AGENDA #7
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Proposed Weaver Dairy Road Improvements (NC 86 to Erwin Road)
DATE: September 23, 2002
The attached resolution would endorse the three-lane concept plan for Weaver Dairy Road between NC 86 and Erwin Road as proposed by the Mayor’s Committee on Weaver Dairy Road Improvements. The resolution describes a conceptual design for the Weaver Dairy Road Improvement Project between NC 86 and Erwin Road, including a three-lane cross section consisting of one travel lane in each direction with left and right turn lanes and bus pull-offs as necessary, lane widening to accommodate bicycles, and curb and gutter and sidewalk along both sides of the roadway.
The resolution also states the Council’s understanding that, if the State agrees to construct the Weaver Dairy Road improvement project as proposed by the Mayor’s Committee and as described in the resolution, it would be unlikely that additional State funding would be available for any future improvements that the Town might some day desire on Weaver Dairy Road. It also includes the Council’s request that the State reallocate to the Town’s Traffic Signal System Upgrade Project any surplus project funds that may accrue as a result of constructing the proposed three-lane project on Weaver Dairy Road.
On September 9, 2002, the Council held a Public Forum to discuss the three-lane concept plan developed by the Mayor’s Committee and to receive citizens’ comments about the project. Thirteen citizens spoke at the forum. Attachment #1 includes comments made at the forum and staff responses. Attachment #2 is a copy of the September 9 Public Forum agenda item for reference.
Key elements of the Mayor’s Committee proposed three-lane concept plan are:
1. One travel lane in each direction between NC 86 and Erwin Road.
2. Curb/gutter and sidewalks on both sides.
3. Wide travel lanes to accommodate bicycles.
4. Right and left turn lanes and bus pull-offs as necessary.
5. New traffic signals at the following locations on Weaver Dairy Road (in addition to those signals already approved at the intersections of Weaver Dairy Road with Silo Drive, Sunrise Road, and Erwin Road; traffic signal at Weaver Dairy Road and Kingston Drive is under construction):
· Banks Drive (including pedestrian facilities)
· San Sophia Drive (signalized pedestrian crossing)
6. Roundabout at the intersection of the existing and the new segments of Weaver Dairy Road.
7. Narrow existing five-lane segments of Weaver Dairy Road as necessary to create a uniform roadway cross-section through most of the project.
We believe that the proposed three-lane plan would increase the capacity of the roadway and would improve safety conditions for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers on Weaver Dairy Road. We also think that the proposed turn lanes would significantly reduce the number of rear-end type accidents. Although a four-lane road would have greater capacity, the proposed three-lane plan developed by the Mayor’s Committee would improve the efficiency and safety of Weaver Dairy Road in comparison to current conditions.
We have been advised by the State that, if it agrees to construct the three-lane improvement project as described above, it is unlikely that additional State funding would be available for any future improvements to Weaver Dairy Road that the Town may some day desire. Also, the Council requested in its resolution adopted on April 22, 2002, that any surplus project funds accrued as a result of construction of a three-lane improvement project on Weaver Dairy Road be reallocated by the State to the Town’s Traffic Signal System Upgrade Project that is presently unfunded in the State Transportation Improvement Program. We have included references to these two issues in the attached resolution.
The State will consider comments received at the Public Hearing and will then make adjustments necessary to finalize the environmental assessment document and design elements of the Weaver Dairy Road Improvement Project. Based on the Public Hearing comments and input from the Town, a final design would be established and the State would prepare a Municipal Agreement describing the project and outlining the understandings and responsibilities of the Town and State with regard to development of plans, bidding and award of contract, cost-sharing, and construction of the project.
We believe that Weaver Dairy Road should be improved to safely and effectively serve pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicular traffic. We think that the proposed three-lane concept plan as developed by the Mayor’s Committee on Weaver Dairy Road Improvements would accomplish these objectives.
MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION
That the Council adopt the attached resolution endorsing the three-lane concept plan for Weaver Dairy Road between NC 86 and Erwin Road as proposed by the Mayor’s Committee for Weaver Dairy Road Improvements.
1. Comments and Issues Raised during the Public Hearing (p. 6).
2. September 9, 2002 Memorandum (p. 9).
A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THAT THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION CONSIDER THREE-LANE IMPROVEMENTS ON WEAVER DAIRY ROAD BETWEEN NC 86 AND ERWIN ROAD (2002-09-23/R-6)
WHEREAS, it is the Council’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 Council that such improvements be designed and constructed so as to minimize disturbance of adjacent properties; and
WHEREAS, the Council believes that the principles of Context Sensitive Design should be included in the development of this project; and
WHEREAS, the improvement project preferred by the State includes construction of a four-lane median divided cross-section consisting of two travel lanes in each direction, a raised center median, curb-and-gutter, sidewalks, bus pull-offs, and associated improvements; and
WHEREAS, the Council believes that a more modest improvement project could meet the objectives of the Town and the State with regard to Weaver Dairy Road, at a lower cost than the State’s preferred option, and with less disturbance of adjacent properties;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council endorses the concept plan proposed by the Mayor’s Committee on Weaver Dairy Road Improvements, to include the following design elements:
Two continuous travel lanes (one in each direction) between NC 86 and Erwin Road with left and right turn lanes and bus pull-offs as necessary, lane widening to accommodate bicycles, and curb and gutter and sidewalk along both sides of the roadway.
Traffic signals and pedestrian facilities at the intersection of Weaver Dairy Road and Banks Drive, in addition to those traffic signals and pedestrian amenities already planned by the State for Weaver Dairy Road at its intersections with Silo Drive/Carol Woods Drive, Sunrise Road, and Erwin Road.
A signalized pedestrian crosswalk at the intersection of Weaver Dairy Road and San Sophia Drive.
A roundabout at the intersection of the old and new segments of Weaver Dairy Road.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Council that it understands that, if the State agrees to construct the more modest Weaver Dairy Road Improvement Project as outlined above, it is unlikely that additional State funding would be available for any future improvements to Weaver Dairy Road that the Town might some day desire.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council requests that the State reallocate to the Town’s Traffic Signal System Upgrade Project (that is presently unfunded in the State Transportation Improvement Program) any surplus project funds that may accrue as a result of constructing the more modest Weaver Dairy Road Improvement Project as outlined above,
This the 23rd day of September, 2002.