AGENDA #4g
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Authorization to Execute Agreement with the NC Department of Transportation for the Morgan Creek Trail Project and Begin Recruitment for a Morgan Creek Trail Conceptual Plan Committee
DATE: May 29, 2002
The attached Resolution A would accept $71,500 in Direct Allocation funds from the local NCDOT Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), allocate the required local match of $17,875 from the Southern Village payment to the Town for the Morgan Creek Trail, and authorize the Manager to sign an agreement with NCDOT for use of the funds.
The attached Resolution B would authorize the Manager and the Greenways Commission to recruit applicants for a Morgan Creek Trail Conceptual Plan Committee.
The attached budget ordinances would account for the grant and transfer $17,875 from the general fund to establish a budget of $89,375 in the non-bond multi-year project fund.
The Manager recommends that the Council adopt both resolutions and the budget ordinances.
BACKGROUND
On May 26, 1998 the Council adopted the Chapel Hill Greenways Comprehensive Master Plan which recommends development of a Morgan Creek Trail from Culbreth Road to the Town line with Carrboro near Smith Level Road. Please see the attached pages 39-43 of the master plan report.
On November 27, 2000 the Council adopted the Report of the Merritt Pasture Access Committee to the Town Council. This Report recommends that the Town build a first phase of the Morgan Creek Trail in order to achieve public access to the Merritt Pasture.
DISCUSSION
Project Description: The Morgan Creek Trail is proposed to be a 10 feet wide asphalt and/or concrete trail that would allow pedestrian and bicycle traffic to continue from the current terminus of the Fan Branch Trail at Culbreth Road west to the Carrboro Town line near Frank Porter Graham School. The Town of Carrboro could extend the trail further upstream. A smaller natural surface trail would provide access east to the Merritt Pasture.
Proposed Morgan Creek Trail Conceptual Plan: Funds from the NCDOT could be used for planning and design work. We envision using a portion of the funds to develop a conceptual plan that would site the trail from Culbreth Road to Smith Level Road. This plan would show all direct connections to residential areas, streets, and public facilities. We would work closely with private landowners and school officials. The last 200 feet would be in Carrboro’s jurisdiction and would have to be planned with the cooperation of the Town of Carrboro. We believe that it is important to work closely with Carrboro to determine the Town’s portion of the Morgan Creek Trail’s exact point of connection with the future Carrboro trail system.
A typical conceptual plan allows the Council to give direction in its role as owner of the project. Once a conceptual plan is adopted, it is used as a guide and is followed by the staff as closely as practical in all subsequent decisions related to land acquisition, easement acquisition, incremental construction, and other related decisions. We believe that this conceptual plan should provide more detailed engineering information than is usually gathered at the conceptual plan level, because of the significant physical obstacles found in the Morgan Creek valley. We believe the study should determine the best locations and costs of future pedestrian bridges. In addition, the study should look at the feasibility of an underpass at Culbreth Road that would allow a direct and traffic-free connection between the existing Fan Branch Trail and the future Morgan Creek Trail.
The conceptual plan committee could also examine and possibly refine the current plan for access to the Merritt Pasture.
Proposed Conceptual Plan Committee: We recommend that the Council appoint a conceptual plan committee to investigate options for locating a paved and/or concrete greenway trail in the Morgan Creek valley from Culbreth Road to Smith Level Road. The attached Resolution B would authorize the Manager and the Greenways Commission to recruit applicants for the committee. We believe that the membership should include representatives from the organizations and groups listed below. We have also suggested numbers of members from each group. We recommend that the Chapel Hill residents at-large and neighborhood representatives be selected by the Council and other representatives be selected by the respective organizations.
If the Council agrees we would advertise for applicants, ask the Greenways Commission to assist in the recruitment of applicants, and bring back recommended committee nominations for Council consideration for appointment in October 2002. The Greenways Commission could offer recommendations for Council consideration.
NCDOT Enhancement Grant Application: We are submitting an application for a NCDOT Enhancement program grant for a possible first phase of the Morgan Creek Trail that would include pedestrian/bicycle bridges over Wilson and Morgan Creeks. In an ideal situation we would complete the concept plan prior to submitting for a grant to build a trail segment. However, in this case we believe that it is important to take advantage of any grant opportunities as they become available. If the grant application is successful we would likely be notified prior to completion of the concept plan. We would share the Enhancement Grant application with the concept plan committee and allow them to consider the application in their design recommendations. If the application is successful we could use any remaining design funds from the NCDOT Enhancement grant to prepare detailed construction drawings for the first phase.
Budget: The total project budget for design and planning would be $89,375. The NCDOT Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) has provided $71,500 for the project. This grant is contingent upon the Council allocating $17,875 in local funds to provide the required local match for the MPO funds.
We believe that a portion of the $113,000 contribution from the developer of the Southern Village project toward the future Morgan Creek greenway would be an appropriate source of the local match for this project.
Orange County Bond: We believe this project would qualify for use of a portion of the $1,000,000 in 2001 Orange County Greenways bond funds designated for use by Chapel Hill, because it is one of the two greenway projects that could connect directly to Carrboro. However, at this time the Council, Board of Orange County Commissioners, Town of Carrboro Board of Aldermen, and the Intergovernmental Parks Work Group have not yet determined how the greenways bond funds will be allocated. There remains a possibility that a portion of the Orange County bond funds might be used for construction of a portion of the Morgan Creek Trail. The proposed conceptual plan committee would include a representative of the Board of County Commissioners, selected by that body.
Schedule: If the Council were to approve execution of the agreement with NCDOT we would anticipate proceeding with the following project schedule:
CONCEPTUAL PLAN STUDY
Appoint Morgan Creek Conceptual Plan Committee October 2002
Complete Morgan Creek Conceptual Plan October 2003
Typical conceptual plans have been completed in a period of 6 - 12 months depending on the complexity of the issues. We anticipate that this process will take longer than usual because of the need to perform some engineering to determine the feasibility of bridge crossings and other features.
RECOMMENDATION
Greenways Commission Recommendation: The Greenways Commission’s recommendations will be distributed on Friday, May 24, 2002.
Manager’s Recommendation:
That the Council adopt:
ATTACHMENTS
1. Pages 39-43 of the Chapel Hill Greenways Comprehensive Master Plan (p. 10).
RESOLUTION A
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH NCDOT FOR PLANNING AND DESIGN FUNDS FOR THE MORGAN CREEK TRAIL (2002-05-29/R-6a)
WHEREAS, the North Carolina Department of Transportation and the Town have agreed to participate in the planning and design of a 10-foot wide asphalt and/or concrete multi-use path from Culbreth Road to Smith Level Road, with additional access to the Merritt Pasture, and
WHEREAS, the Town shall be responsible for the preparation of all environmental documents and project plans, acquisition of any required right of way, relocation of all utilities, construction of the project, and maintenance upon completion of the project; and
WHEREAS, the North Carolina Department of Transportation agrees to reimburse the Town a lump sum amount of $71,500 toward the planning and design costs of the project from the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Direct Attributable Funds;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Town Manger is hereby authorized to prepare a conceptual plan for the Morgan Creek Trail in Orange County and that the Town Manager is further authorized to sign and execute the Agreement with the North Carolina Department of Transportation.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Council that the Manager is authorized to use $17,875 in funds received from the Southern Village development for the construction of the Morgan Creek Trail for the required Town match funds.
This the 29th day of May 2002.
RESOLUTION B
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MANAGER AND THE GREENWAYS COMMISSION TO RECRUIT MEMBERS FOR A MORGAN CREEK TRAIL CONCEPTUAL PLAN COMMITTEE (2002-05-29/R-6b)
WHEREAS, the North Carolina Department of Transportation and the Town have agreed to participate in the planning and design of a 10-foot wide asphalt and/or concrete multi-use path from Culbreth Road to Smith Level Road, with additional access to the Merritt Pasture, and
WHEREAS, the Town requires additional information concerning possible routes and costs for various options; and
WHEREAS, a conceptual plan committee would allow citizens, nearby residents and property owners and neighboring jurisdictions to participate in the planning process;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Manager and Greenways Commission are hereby authorized to recruit the following applicants for a Morgan Creek Trail Conceptual Plan Committee:
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL that the Manager is authorized to report back to the Council with a recommended list of participants in October 2002.
This the 29th day of May, 2002.
Amended 5-30-02.
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE CAPITAL PROJECTS ORDINANCE FOR VARIOUS CAPITAL PROJECTS (2002-05-29/O-2a)
BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that, pursuant to Section 13.2 of Chapter 159 of the General Statutes of North Carolina, that the capital projects ordinance for various capital projects funded from a variety of sources is hereby amended as follows:
The capital projects as authorized by the Town Council includes various capital projects funded from grants, the Capital Improvements Program funds, and other miscellaneous sources of revenue for a variety of projects extending beyond one fiscal year.
The Manager of the Town of Chapel Hill is hereby directed to proceed with implementation of these projects within terms of funds appropriated here.
Revenues anticipated to be available to the Town to complete the projects are hereby amended as follows:
Current Budget Revised Budget
Adopt-A-Trail Grant 35,000 35,000
Clean Water Management Grant 200,000 200,000
Chapel Hill-Carrboro School 148,059 148,059
Metropolitan Planning Grant 79,000 79,000
State Bicycle/Pedestrian Grant 300,000 300,000
Pritchard Park Gift 100,193 100,193
Pritchard Park Interest & Rental Income 63,807 63,807
Donations 2,000 2,000
Orange County Bond Funds 205,000 205,000
Transfer from CIP Fund 416,549 416,549
Transfer from General Fund 59,000 76,875
Interest Earnings 88,156 88,156
N.C. Transportation Grant 212,865 212,865
OWASA Reimbursement 42,931 42,931
Pedestrian Signal Reimbursement 5,000 5,000
N. C. DOT Grant 136,000 207,500
Total 2,093,560 2,182,935
SECTION IV
Appropriations for the various projects are hereby amended as follows:
Current Budget Revised Budget
Booker Creek Linear Park 20,000 20,000
Dry Creek Trail 270,800 270,800
Lower Booker Creek Trail 721,749 721,749
Pritchard Park 164,000 164,000
Southern Community Park 205,000 205,000
Willow Drive Bridge 343,952 343,952
Hargraves 50,000 50,000
Scroggs School Athletic Fields 148,059 148,059
N. C. 54/Hamiliton Improvements 170,000 170,000
Morgan Creek Trail 0 89,375
Total 2,093,560 2,182,935
SECTION V
The Manager is directed to report annually on the financial status of the project in an informational section to be included in the Annual Budget, and shall keep the Council informed of any unusual occurrences.
SECTION VI
Copies of this projects ordinance shall be entered into the Minutes of the Council and copies shall be filed within 5 days of adoption with the Manager, Finance Director and Clerk.
This the 29th day of May, 2002.
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND “THE ORDINANCE CONCERNING APPROPRIATIONS AND THE RAISING OF REVENUE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1, 2001 (2002-05-29/O-2b)
BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Budget Ordinance entitled “An Ordinance Concerning Appropriations and the Raising of Revenue for the Fiscal Year Beginning July 1, 2001” as duly adopted on June 25, 2001 be and the same is hereby amended as follows:
ARTICLE I
Current Revised
APPROPRIATIONS Budget Increase Decrease Budget
GENERAL FUND
Non-departmental
Transfer to Capital
Projects Fund 0 17,875 17,875
ARTICLE II
Current Revised
REVENUES Budget Increase Decrease Budget
GENERAL FUND
Fund Balance 229,576 17,875 247,451
This the 29th day of May, 2002.