AGENDA #5e

MEMORANDUM

TO: Mayor and Town Council

FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

SUBJECT: I-40 Congestion Management Study, Phase II Update

DATE: January 14, 2002

This memorandum summarizes the status of the I-40 Congestion Management Study. The consultant has released a set of preliminary recommendations for public comment on a proposed high occupancy vehicle network and related improvements. It is anticipated that the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Transportation Advisory Committee will request public comment on these preliminary recommendations in February 2002.

BACKGROUND

In May 2000, Phase I of the I-40 High Occupancy Vehicle/Congestion Management Study was completed. Phase I of the I-40 High Occupancy Vehicle/Congestion Management Study was intended to identify and provide preliminary analysis of transportation strategies designed to relieve congestion in the Research Triangle region. The I-40 Study was funded by the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

The I-40 High Occupancy Vehicle/Congestion Management Phase I Study reviewed several strategies and recommended the following strategies be included for more detailed analysis in the Phase II Study:

· Traditional Capacity Improvements-general widening for all traffic.

· High Occupancy Vehicle Lanes-lanes restricted to use by vehicles with 2 or more occupants

· High Occupancy Toll Lanes-High occupancy vehicle lanes that allow single occupant vehicles at certain times of day but charge a toll to those vehicles.

· Public Transit-express buses operating along the I-40 corridor.

· Intelligent Transportation Systems-Systems designed to provide motorists with real time data about congestion and operating conditions.

· Freeway Management-Improving freeway capacity through operational improvements.

· Transportation Systems Management-Small scale operational improvements such as signal timing, designed to improve peak hour capacity.

· Transportation Demand Management-Employer based efforts to encourage employees to use alternative modes of transportation.

The Phase I Study recommended that the following strategies not be included in the Phase II analysis:

· Toll Road-Charging a fee to use the highway

· Truck Lanes-Restricting trucks to limited lanes during peak periods

· Express Lanes-Identifying lanes for through traffic only.

· Ramp Restrictions/Closures-Limiting traffic entering highway at on ramps to improve the peak period congestion.

· Congestion Pricing-Charging a variable fee to use the highway during peak periods.

Phase II of the I-40 Congestion Management Study was initiated in August,2000. The consultant team of Parsons, Brinkerhoff, Quade and Douglas completed a preliminary evaluation in November,2001. Public meetings were held in early December in Durham, Raleigh and the Research Triangle Park to release the preliminary findings.

DISCUSSION OF PRELIMINARY FINDINGS

The consultants analyzed traffic conditions anticipated in 2025 along major corridors within the Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill region, including I-40, between Hillsborough in Orange County and the Johnston County/Wake County line, I-540 and US 1 South. The analysis found that congestion, measured in hours of delay, will increase from approximately 47,000 in 1995 to 366,000 in 2025 even with the completion of roadway improvements currently anticipated.

The consultants also evaluated the feasibility of implementing high occupancy vehicle lanes along several major corridors and assessed the overall impact of high occupancy vehicle lanes on future congestion. The analysis found significant portions of the road network, over 100 miles, able to support high occupancy vehicle lanes (Attachment 1). They determined that full implementation of high occupancy vehicle lanes would result in a reduction of hours of delay in 2025 from 366,000 to 297,000.

The consultants also identified which corridors could support high occupancy vehicle lanes in 2005 and 2015 (Attachments 2 and 3). Portions of I-40, from NC54 to the Johnson County line and I-540 could support high occupancy vehicle lanes in 2005 and 2015.

Given the limited funding available to construct high occupancy vehicle lanes the consultant has recommended an initial 2025 system for high occupancy vehicle lanes. This network would include I-40 from U.S. 15-501 to Johnston County and portions of I-540 (Attachment 4).

The consultant also prepared a “bottleneck” analysis, reviewing the impact of making improvements at key interchanges along I-40 to improve traffic flow. The consultant found that improvements to the Aviation Parkway, Airport Boulevard and NC 54 interchanges were warranted.

The consultant’s preliminary recommendations for the implementation of a high occupancy vehicle lane system along I-40, from U.S. 15-501 to the Research Triangle Park would provide Chapel Hill commuters with improved access to the Park and to Raleigh. The proposed improvements at the NC54/I-40 interchange would also improve traffic flow along NC54 for Chapel Hill commuters during peak periods.

NEXT STEPS

It is anticipated that the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Transportation Advisory Committee will review the results of the preliminary analysis and recommendations in February 2002. We expect that the Transportation Advisory Committee will request public comment on the preliminary recommendations. At that time the Council could provide specific comments to the Transportation Advisory Committee. The consultant expects to continue with preliminary engineering during this period and prepare a draft and final report in May 2002.

ATTACHEMENTS

1. Map of 2025 HOV Coridors (p. 4).

2. Map of 2005 HOV Corridors (p.5).

3. Map of 2015 HOV Corridors (p.6).

4. Recommended Initial 2025 HOV System (p.7).