.
We recommend the Council adopt the attached resolution endorsing the proposed sidewalk ranking system and calling a public forum for October 22, 2001.
1. Proposed Sidewalk Ranking System (p. 5)
2. Current Sidewalk Ranking System (p. 6)
A RESOLUTION ENDORSING A SIDEWALK RANKING SYSTEM AND CALLING A PUBLIC FORUM TO HEAR CITIZEN COMMENTS AND INPUT REGARDING A SIDEWALK AND BICYCLE FACILITIES CONSTRUCTION PLAN FOR FY 2001-2002 (2001-09-10/R-10)
WHEREAS, the Chapel Hill Town Council has received a joint recommendation for a sidewalk ranking system from the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board and the Transportation Advisory Board; and
WHEREAS, the Chapel Hill Town Council desires to hear citizen comments on sidewalk and bicycle project priorities for 2001-2002;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council hereby endorses the sidewalk ranking system recommended by the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board and the Transportation Advisory Board, shown as Attachment 1 to the memorandum to the Town Council dated September 10, 2001.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council hereby sets a Public Forum for Monday, October 22, 2001, in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, 306 North Columbia Street, to receive citizen comments on a proposed Sidewalk and Bicycle Facilities Construction Plan for FY 2001-2002.
This the 10th day of September, 2001.