AGENDA #1

MEMORANDUM

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

FROM:            W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

SUBJECT:            Public Forum: U.S. 15-501 Major Investment Study, Phase II

DATE:            October 17, 2001

This memorandum reviews information from the U.S. 15-501 Major Investment Study, Phase II Report for tonight’s Public Forum.  The memorandum also summarizes information presented to the Council at their October 10, 2001 work session on the Phase II Report (Attachment 1).HNTB, Inc. will be presenting an overview of the analysis and findings of the Phase II Report.

MAJOR INVESTMENT STUDY

Federal transportation guidelines require the completion of a major investment study whenever significant investment in federal funds may be requested to make transportation improvements within a specific corridor.  The major investment study is intended to evaluate all possible improvements and determine which improvements should be implemented to maintain mobility within the corridor.

BACKGROUND

In June 1995, the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Transportation Advisory Committee initiated a major investment study for the U.S. 15-501 corridor between Chapel Hill and Durham.

We summarize below the major milestones of the 1^st phase of the U.S. 15-501 Major Investment Study:

• June 1995 Major Investment Study Phase I initiated.
• September 1997Phase I Preliminary Findings released.
• August 1998 Phase I Report completed.
• December 1998 Transportation Advisory Committee approves Phase I recommendations and proposes Phase II be initiated.

In November 1999, the Town Council endorsed a scope of work for Phase II of the U.S. 15-501 Major Investment Study.  The U.S. 15-501 Major Investment Study is intended to recommend transportation improvements within the U.S. 15-501 corridor between Chapel Hill and Durham.  The City of Durham, Town of Chapel Hill, North Carolina Department of Transportation, Duke University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Triangle Transit Authority are participating in the Study and have provided financial support.  The Phase II project is intended to provide recommendations on the alignment of a fixed guideway corridor and possible transit technologies to be implemented in the corridor.

The Phase II project is now nearing completion and draft Final Report has been released for comment.

The consultant preparing the Phase II Study, HNTB, Inc., will present the results of the Phase II Study to the Council tonight.

KEY OBJECTIVES

The U.S. 15-501 Major Investment Study, Phase II Report has 2 key objectives:

·        Provide additional information and analysis to allow for the selection of a fixed guideway corridor between the Chapel Hill and Durham; and

·        Select a transit technology for deployment within the selected corridor.

DESCRIPTION OF PROCESS

The firm of HNTB, Inc. provided consultant services for the completion of the Phase II Study. While management of the Study was provided by the North Carolina Department of Transportation, the Policy Oversight Committee, composed of officials from Durham, Chapel Hill, Triangle Transit Authority, North Carolina Department of Transportation, Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, reviewed the work of the consultant and provided direction for the Study.  A Technical Committee composed of representatives from the same organizations worked with the consultant and provided recommendations to the Policy Oversight Committee.

The Phase II Report was presented to the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Transportation Advisory Committee on October 10, 2001.  The Committee released the Report for public comment and is scheduled to take action at their November, 2001 meeting.

The Transportation Board and Planning Board reviewed the Phase II Report on October 16, 2001 and we anticipate that their comments will be presented to you tonight.

It is anticipated that the Council will approve recommendations for the Transportation Advisory Committee on October 22, 2001.  The recommendations of the Policy Oversight Committee and local jurisdictions will be provided to the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Transportation Advisory Committee for their consideration of the Phase II Report in November 2001.

STUDY APPROACH

During the course of the Study the consultant evaluated the impacts of implementing the following transit technologies between Chapel Hill and Durham.

• Regional Rail, Diesel Multiple Unit-(DMU) Self propelled diesel trains similar to those to be operated along Phase I of the Regional Rail system, between Durham and Raleigh.
• Light Rail-(LRT) Self propelled diesel trains similar to electrified light rail, with more flexible operating characteristics than regional rail.
• Busway-Buses operating along a separate right of way or guideway.
• Bus in Mixed Traffic-(BMT) Buses operating in both separate guideway and on street where possible.

POLICY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE ACTION

On September 24, 2001, the U.S. 15-501 Major Investment Study Policy Oversight Committee met to review the results of the Phase II Report.  After reviewing the information the Policy Oversight Committee agreed on the following conclusions:

• The corridor identified in the U.S. 15-501 Major Investment Report and evaluated as part of the Phase II analysis should be protected by local governments for future use as a transit corridor.
• The Phase II analysis suggests that bus in mixed traffic and busway alternatives appear to show the most promise for implementation, but the determination of a specific technology cannot be made at this time. Further analysis of all transit technologies evaluated in the Phase II Study should be pursued as part of the federal Environmental Impact Statement process.

KEY ISSUES

At the Council’s October 10, 2001 Work Session we highlighted the following key issues for the Council’s consideration.  A more detailed discussion of each issue is included in Attachment 1, the October 10, 2001 Council memorandum.

1. Policy Oversight Review of Preliminary Alternative Evaluation Matrix
2. Modeling Process
3. Projected Fixed Guideway New Riders
4. Impact on Congested Corridors
5. Capital and Operating Cost Estimates
6. Use of Proposed Transit Corridor on UNC Campus
7. Boardings per Station
8. Electric Light Rail vs. Diesel Light Rail

NEXT STEPS

At the Council’s October 22, 2001 Business Meeting, staff will prepare answers to the questions and issues raised at the Council’s October 10, 2001 Work Session and tonight’s Forum.  At that time the Manager will offer the Council recommendations for comments to be presented to the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Transportation Advisory Committee at their November 14, 2001 meeting.

ATTACHMENTS

1.                  October 10, 2001 Council Memorandum (begin new p. 1).