AGENDA #2b
TO: Town Council
FROM: Kevin Foy, Mayor
SUBJECT: Weaver Dairy Road Improvement Project
DATE: April 22, 2002
SUMMARY
The attached resolution would endorse a modified plan for the Weaver Dairy Road Improvement Project and is offered for consideration by the Town Council subject to further Council discussion and public comment this evening.
The proposed resolution endorses a project design for Weaver Dairy Road that would change existing two-lane sections to a three-lane configuration and retrofit existing five-lane cross sections to median-divided four-lane cross sections.
I believe that it is important for the Council to adopt a position on Weaver Dairy Road this evening based on the timetable established by the N.C. Department of Transportation.
BACKGROUND
At our retreat in January, the Council expressed an interest in reconsidering the Council’s previous decision that endorsed a design for Weaver Dairy Road. The previously endorsed design includes a median divided four-lane cross section. Based on the Council’s discussion, in February I requested the Transportation Secretary to allow the Council additional time to consider alternatives to that plan.
In March, we received a letter from the Transportation Secretary agreeing to suspend work on the Weaver Dairy Road project for 45 days to allow Council’s reconsideration.
On April 8, the Council conducted a work session. At that time the Council also endorsed my contacting representatives of the Department of Transportation to inquire about alternative designs that the Department would be willing to consider. As we discussed, the Council thought such information would be helpful to receive, if possible, prior to further consideration and public comment this evening.
DISCUSSION
On April 16 I met with Mr. Douglas Galyon, Chair of the N.C. Board of Transportation, to discuss the interests and concerns that have been raised by Council Members and citizens and to explore with him whether the Department would be willing to consider some modification to the design recommended by the State and previously endorsed by the Town Council. (That design was for a median divided, four-lane cross section with wide outside lanes, a raised center median, curb/gutter/sidewalks on both sides and bus pull-offs.)
Based on comments received from Mr. Galyon, and subject to further Council input following tonight’s public hearing, I recommend that the Council consider the following resolution.
The proposed resolution would:
1. Express the Council’s preference that existing two-or three-lane sections of Weaver Dairy Road be improved to no more than three lanes.
2. Accept the installation of retrofitted raised medians to replace the center turn lane in existing five-lane cross section portions of Weaver Dairy Road.
3. Request that a retrofitted raised median be installed in the existing five-lane segment of Sage Road between Erwin Road and US 15-501.
4. Agree to construction of the proposed median-divided four-lane cross section for the new segment connecting Weaver Dairy Road to Sage Road.
5. Request that for the entire project, regardless of the width of the cross section, the project include wide outer lanes, curb and gutter and sidewalk along both sides, and bus pull-offs and turn lanes as may be necessary.
6. Requests the consideration by the State of installation of traffic and pedestrian signals at locations identified by the Town’s Weaver Dairy Road Safety Committee.
I believe that with the changes requested and endorsed by this resolution, the Weaver Dairy Road Project will be an improvement for our community and will be completed in a way that is responsive to the interests and concerns we have heard from our citizens.
The resolution would acknowledge that the State would intend to proceed with right-of-way on the basis of a four-lane median divided cross section along the full length of the project at this time, even though present two lane sections would be improved to no more than three lanes.
Based on my conversation with Mr. Galyon, I believe that it is important that the Council take action to adopt a position this evening. The letter received on March 12 indicated that the Department would delay work on the Weaver Dairy Road Improvement Project for 45 days. That time period expires this week. Based on the April 16 conversation, I believe that in the event the Council does not adopt a revised position or reaffirm its previous position on this project, the N.C Department of Transportation may withdraw the funding previously allocated and take no further action on this project.
RECOMMENDATION:
That, subject to consideration of public input this evening, the Council consider the attached Resolution endorsing a modified plan for improvement to Weaver Dairy Road.