AGENDA #13
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Fixed Guideway Transit Corridor Evaluation
DATE: February 11, 2002
This memorandum reviews options for evaluating future fixed guideway transit corridors in Chapel Hill. Fixed guideway transit corridors are usually exclusive rights of way used by transit vehicles, including rail or bus technologies. In some instances fixed guideway corridors allow the transit vehicles to operate in mixed traffic.
Resolution A would request the evaluation of additional fixed guideway corridors as part of the 2025 Regional Transportation Plan. Resolution B would request that the Triangle Transit Authority revise the scope of the NC54/I-40 Transit Corridor Study to include the evaluation of additional fixed guideway corridors and that additional corridors be evaluated as part of the 2025 Plan.
At this time there are several studies underway that are evaluating the feasibility of developing fixed guideway system to serve Chapel Hill. While a limited number of potential fixed guideway corridors have been identified, other possible corridors have been suggested by Council members. We believe there are to two questions before the Council at this time:
· Are there additional fixed guideway transit corridors that the Council wishes to have evaluated; and
· What is the appropriate process for completing this evaluation
We believe there are additional fixed guideway corridors that could be evaluated. If the Council wishes to evaluate additional fixed guideway corridors we recommend that evaluation could be best completed as part of the ongoing development of the 2025 Regional Transportation Plan.
During the Council’s October 10, 2001 work session on the findings of the U.S. 15-501 Major Investment Study, a Council member requested an evaluation of a possible fixed guideway transit connection between the proposed Gateway station and future development on the University of North Carolina Horace Williams property.
During the Council’s January 14, 2002 discussion of the NC54/I-40 Transit Corridor Study, a Council member requested consideration be given to evaluating additional possible fixed guideway connections.
The identification and evaluation of fixed guideway corridors serving Chapel Hill has taken place through several different initiatives. Attachment 1 provides summary information on the following initiatives:
The identification of the U.S. 15-501 corridor for the implementation of a fixed guideway system grew out of a broader major investment study of the corridor, initiated by the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Urban Area, that evaluated a wide range of transportation improvements, including roadway expansion, and construction of bicycle and pedestrian facilities. The designation of this corridor for a fixed guideway connection between Chapel Hill and Durham was subsequently included in the Triangle Transit Authority “Recommendations for a Regional Transit Plan”, adopted in 1995.
The concept of a fixed guideway corridor NC54/I-40 was identified as part of the discussions of the U.S 15-501 Major Investment Study and proposed by the Triangle Transit Authority as part of the I-40 Congestion Management Study. The NC54/I-40 Transit Corridor Study, which is being funded and administered by the Triangle Transit Authority, is intended to evaluate the initial feasibility of implementing a fixed guideway connection between the University of North Carolina main campus and the Research Triangle Park Southpark Station of the Phase I Rail system.
2025 Regional Transportation Plan
The most comprehensive evaluation of fixed guideway corridor will be completed as part of the ongoing development of the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Urban Area 2025 Regional Transportation Plan. Attachment 1 provides background on the scope and current status of the 2025 Regional Plan. The 2025 Plan, which is anticipated to be completed in August, 2002, is evaluating a wide range of possible transportation improvements, including the development of a comprehensive system of fixed guideway corridors.
At this time regional staff is evaluating 14 different 2025 scenarios, several of which include various fixed guideway options. Attachment 2 shows the fixed guideway options serving Chapel Hill that are currently being evaluated. It is anticipated that the current evaluation of the 14 alternative scenarios will result in the identification of three refined scenarios for further detailed analysis. We expect the Council to review and comment on the evaluation of the different alternatives. The results of the evaluation of the 14 alternatives is expected to be presented to the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Transportation Advisory Committee on February 13, 2002.
The Council has expressed an interest in identifying and evaluating a transit corridor that would connect the proposed fixed guideway station at the Gateway area to the anticipated development on the University of North Carolina Horace Williams property.
We have identified several possible corridors linking the Gateway and Horace Williams areas, shown on Attachment 3. In our preliminary evaluation of these corridors we have generally assumed express bus service operating along roadways in mixed traffic.
One corridor would use I-40, between U.S. 15-501 and NC86, connecting to either NC86 or to a separate fixed guideway corridor along the existing Southern Railroad right of way. The NC86 alternative proposes to use the existing roadway, connecting to the Weaver Dairy Extension for access to the Horace Williams property. The Southern Railroad option assumes the construction of a separate busway corridor along the rail right of way, providing a direct connection to Horace Williams. This option assumes that high occupancy vehicle lanes will be implemented along I-40 from NC86 to NC147. Buses using I-40 between NC86 and U.S. 15-501 could utilize the high occupancy vehicle lanes.
A second corridor would utilize local streets, Eastowne Drive and Sterling Drive, to connect buses to Sage Road. This corridor would then use Weaver Dairy Road, either by way of Erwin Road or with the proposed Sage Road extension, and the Weaver Dairy Extension to enter the Horace Williams property.
The third corridor would route the express buses along U.S. 15-501/Franklin Street to Estes Drive, and then to Horace Williams.
The table below includes information about the distance of each alternative and estimated roundtrip travel time. We note that the information included in this table is preliminary and subject to further refinement.
|
Transit Corridor Alternative |
Length (miles) |
Estimated Roundtrip Travel Time (minutes) |
|
US 15-501/Estes Drive |
9.7 |
26.8 |
|
Sage/Erwin/Weaver Dairy |
13.26 |
34.8 |
|
Sage/Weaver Dairy |
12.68 |
31.71 |
|
I-40/NC86/Weaver Dairy |
15.14 |
31.94 |
|
I-40/Southern Railroad |
19.24 |
36.61 |
The travel times included in Table 1 assume that the buses can operate at 80% of the posted speed limit. We would anticipate that during peak morning and afternoon period, the effective operating speed along the US 15-501/Estes Drive corridor would drop significantly. Similarly, as traffic volumes increase as anticipated along Sage Road and Weaver Dairy Road the transit operating speeds would be reduced. We expect that transit operating speeds along I-40, with the inclusion of a high occupancy vehicle lane, could be maintained, but congestion along NC86 and Weaver Dairy Road would affect overall travel times for the I-40/NC86/Weaver Dairy Road corridor. Although several of the alternatives would be affected by increased congestion at signalized intersections, these delays could be minimized by implementing a signal preemption system for the express buses operating along these corridors.
The regional transportation model could be used to assess the impacts of future congestion along any of these corridors and to evaluate possible transit ridership demand for each alternative.
We believe that in addition to a fixed guideway connection between Horace Williams and Gateway, fixed guideway service along NC 86, from I-40 to the Southern Village, and along U.S. 15-501/Franklin Street, from I-40 to Carrboro, should be evaluated. This transit service would operate in the existing street, but would be provided by higher capacity transit vehicles. Attachment 4 shows these fixed guideway corridors. We believe these transitways, operating along the principal north-south and east-west transportation corridors within Chapel Hill, and connected to other transit services, could provide a comprehensive transit network that would promote less use of automobiles.
These additional transit corridors could be evaluated in two ways:
If the Council wishes to have additional fixed guideway corridors evaluated we believe that could best be accomplished as part of the ongoing development of the 2025 Regional Transportation Plan. The 2025 Plan is intended to provide a preliminary evaluation of the fixed guideway feasibility, measured by assessing potential ridership along specific corridors. Once potential fixed guideway corridors have shown adequate potential travel demand, these corridors will be included in the 2025 Regional Plan. The fixed guideway corridors included in the Plan would then require additional analysis to refine the specific corridor alignment, station locations and identify construction and operating costs.
Another option would be to request that the Triangle Transit Authority amend the scope of work for the proposed NC54/I-40 Transit Corridor Study to include the evaluation of additional corridors.
The original decision to pursue the NC54/I-40 Transit Corridor Study was the result of the preliminary identification of this corridor in both the U.S. 15-501 Major Investment Study and the I-40 Congestion Management Study. The scope of the Study is narrowly focused on the NC54/I-40 corridor. The suggestion to expand the scope to look at several different possible fixed guideway corridors would fundamentally change intent of the Study and require a modification to the scope and budget. It would be expected that the Triangle Transit Authority would request funding from Chapel Hill to perform the additional work. If this option were chosen it would also be necessary to request that these alternatives be included in the 2025 Plan for evaluation.
We believe there are other possible fixed guideway corridors serving Chapel Hill that should be evaluated. We believe that the most appropriate process for completing this evaluation would be as part of the 2025 Regional Transportation Plan. We recommend requesting the inclusion of a transit connection between Horace Williams and Gateway and service along NC 86 and U.S. 15-501/Franklin Street as part of the ongoing evaluation of alternatives for the 2025 Regional Transportation Plan.
Manager’s Recommendation: That the Council adopt Resolution A requesting that the Transportation Advisory Committee include additional fixed guideway transit alternatives in the development of the 2025 Regional Transportation Plan, including:
· Between the proposed fixed guideway station at the Gateway area and the Horace Williams property.
· Along NC86, between I-40 and the Southern Village
· Along U.S. 15-501/Franklin Street, between I-40 and Carrboro
Resolution B would request that the Triangle Transit Authority revise the scope of work for the NC54/I-40 Transit Corridor Study to include the evaluation of additional fixed guideway corridors. The resolution would also request that the 2025 Plan also include an evaluation of additional corridors.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Background: US 15-501 Major Investment Study, NC54/I-40 Transit Corridor and 2025 Regional Transportation Plan (p. 8).
2. Map of Fixed Guideway Corridors identified in 2025 Regional Transportation Plan (p.11).
3. Map of potential Gateway to Horace Williams Transit Corridors (12).
4. Map of NC86 and US 15-501/Franklin Street Transit Corridors (p. 13).
RESOLUTION A
A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DURHAM-CHAPEL HILL, CARRBORO TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE INCLUDE THE EVALUATION OF ADDITIONAL FIXED GUIDEWAY ALTERNATIVES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE 2025 REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN (2002-02-11/R-14a)
WHEREAS, the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Urban Area is developing a 2025 Regional Transportation Plan; and
WHEREAS, the 2025 Regional Transportation Plan will include an evaluation of potential fixed guideway corridors within the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro area; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Chapel Hill had identified several additional fixed guideway corridors for evaluation.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Transportation Advisory Committee is requested to evaluate additional fixed guideway corridors in the development of the 2025 Regional Transportation Plan, including:
· Between the proposed fixed guideway station at the Gateway area and the Horace Williams property.
· Along NC86, between I-40 and the Southern Village
· Along U.S. 15-501/Franklin Street, between I-40 and Carrboro
This the 11th day of February, 2002.
RESOLUTION B
A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DURHAM-CHAPEL HILL, CARRBORO TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE INCLUDE THE EVALUATION OF ADDITIONAL FIXED GUIDEWAY ALTERNATIVES IN THE NC 54/I-40 TRANSIT CORRIDOR STUDY AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE 2025 REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PLAN (2002-02-11/R-14b)
WHEREAS, the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Urban Area is developing a 2025 Regional Transportation Plan; and
WHEREAS, the proposed NC54/I-40 Transit Corridor Study will evaluation fixed guideway corridors along the NC54 and I-40 corridors; and
WHEREAS, the 2025 Regional Transportation Plan will include an evaluation of potential fixed guideway corridors within the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro area; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Chapel Hill had identified several additional fixed guideway corridors for evaluation.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Triangle Transit Authority revise the scope of work for the NC54/I-40 Study to allow for the evaluation of additional fixed guideway corridors, including:
· Between the proposed fixed guideway station at the Gateway area and the Horace Williams property.
· Along NC86, between I-40 and the Southern Village
· Along U.S. 15-501/Franklin Street, between I-40 and Carrboro
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Transportation Advisory Committee is requested to include the evaluation of these fixed guideway corridors in the development of the 2025 Regional Transportation Plan.
This the 11th day of February, 2002.