AGENDA #8
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Sidewalk and Bicycle Facilities Construction Plan for 2002-2003
DATE: November 25, 2002
The attached resolution would authorize a sidewalk and bicycle facilities construction plan for fiscal year 2002-2003.
SUMMARY
This memorandum proposes an annual sidewalk and bicycle facilities construction plan for 2002-2003. We estimate approximately $60,000 will be available from residual Capital Improvement Program funds for new sidewalk and bicycle facilities projects in 2002-03. It is possible that as much as $100,000 in Direct Allocation funds will be available for sidewalks for the region as a whole beginning in October 2002. If the Town were able to obtain a portion of the Direct Allocation funds, the grant would require a 20 percent local match. The Council may also choose to allocate additional Capital Improvement Program funds before the end of the fiscal year.
The Council held a public forum on October 21, 2002, and received citizen, advisory board, and Council comments (see Attachment 1). Comments received at this forum were considered in developing our final recommendation.
We recommend the Town Council approve the following ten projects on the sidewalk priority list for this fiscal year, as funding is available (see maps, Attachment 2):
Ø Airport Road (east side), Timber Hollow Court to Homestead Drive.
Ø Legion Road #2 (south side), Clover Road to Ephesus Church Road
Ø Culbreth Road (south side), between Cobble Ridge Drive and Rossburn Way
Ø Seawell School Road #3 (east side), Savannah Terrace to High School Road
Ø McCauley Street (south side), Brookside Drive to Pittsboro Street
Ø South Graham Street (east side), Cameron Avenue to Franklin Street
Ø University Drive (north side), Pittsboro Street to Ransom Street
Ø Legion Road #1 (south side), Scarlette Drive to Martin Luther King Jr. Street
Ø Ephesus Church Rd #1 (south side), Eden Lane. to 15-501 Bypass
Ø Estes Drive Extension #3 (south side), Seawell School Road to Airport Road.
PUBLIC FORUM COMMENTS
South Graham Street: At the October 21, 2002 public forum, a citizen spoke in support of the proposed sidewalk on South Graham Street.
Comment: The South Graham Street sidewalk project is among the top eleven projects on the sidewalk priority list and qualifies for funding through the Neighborhood Revitalization section of the Community Development program. We recommend that Community Development funds be used to construct the project this fiscal year.
Seawell School Road: At the public forum, a citizen spoke in support of the project noted on the priority list as Seawell School Road #3, from Savannah Terrace to High School Road.
Comment: The Seawell School Road #3 project is also among the top eleven projects on the sidewalk priority list. We recommend that this project be funded this fiscal year.
We note that this project is separate from the Seawell School Road #1 project on the priority list. The Seawell School Road #1 project, on the west side of Seawell School Road, from Seawell Elementary School to Hanover Place, is not entirely within Chapel Hill’s town limits. In fact, the majority of the site was recently annexed into the Town of Carrboro.
Country Club Road Sidewalks: A Council member discussed the need for sidewalk improvements in the vicinity of Battle Park.
Comment: There are brick sidewalks on the south/west side of Country Club Road in this area, and Chapel Hill gravel walks on the north/east on Country Club Road. If the Council wishes to pursue sidewalk improvements on the north/east side of the street, we recommend initiating discussions with the University to seek their participation in the cost of the work. A resolution is attached for the Council’s consideration.
Crosswalk Improvements: A Council member noted the need for crosswalk improvements throughout town. The Council member suggested the Town maintain a separate priority list for crosswalk improvements.
Comment: We recommend this issue be referred to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board and the Transportation Board for a recommendation to the Town Council. We note that a related item regarding pedestrian safety improvements on Airport Road recently was referred to the Manager for follow-up.
DISCUSSION
We recommend the Council approve ten of the top eleven projects on the sidewalk priority list for funding this fiscal year. One of the top eleven projects, Fordham Boulevard #2, is not included because it will be constructed as part of the linear park improvements in the area during the next year to 18 months. As noted in the October 21, 2002 memorandum (see Attachment 1), it is not likely that all of the ten projects can be constructed this fiscal year, but Council approval of the full list would give us needed flexibility to maximize efficiency and resources.
A summary of each of the ten recommended projects follows. Projects marked with the symbol (***) are projects we recommend pursuing with currently available funds.
Ø ***Airport Road (east side, Timber Hollow Court to Homestead Drive): We recommend pursuing Direct Allocation funds for all or part of this project. We recommend applying for $100,000 in Direct Allocation funds, which would require a $25,000 local match.
· Cost estimate: $247,000 (total project).
· Construction: by contract.
Ø Legion Road #2 (south side, Clover Road to Ephesus Church Road: We recommend constructing this project at the same time as the Legion Road #1 project.
· Cost estimate: $30,000.
· Construction: by contract.
Ø ***Culbreth Road (south side, between Cobble Ridge Drive and Rossburn Way): This project completes the sidewalk system along the south side of Culbreth Road leading to the middle school; completes the sidewalk currently under construction.
· Cost estimate: $36,000.
· Construction: by contract.
Ø Seawell School Road #3 (east side, Savannah Terrace to High School Road): This project would provide access from Homestead Village and neighboring areas to three schools.
· Cost estimate: $32,000.
· Construction: by Town crews.
Ø McCauley Street (south side, Brookside Drive to Pittsboro Street): This project is within an historic district. We recommend initiating discussions with the Historic District Commission prior to scheduling this project.
· Cost estimate: unknown at this time.
· Construction: by Town crews.
Ø ***South Graham Street (east side, Cameron Avenue to Franklin Street): This project qualifies for Community Development funding. We recommend constructing this project as soon as Town crews are available.
· Cost estimate: $20,000.
· Construction: by Town crews.
Ø University Drive (north side, Pittsboro Street to Ransom Street): This project is within an historic district. We recommend initiating discussions with the Historic District Commission prior to scheduling this project.
· Cost estimate: unknown at this time.
· Construction: by Town crews.
Ø Legion Road #1 (south side, Scarlette Drive to Martin Luther King Jr. Street): We recommend constructing this project at the same time as the Legion Road #2 project, which is on the south side between Clover Road and Ephesus Church Road.
· Cost estimate: $38,000.
· Construction: by contract.
Ø Ephesus Church Road #1 (south side, Eden Lane to 15-501 Bypass): We recommend consideration of this project for future Direct Allocation funding.
· Cost estimate: unknown at this time.
· Construction: by contract.
Ø Estes Drive Extension #3 (south side, Seawell School Road to Airport Road): Right-of-way acquisition and design for this project (a portion of the overall road improvement project for Estes Drive Extension) are funded in the State’s Transportation Improvement Program. Construction is not currently funded.
Manager’s Recommendation: That the Council adopt the attached resolution approving ten projects on the sidewalk priority list for construction as funding permits.
1. October 21, 2002 memorandum to Council (p. 7).
2. Project Location Maps (p. 25).
A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE 2002-2003 SIDEWALK AND BICYCLE FACILITIES CONSTRUCTION PLAN (2002-11-25/R-5a)
WHEREAS, the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill has available approximately $60,000 in Capital Improvements Program funds, and an estimated $20,000 in Community Development program funds, for sidewalk and bicycle facility projects in the 2002-2003 fiscal year; and
WHEREAS, the Council may pursue other sources of funding for sidewalk projects, including Direct Allocation funds from the State of North Carolina; and
WHEREAS, the Council has reviewed projects for possible use of these funds;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that 2002-2003 Capital Improvements Program funds and Community Development program funds be used to construct the following sidewalk projects, as indicated:
Ø Legion Road #2 (south side), Clover Road to Ephesus Church Road
Ø Culbreth Road (south side), between Cobble Ridge Drive and Rossburn Way
Ø Seawell School Road #3 (east side), Savannah Terrace to High School Road
Ø McCauley Street (south side), Brookside Drive to Pittsboro Street
Ø South Graham Street (east side), Cameron Avenue to Franklin Street (Community Development funds)
Ø University Drive (north side), Pittsboro Street to Ransom Street
Ø Legion Road #1 (south side), Scarlette Drive to Martin Luther King Jr. Street
Ø Ephesus Church Rd #1 (south side), Eden Lane to 15-501 Bypass
Ø Estes Road Extension #3 (south side), Seawell School Road to Airport Road.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Council that the Town Manager is directed to apply for up to $100,000 of Direct Allocation funds with a local match of $25,000 for the following project:
Ø Airport Road (east side), Timber Hollow Court to Homestead Drive
This the 25th day of November, 2002.
A RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE MAYOR TO INITIATE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA REGARDING A POTENTIAL SIDEWALK ON COUNTRY CLUB ROAD (2002-11-25/R-5b)
WHEREAS, the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill wishes to pursue sidewalk improvements on the north/east side of Country Club Road, adjacent to Battle Park;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Town Council directs the Mayor to initiate discussions with the University to seek their participation in the cost of the work of sidewalk improvements on the north/east side of Country Club Road, adjacent to Battle Park.
This the 25th day of November, 2002.