AGENDA #9
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: U.S. 15-501 Major Investment Study, Phase II
DATE: October 22, 2001
This memorandum reviews information from the U.S. 15-501 Major Investment Study, Phase II Report. This information includes responses to questions asked by Council members and the public at the October 10, 2001 Council worksession and the October 17, 2001 Public Forum. The attached resolution would provide the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Transportation Advisory Committee with comments and recommendations on the Phase II Report.
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 1st phase of the U.S. 15-501 Major Investment Study
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 now nearing completion and draft Final Report has been released for comment.(Attachment 1).
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.
At the Council’s October 10, 2001 worksession 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
The following issues were raised at the Council’s October 10, 2001 worksession and October 17, 2001 Public Forum:
A question was asked about the impact of the proposed fixed guideway corridor on the Glenwood School.
When the US 15-501 Major Investment Study was initiated, in 1995, the status of the continued operation of the Glenwood school was uncertain. The corridor identified in the US 15-501 Major Investment Study and analyzed as part of the Phase II Report assumes that the school site would be purchased and the fixed guideway corridor would traverse the site. In the last year the Chapel Hill-Carrboro School District has approved renovations to the school and at this point anticipates continuing the operation of the school in the future.
We believe that the alignment of the fixed guideway corridor could be modified to avoid the school, using property to the south that was formerly part of the Finley Golf Course. We believe that this modification to the corridor should be evaluated as part of the federal Environmental Impact Study that would be required to implement the fixed guideway system. We note that if the corridor could be modified to avoid the school, projected capital costs related to purchase of right of way would be reduced.
A Council member requested that staff compare the modeling results from the Phase I analysis with the Phase II results.
Comment:
The ridership projections for the regional rail, light rail and busway alternatives in the Phase I analysis are lower than the projections included in the Phase II Report. The table below compares the projections for similar alternative technologies.
|
Alternative Technology |
Projected Ridership |
|
|
Phase I Analysis |
Phase II Analysis |
|
|
Regional Rail |
4,500 |
5,640 |
|
Light Rail |
7,000-8,000 |
15,830-16,910 |
|
Busway |
2,500 |
9,030-10,330 |
We note that there are several possible explanations for these differences. The recently approved Triangle Regional Model was used to analyze the Phase II alternatives. The Phase I analysis was completed using a different modeling platform, which was less sensitive to reflecting transit ridership, the impacts of congestion on travel behavior and the influence of land use patterns on trip making. In addition to using a newer model, the Phase II analysis reflected modifications to the land use projections, specifically employment and housing projections for the UNC campus.
A Council member asked about the status of the Meadowmont Transit corridor
Comment:
The Meadowmont Infrastructure Special Use Permit includes the following language related to the transit corridor:
Transit Corridor: That the 50 foot wide right of way for a future transit corridor be provided within a transit easement and that this land be available for use by the Town of Chapel Hill and the Triangle Transit Authority as needed.
The corridor is preserved for future use by the Town or the Triangle Transit Authority.
A Council member asked how much of the proposed fixed guideway corridor is publicly owned.
Comment:
Along the Chapel Hill portion of the proposed corridor, the preliminary assessment included in the Phase II Report indicates that large portions of the corridor is in public right of way or has been designated as a transit corridor. Beginning on the University of North Carolina campus, both the separate corridor and Manning Drive are publicly owned. From the intersection of Manning Drive and Fordham Boulevard the corridor assumes use of existing right of way along Fordham Boulevard to the Glenwood School. From Glenwood School the corridor assumes the use of the Preswick Road right of way and then University property to the Friday Center. From the Friday Center the corridor would utilize the transit corridor identified as part of the Meadowmont development. A small portion of the corridor is proposed to cross privately held lands adjacent to Meadowmont. From Meadowmont the fixed guideway alignment moves north towards the Gateway area, both utilizing privately held lands and the I-40 right of way.
In Durham the proposed corridor would cross privately held property and public right of way adjacent to the US 15-501 Bypass, as well as property owned by Duke University.
5. Additional Stations
A Council member asked whether additional stations could be added to the proposed corridor.
Comment:
In order to pursue federal funding for construction of the fixed guideway system an Environmental Impact Statement must be completed. The Environmental Impact Statement will be similar to the analysis completed in the Phase II Report. At that time additional stations could be included in the analysis and evaluated.
6. Links to Horace Williams
A Council member asked about the possible connection between the fixed guideway corridor identified in the Phase II Report and anticipated development by the University of North Carolina at the Horace Williams tract.
Comment:
The original scope of work for the U.S. 15-501 Major Investment Study, Phase II Report did include a qualitative evaluation of the possible extension of the fixed guideway corridor to the Horace Williams tract. At the request of the Chapel Hill Town Council that work element was removed, because of concerns about the impact on neighborhoods.
The Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro 2025 Regional Transportation Plan includes an evaluation of an alternative that would implement a fixed guideway corridor between the Horace Williams property and the University’s main campus.
7. Evaluation of the Triangle Transit Authority Regional Rail System Phase I Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Related Newspaper Article
A Council member asked staff to review the Environmental Impact Statement for Phase I of the Triangle Transit Authorities Regional Rail System and evaluate a related newspaper article.
Comment:
We have reviewed the Point of View newspaper article, which challenges the decision to go forward with construction of the Phase I Rail System and the Environmental Impact Statement for Phase I.
The Point of View article identified several issues related to the implementation of the Phase I system, including:
· Lack of impact on overall levels of regional congestion.
· Congestion along adjacent streets crossed by the rail system.
· High density development
· Cost
· Lack of benefits to residents of north central and northwest Raleigh
The Draft Environmental Impact Statement does indicate that implementation of the Phase I system will be more expensive than the provision of increased bus service as defined in the No Build Alternative or the Transportation System Management Alternative. The Statement also indicates that all of the rail alternatives evaluated result in an increase in new riders, ranging from 29,000 to 40,000 daily riders. The increase in daily transit riders when compared to the Transportation System Management Alternative ranges from 7,000 to 16,000. The Transportation System Management Alternative assumes a significant expansion of local transit service in lieu of a fixed guideway system.
Both the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization and the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Transportation Advisory Committee have reviewed the Draft Environmental Impact Statement and endorsed the conclusion to move forward with implementation of the Phase I system. We note that the Triangle Transit Authority has had numerous public workshops and public hearings on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement.
8. Use of Transit Corridor for Bicycle and Pedestrian Use
A Council member asked whether the transit corridor could be used for bicycle and pedestrian use prior to the development of a fixed guideway transit system.
Comment:
The proposed fixed guideway corridor could be used for bicycle and pedestrian use prior to construction for use with a fixed guideway technology. Construction of the bicycle and pedestrian facilities would have to be funded locally or through specific State and federal bicycle and pedestrian programs. Without approval of a “new start” fixed guideway project no federal transit funds could be used to purchase the right of way.
9. Eliminating the Diesel Multiple Unit Technology From Further Evaluation
The Council suggested that the Diesel Multiple Unit technology not be carried forward for additional evaluation in the Environmental Impact Statement.
Comment:
Federal officials may insist that the Diesel Multiple Unit technology be considered in the Environmental Impact Statement for the fixed guideway system between Durham and Chapel Hill, because this technology is being used in the Phase I rail system between Raleigh and Durham.
10. Possible Conversion of a Busway to a Rail System
A Council member asked whether it was feasible to initially construct a busway within the recommended corridor and convert it to a rail system at a later date.
Comment:
A busway could be constructed in a manner that would allow future conversion to a rail system. In order to allow the future conversion of the busway for use with a rail technology specific design considerations, such as adequate radius for turns would have to be incorporated into the design of the initial busway.
11. Can the Designated Fixed Guideway Corridor be Moved
A citizen asked whether the corridor could be moved at a later date.
Comment:
The corridor will be evaluated as part of the Environmental Impact Statement study. The evaluation will include minor modifications to the corridor adopted by the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Transportation Advisory Committee as part of the Regional Transportation Plan. These minor modifications could include realignments necessary to avoid impacting private property.
12. Access to Meadowmont
A citizen questioned whether the proposed fixed guideway corridor adequately provided service to the Meadowmont development.
Comment:
The fixed guideway alignment recommended as part of the Phase II Report follows a corridor that penetrates the Meadowmont development, providing direct access to the commercial core and adjacent higher density multi-family uses. We believe the proposed corridor provides good access to Meadowmont.
ADVISORY BOARD COMMENTS
In addition to comments and question raised at the Council’s worksession and Public Forum, the Transportation Board and Planning Board have provided recommendations to the Council on the Phase II Report.
Transportation Board (Attachment 2)
The Transportation Board recommended that the Council endorse the Manager’s preliminary recommendations. The Board also recommended the following:
· That the fixed guideway corridor and transit technology selected allow for future extension to the Horace Williams property.
Comment:
The original scope of work for the U.S. 15-501 Major Investment Study, Phase II Report did include a qualitative evaluation of the possible extension of the fixed guideway corridor to the Horace Williams tract. At the request of the Chapel Hill Town Council that work element was removed. The Council expressed concern about the impacts of routing the fixed guideway corridor through Town neighborhoods.
Evaluation of the extension of the fixed guideway corridor to the Horace Williams property could be included in the future Environmental Impact Statement study. The Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro 2025 Regional Transportation Plan includes an evaluation of an alternative that would implement a fixed guideway corridor between the Horace Williams property and the University’s main campus.
Planning Board (Attachment 3)
The Planning Board recommended that the Council endorse the Manager’s preliminary recommendations. The Board also recommended the following:
· Review the performance of the current consultant and consider alternative consultants for future studies.
Comment:
The agency that sponsors the Environmental Impact Statement would make the final decision on the selection of a consultant. It is anticipated that the Triangle Transit Authority, the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Transportation Advisory Committee or the North Carolina Department of Transportation could assume responsibility as the sponsoring agency.
The selection of a consultant to prepare the Environmental Impact Statement would include prior performance on similar studies. We anticipate that the oversight of the selection of a consultant would include representatives from the Town.
· Look at case studies of places with similar regional characteristics in future studies and analyze the appropriate transportation mode for the region based on socio-political characteristics.
Comment:
As fixed guideway systems are implemented in other regions of the country it will be useful to review them and determine if there are any lessons that might be useful as this area pursues the development of a fixed guideway system.
In the planning for fixed guideway system many regions have attempted to incorporate socio-political characteristics in the selection of an appropriate technology. These characteristics, usually referred to as stated preference factors, attempt to account for citizens attraction for a specific technology and stated willingness to use one technology over another based on personal preferences. We believe these factors should be incorporated into future evaluations of the fixed guideway system to more accurately reflect possible ridership differences between different types of transit technologies.
· Get information on the 15-501corridor alignment to the public as soon as possible so it can be incorporated into future planning for the area.
Comment:
It is anticipated that the fixed guideway corridor recommended in the Phase II Report will be incorporated into the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro 2025 Transportation Plan. The final approval of the 2025 Plan will require extensive public notification. Once approved in the 2025 Plan, the fixed guideway corridor will be included in official records of planned transit and transportation improvements.
NEXT STEPS
The Council’s comments will be provided to the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Transportation Advisory Committee. It is anticipated that the Committee will adopt a final Phase II Report on November 14, 2001. Once adopted the recommendations of the Phase II Report will be incorporated into the Regional 2025 Transportation Plan, currently under development.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Manager’s Recommendation: That the Council adopt Resolution A, approving the following comments and recommendations on the U.S. 15-501 Major Investment Study, Phase II Report.
We suggest that the following items be addressed to complete the Phase II Report:
We believe that the following items should be addressed in any further evaluation of the fixed guideway alternatives in the U.S. 15-501 corridor:
ATTACHMENTS
1. October 17, 2001 Council Memorandum (begin new page 1).
2. Transportation Board Recommendation.
3. Planning Board Recommendation.
A RESOLUTION PROVIDING COMMENTS TO THE DURHAM-CHAPEL HILL-CARRBORO TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON THE U.S. 15-501 MAJOR INVESTMENT STUDY, PHASE II REPORT. (2001-10-22/R-9)
WHEREAS, the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Transportation Advisory Committee has initiated a Major Investment Study for the U.S. 15-501 corridor between Durham and Chapel Hill; and
WHEREAS, the Phase II Report, reviewing possible fixed guideway alignments and technologies in the U.S. 15-501 corridor, has been completed; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Chapel Hill has participated in development of the Phase II Report; and
WHEREAS, the Town Council has reviewed the Phase II Report and recommendations of the U.S. 15-501 Major Investment Study Policy Oversight Committee
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the following comments and recommendations be provided to the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Transportation Advisory Committee
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following items should be addressed to complete the Phase II Report:
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the following items should be addressed in any further evaluation of the fixed guideway alternatives in the U.S. 15-501 corridor:
This the 22nd day of October, 2001.