AGENDA #2c

 

 

A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THAT THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION CONSIDER ALTERNATIVE IMPROVEMENTS ON WEAVER DAIRY ROAD BETWEEN NC 86 AND ERWIN ROAD (2002-04-22/R-1 )

 

WHEREAS, it is the Town’s desire to improve Weaver Dairy Road to the extent that it can safely and effectively accommodate existing and future pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicular traffic; and

 

WHEREAS, it is important to the Town that such improvements be designed and constructed so as to minimize disturbance of adjacent properties; and

 

WHEREAS,  project improvements currently proposed for Weaver Dairy Road include construction of a four-lane median divided cross-section consisting of two travel lanes in each direction, a raised center median with exclusive turn lanes and refuge for pedestrians, curb-and-gutter and sidewalks along both sides of the road, and bus pull-offs as necessary; and

 

WHEREAS, the Town Council believes that a more modest improvement project would meet the objectives of the Town and the State for Weaver Dairy Road at a lower cost than the currently approved project and with less disturbance to adjacent properties.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council proposes the following project design for Weaver Dairy Road:

 

For those segments of Weaver Dairy Road within the project corridor that are existing two- or three-lane cross sections, the Town would prefer that they be improved to no more than a three-lane configuration.

 

For those segments of Weaver Dairy Road within the project corridor that are existing five-lane cross sections, the Town would accept the installation of retrofitted raised medians to replace the center turn lane, thereby creating a median-divided four-lane cross section in these segments.

 

For the existing five-lane segment of Sage Road between Erwin Road and US 15-501, the Town requests that the project include the installation of a retrofitted raised median to replace the center turn lane, thereby creating a four-lane median divided cross section in this segment.

 

For the new alignment segment connecting Weaver Dairy Road to Sage Road, the Town agrees to the construction of the currently proposed median divided four-lane cross section to provide cross section continuity.

 

For the entire project, regardless of cross section, the Town requests that the project include wide outer lanes to accommodate bicycles, curb and gutter and sidewalk along both sides of the roadway, and bus pull-offs and turn lanes as may be necessary.

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council understands that the State will acquire right-of-way on the basis of a four-lane median divided cross section regardless of whether a narrower cross section is constructed with the project at this time.

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council requests that the State consider installing traffic and pedestrian signals at locations identified by the Town’s Weaver Dairy Road Safety Committee.

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council requests that the State reallocate any surplus project funds which may accrue as a result of this proposed compromise design to the Town’s Traffic Signal System Upgrade Project which is presently unfunded in the State Transportation Improvement Program.

 

This the 22nd day of  April, 2002.