AGENDA #4k
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Update on Durham-Chapel Hill 2025 Regional Transportation Plan
DATE October 22, 2001
This memorandum reviews the anticipated schedule (Attachment 1) for completing the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro 2025 Regional Transportation Plan. This schedule has been prepared by the staff of Metropolitan Planning Organization. The attached resolution would request the Transportation Advisory Committee provide additional opportunities for public comment in the schedule.
The Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Urban Area is currently preparing a 2025 Regional Transportation Plan as required by federal transportation and air quality regulations. This Plan includes an assessment of roadway, transit, bicycle and pedestrian system to be implemented through 2025 to maintain mobility within the region and meet regional air quality standards.
The Council’s last action with regard to the 2025 Plan was in March, 2001. At that time the Council revised the Chapel Hill 2025 housing and employment projections (Attachment 2). It was anticipated at that time that the 2025 Plan would be completed by November, 2001. Continuing refinements of the Regional Transportation Model and staff turnover has delayed the completion of the 2025 Plan.
On October 10, 2001 the Transportation Advisory Committee reviewed and approved a revised schedule for completing the 2025 Plan (Attachment 1). This schedule has been provided for your information.
The schedule reviewed and adopted by the Transportation Advisory Committee proposes to adopt a final draft 2025 Plan by May, 2002. This draft Plan would then be analyzed by federal and State transportation and air quality agencies to determine conformity with federal air quality regulations. The final approval of the 2025 Plan by the Transportation Advisory Committee is anticipated by December, 2002. Federal air quality conformity guidelines require the approval of a 2025 Plan by December, 2002.
Regional staff is currently analyzing fourteen Tier 2 composite alternatives (Attachment 3). The Tier 2 alternatives, B4 on the schedule, were endorsed by the Transportation Advisory Committee on October 10, 2001. The Tier 2 alternatives were derived from the Tier 1 analysis of 60 separate transportation alternatives. The analysis of the Tier 2 alternatives will result in the identification of three final draft alternatives.
We note that although the adopted schedule proposes a public comment period on the draft 2025 Plan in March, 2002, there are other milestones proposed that could be considered for public comment earlier in the process. We believe it would useful to allow public comment at those points where the Transportation Advisory Committee reviews the analysis of different alternatives. It is anticipated that in December, 2001, the Transportation Advisory Committee will be presented with the analysis of the fourteen alternatives approved in October by the Committee.
We suggest that the results of the Tier 2 analysis be made available for review and comment by the public. We also suggest a similar public comment period in February, 2002 when the analysis of the three final alternatives is available.
We will provide the Council with periodic updates on the status of the 2025 Plan and related analysis. We anticipate scheduling opportunities for Council review and public comment if the Transportation Advisory Committee agrees to the Council’s request for additional public comment. We also expect to schedule opportunities Council review and public comment after release of the draft 2025 Plan, anticipated now in March or April, 2002.
We recommend approval of the attached Resolution requesting the Transportation Advisory Committee provide a public comment period to review the analysis of the fourteen Tier 2 alternatives and the three final draft alternatives. We note that in order to allow the Town Council the opportunity to review and comment on the analysis of Tier 2 alternatives, expected to be released in December, 2001, the public comment period would have to extend through January, 2002.
A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THAT THE DURHAM-CHAPEL HILL-CARRBORO TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AS PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE 2025 REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN (2001-10-22/R-7)
WHEREAS, the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Transportation Advisory Committee is preparing a 2025 Transportation Plan; and
WHEREAS, as part of the development of the 2025 Plan the Transportation Advisory Committee is analyzing alternative transportation scenarios; and
WHEREAS, the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill recommends that the public be given the opportunity to comment on important milestones of the 2025 Plan as they are being developed;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council requests the Transportation Advisory Committee provide additional public comment periods for the review of analysis of the Tier 2 alternatives and the final three alternatives.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council requests that the public comment period for the Tier 2 alternatives extend through January, 2002.
This the 22nd day of October, 2001.