AGENDA #12
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: 2004-2010 Chapel Hill Transportation Project Priority List
DATE: November 12, 2001
The attached resolution would approve a Chapel Hill Transportation Project Priority List and provide comments for submission to the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Transportation Advisory Committee.
The Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Transportation Advisory Committee has begun the process of developing the 2004-2010 Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program. The Committee has requested that local jurisdictions prepare transportation project priority lists for use in developing a Regional Priority List.
The Council held a public forum to receive public comment on October 22, 2001. Please see attachment 1.
The Council’s 2004-2010 Priority List and comments will be submitted to the Transportation Advisory Committee for use in developing the Regional 2004-2010 Priority List and the 2004-2010 Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program. The Regional List will also be submitted to the North Carolina Department of Transportation for use in developing the draft State 2004-2010 Transportation Improvement Program.
The following issues were raised during the public forum.
A member of the public requested inclusion of a project that would provide a pedestrian connection between the Community Center, where the Bolin Creek Greenway ends, and the intersection of Estes Drive and Willow Drive. This project was also recommended by the Town’s Transportation Board.
Comment: We believe that this connection would offer a benefit for pedestrians and bicyclists using the Bolin Creek Greenway, providing a direct connection to the commercial area around University Mall. We will include this project in the Town’s list of projects for potential funding through the Capital Improvement Program. The size of the project would limit its ability to compete for Transportation Improvement Program funds. We believe this project should be addressed as part of the Town’s Capital Improvement Project process.
A Council member requested that the Morgan Creek Greenway, between Culbreth Road and Frank Porter Graham School be moved up in the priority list.
Comment: This project would connect to the existing Southern Village Greenway. We recommend including this project as priority #7 in the recommended Priority List.
A Council member requested that the proposed improvements to Culbreth Road be combined with the proposed Morgan Creek Greenway project.
Comment: Although these projects are located in the same vicinity and would complement one another, they are fundamentally different. The Culbreth Road project includes adding bicycle facilities and sidewalks to an existing roadway, while the Morgan Creek Greenway would include construction of a new pedestrian bicycle facility along new right of way.
Funding for each project could be provided from different sources. The Morgan Creek Greenway would require funding from the Department of Transportation Bicycle and Pedestrian program, while the improvements to Culbreth Road could be funded from the Surface Transportation Program. We note that the Bicycle and Pedestrian program has a funding cap of $300,000 per project. We believe that possibilities for funding these projects will be improved if they remain separate projects.
We recommend including the Culbreth Road project as priority #6 and the Morgan Creek Greenway as priority #7 to reflect their interrelationship and improve their chances for funding.
A Council member asked about the status of extending the Southern Village Greenway to the east.
Comment: The conceptual design for the Morgan Creek Trail includes a spur trail to provide access to the Merritt Pasture. In addition access to the trail and the Merritt Pasture would be provided from a sidewalk along US 15-501 South. The Morgan Creek Trail has been identified in the adopted "Chapel Hill Greenways Comprehensive Master Plan". The Council has approved a conceptual plan for a first phase that would provide access to the Merritt Pasture. A payment in lieu in the amount of $116,000 for this project has been received from the developer of Southern Village. This payment will not fund the total cost of the Morgan Creek Greenway spur. The Town is applying for a North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund grant to construct an access to Merritt’s Pasture. The Town will apply the payment received from the Southern Village developer towards the completion of the Morgan Creek Greenway spur to Merritt’s Pasture.
ADVISORY BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS
In addition to comments from the public, Town Advisory Boards have provided the Council with comments and recommendations. Copies of the Advisory Board recommendations are included in Attachment 1. Attachment 3 provides a comparison of comments and recommendations offered by the Advisory Boards on specific projects and the Manager’s Recommended 2004-2010 Priority List.
Transportation Board
The Transportation Board reviewed the 2002-2008 Chapel Hill Priority List and recommended approving the List after removing those projects that have been funded.
Comment: We recommend removing from the Priority List those projects that have been fully funded.
Greenways Commission
The Commission reviewed the 2002-2008 Chapel Hill Priority List and recommended the following changes:
The List should include the following three projects (in priority order) as high on the list as possible:
· Franklin Street/Bolin Creek Greenway Pedestrian/Bicycle Access (currently #9 on the list)
· Morgan Creek Greenway (currently #17 on the list)
· Dry Creek Greenway (currently #16 on the list)
Comment: We recommend that the Morgan Creek Greenway be advanced from priority #17 to #7. We also suggest that the Franklin Street/Bolin Creek Greenway Pedestrian/Bicycle Access be included as priority #8, while the Dry Creek Greenway be included as priority #15.
The Commission also recommended that the following projects be included as longer-range projects on the Transportation Improvement Program:
· Bolin Creek Greenway Upstream of the Airport Road Bridge (currently #13 on the list)
· Upper Booker Creek Greenway (currently #20 on the list)
· Bolin Creek/Little Creek Greenway (currently #23 on the list)
Comment: We propose that the Bolin Creek Greenway, from Airport Road to Umstead Drive, be advanced to priority #11, while the Upper Booker Creek Greenway should be listed as priority #18 and the Bolin Creek/Little Creek Greenway as priority #21.
Planning Board Recommendation
Planning Board reviewed the 2002-2008 Chapel Hill Priority List and recommended that Project # 8, Culbreth Road sidewalks, and Project #17, Morgan Creek Greenway, be combined and moved higher in the priority list.
Comment: We do not believe that combining the Culbreth Road project and the Morgan Creek Greenway project is warranted. Although these projects are located in the same vicinity and would compliment one another, they are fundamentally different. The Morgan Creek Greenway would require funding from the Department of Transportation Bicycle and Pedestrian program, while the improvements to Culbreth Road could be funded from the Surface Transportation Program. We note that the Bicycle and Pedestrian program has a funding cap of $300,000 per project. We believe that possibilities for funding these projects could be improved if they remain separate projects. We recommend these two projects as priorities #6 and #7 in the 2004-2010 Priority List.
Comment: The policy adopted by the Council related to bicycle facilities does allow for the construction of bikelanes under very specific conditions. We believe that until specific project planning is initiated and an assessment of the criteria adopted by the Council is applied to individual projects the scope for each project should include the maximum possible set of improvements. If it is determined that a bicycle improvement project cannot meet the criteria for bikelanes then wide outside lanes would be included in the project.
Comment: We recommend including this project as priority # 22.
Comment: We agree that these projects are high priorities. Portions of both projects have been or will be completed. The remaining portions of both projects are relatively small and would not qualify for funding through the Transportation Improvement Program. Therefore we hope to complete this project through the Town’s Capital Improvement Program. We have proposed to remove both projects from the recommended Priority List.
Comment: We believe that this project should continue to be included in the Town’s Priority List for funding through the Transportation Improvement Program. The design of the project proposed by the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board, to include stairs and a guide for bikes, is consistent with the conceptual design of the project. In addition to pursuing funding through the Transportation Improvement Program we suggest including this project for funding through the Town’s Capital Improvement Program.
Comment: We agree that the Estes Drive project should be split and have proposed including Estes Drive, Curtis Road to Franklin Street, as priority #10.
After reviewing the remaining section, Franklin Street to Fordham Boulevard, we believe that this project can be eliminated from the Priority List. The Town will be constructing a sidewalk on the south side of Estes Drive, from Franklin Street to Willow Drive. We believe that the sidewalk should not be extended beyond this point, due to proximity to the creek and the need to cut down stands of existing trees. A sidewalk is currently provided on the north side of Estes Drive from Franklin Street to Fordham Boulevard. We recommend removing this portion of the project from the Priority List.
Staff has identified the need to upgrade the existing Chapel Hill traffic signal system. The project would include replacing existing cable with fiber optic cable, replacing signal cabinets and controllers and installing cameras for monitoring intersections.
We believe that this project would improve the efficiency and reliability of the existing signal system, improving traffic flow throughout the Town. We recommend that it be included as priority #9.
We note that the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Urban Area is currently completing work on a 2025 Regional Transportation Plan. The Plan is anticipated to be completed in early 2002. Although the Urban Area is anticipated to adopt a Regional Priority List in February, 2002 the North Carolina Department of Transportation should be advised by the Transportation Advisory Committee that the results of the 2025 analysis may require revisions to the Regional Priority List at a later date. We suggest that the Council recommend the Transportation Advisory Committee alert the Department of Transportation that the 2004-2010 Priority List may be revised upon completion of the 2025 Plan.
The 2004-2010 Chapel Hill Priority List will be submitted to the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Transportation Advisory Committee for their use in developing a Regional Priority List.
The Town has requested that the Transportation Advisory Committee delay adoption of the Regional Priority List until February to allow for adequate public comment. It is anticipated that this Regional Priority List will be released for public comment in December 2002. We anticipate reviewing the Draft Regional Priority List and providing the public with an opportunity to comment in January 2002.
Once approved the Regional Priority List will be submitted to the North Carolina Department of Transportation for their use in preparing the draft 2004-2010 State Transportation Improvement Program. Representatives from the Transportation Advisory Committee and the Department of Transportation will use the Regional Priority List in negotiations concerning the State and Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Programs.
Manager’s Recommendation: That the Council adopt Resolution A, approving the Chapel Hill 2004-2010 Transportation Priority List. Attachment 3 provides a comparison of the Advisory Board recommendations and Manager’s Recommended Priority List.
Town of Chapel Hill
2004-1010
1. Transit Capital Projects (FY 2004-2008).
2. Estes Drive Extension - N.C. 86 to Greensboro Street (Carrboro), widen to three lanes with five foot bikelanes* and sidewalks.
3. Old Durham-Chapel Hill Road: U.S. 15-501 to I-40-Construct five-foot bikelanes* and sidewalks.
4. SeawellSchoolRoad-Improvements from Homestead Road to Estes Drive Extension, including turn lanes, bicycle lanes*, sidewalks and transit accommodations.
5. Estes Drive-NC 86 to Curtis Road, widen existing roadway to include two 12-foot travel lanes, four-foot bikelanes* and sidewalks.
6. Culbreth Road - construct five foot bikelanes* and sidewalks.
7. Morgan Creek Greenway-Construct a greenway from the Southern Village to Frank Porter Graham Elementary School
8. Franklin Street/Bolin Creek Greenway Pedestrian/Bicycle Access: Install pedestrian/bicycle access between Franklin Street and Bolin Creek Greenway.
9. Upgrade Chapel Hill Signal System- Improve Chapel Hill signal system
10. Estes Drive- Curtis Road to Franklin Street, construct sidewalk along entire length and provide pedestrian signal at intersection with Chapel Hill Library Drive.
11. Bolin Creek Greenway- Construct a greenway from Airport Road to Umstead Drive
12. Pope Road - Ephesus Church Road - construct five foot bikelanes*.
13. Piney Mountain Road-Improvements from NC 86 to Riggsbee Road, including turn lanes, sidewalks, bicycle lanes* and transit accommodations
14. Mount Carmel Church Road: Improvements from U.S. 15-501 South to Chatham County line, to be limited to include bikelanes*, sidewalks, transit and safety improvements.
15. Dry Creek Greenway-Construct a greenway from Perry Creek Drive to Erwin Road
16. Manning Drive-Construct a sidewalk on the east side from Bowles Drive to Fordham Boulevard.
17. Merritt Mill Road-Construct a sidewalk on the east side from Cameron Avenue to Edwards Place.
18. Upper Booker Creek Greenway-Construct a 10-foot bikeway from the Northern Community Park to Weaver Dairy Road Extension
19. Country Club Road-Construct a sidewalk on the east side from South Road to Raleigh Street.
20. Fordham Boulevard- Construct a sidewalk along the north side, Manning Drive to Carmichael Street.
21. Bolin Creek/Little Creek Greenway-Construct a greenway from Chapel Hill Community Center to Pinehurst Drive.
22. Old Mason Farm/Finley Golf Course Road- Construct bikelanes* and sidewalks
*Bikelanes will only be constructed if they meet the criteria adopted by the Town of Chapel Hill. If the proposed bikelanes do not meet the criteria wide outside lanes will be included in the project.
1. October 22, 2001 Council Memorandum (p. 10).
2. Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board Recommendation (p. 20).
3. Comparison of Advisory Board Recommendations and Manager’s Recommended 2004-2010 Priority List (p. 21).
A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE 2004-2010 CHAPEL HILL TRANSPORTATION PROJECT PRIORITY LIST (2001-11-12/R-18)
WHEREAS, the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Transportation Advisory Committee has begun the process to develop a 2004-2010 Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program; and
WHEREAS, the Transportation Advisory Committee will develop a Regional Transportation Priority List for use in developing the Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program; and
WHEREAS, the Transportation Advisory Committee has requested local governments develop transportation priority lists for use in preparing the Regional Priority List; and
WHEREAS, the Council has received comments from the public on transportation priorities;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council adopts following list as the 2004-2010 Transportation Priority List for submission to the Transportation Advisory Committee:
1. Transit Capital Projects
2. Estes Drive Extension Improvements
3. Old Durham-Chapel Hill Road Improvements
4. Seawell School Road Improvements
5. Estes Drive Bikelanes
6. Culbreth Road Improvements
7. Morgan Creek Greenway
8. Bolin Creek-Franklin St. Stairs
9. Upgrade Chapel Hill Signal System
10. Estes Drive Sidewalk, Curtis Road to Franklin Street
11. Bolin Creek Greenway
12. Pope Road-Ephesus Church Road Bikelanes
13. Piney Mountain Road Improvements
14. Mt. Carmel Church Road Improvements
15. Dry Creek Greenway
16. Manning Drive Sidewalks, Bowles Drive to Fordham Boulevard
17. Merrit Mill Sidewalks
18. Upper Booker Creek Greenway
19. County Club Road Sidewalk
20. Fordham Boulevard Carmichael Street to Manning Drive
21. Bolin Creek/Little Creek Greenway
22. Old Mason Farm/Finley Golf Course Road Improvements
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council continues to strongly support funding for projects included in the 2002-2008 Transportation Improvement Program, including improvements to South Columbia Street, Weaver Dairy Road, Cameron Avenue, US 15-501 South and the US15-501/Erwin Road intersection.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council recommends that the Transportation Advisory Committee advise the North Carolina Department of Transportation that the Regional Priority List adopted in February 2002 may be revised upon completion of the 2025 Regional Transportation Plan.
This the 12th day of November, 2001.