MINUTES OF A WORK SESSION HELD BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE

THE TOWN OF CHAPEL HILL, TUESDAY, JANUARY 2, 1990, 7:30 P.M.

 

Mayor Howes called the meeting to order.

 

Council Members in attendance were:

 

          Julie Andresen     Alan Rimer

          Joyce Brown        James C. Wallace

          Joe Herzenberg     Arthur Werner

          Nancy Preston      Roosevelt Wilkerson, Jr.

 

Also in attendance were: Interim Town Manager Sonna Loewenthal, Assistant Town Manager Florentine Miller, Public Safety Director Cal Horton, Town Engineer George Small and Town Attorney Ralph Karpinos.

 

Mayor Howes noted that this evening's work session on South Co­lumbia Street construction alternatives had been postponed from December 19th due to inclement weather. Mayor Howes noted that the Council would take no action this evening, but would consider final action on Monday, January 8th.

 

Interim Town Manager Sonna Loewenthal said that North Carolina Department of Transportation staff had composed three basic al­ternatives for changes to South Columbia Street, with three additional options under each alternative, creating twelve total pos­sible options. Ms. Loewenthal noted that the Department of Transportation's principal recommendation for a five‑lane highway would occur at no cost to the Town. Ms. Loewenthal added that the other eleven alternatives involved tradeoffs of amenities.

 

Town Engineer George Small noted that the costs presented to the Council this evening were preliminary estimates. Mr. Small indi­cated that Department of Transportation representatives were in attendance to respond to the Council's questions.

 

Mr. Small stated that the South Columbia Street widening project was approved by the Department of Transportation in 1984. Mr. Small added that funding for the project had been initially allo­cated during late 1988. Mr. Small said that basic proposed project would consist of five lanes, constructed at the Depart­ment of Transportation's expense. Mr. Small noted that the project could also be constructed alternatively with a sixteen or twenty‑four foot median, and a variety of amenities such as bicy­cle lanes, sidewalks, and bus pull‑offs.

 

Mr. Small showed an exhibit map denoting the proposed project alignment. Mr. Small said that approximately 16,000 vehicles per day traverse the area of roadway under consideration. Mr. Small stated that it would be possible to replace some portions of sidewalk at no cost to the Town, although the majority of these costs would not be borne by the Department of Transportation.  Mr. Small noted that the cost of bus pull‑offs would be quite significant, but they were not a necessity, since two lanes of traffic could merge and go around buses when they were stopped to discharge and embark passengers.

 

Mr. Small said that the Town would most likely incur the responsibility for maintaining any landscaping as a consequence of the South Columbia Street project. Mr. Small also stressed the need for University involvement in buffering of the future road­way.

 

Mr. Small briefly reviewed possible bikeway and landscaping is­sues. Mr. Small noted that it "would be difficult to secure De­partment of Transportation cooperation for the provision of off‑street bikeways.

 

Mr. Small observed that the proposed South Columbia Street widen­ing project was on an expedited schedule for Council considera­tion and Department of Transportation action, due to the high level of interest by other communities in using these funds for their own local roadway projects.

 

Mr. Small showed a series of construction cost tables to the Council. He indicated that most of the costs would be for right‑of‑way acquisition.

 

Mayor Howes noted that he had recently spoken to Mr. Buchanan, Orange County's representative on the North Carolina Department of Transportation Board. Mr. Buchanan indicated that the Department of Transportation has a lot of demands for the use of highway funding. Mr. Buchanan urged the Council to reach a con­clusion in its decision‑making process as soon as possible.

 

Council Member Werner inquired whether the University's building plans would necessitate shifting of the roadway centerline to the east. Mr. Small said yes. Mr. Small noted that by moving the centerline as far to the east as possible, it appeared that five lanes can be accommodated while preserving rock walls in the area. Council Member Andresen inquired whether it would be possible to include bicycle lanes and leave the rock walls intact. Mr. Small said no.

 

Council Member Werner requested clarification of which University buildings had been completed and which ones were in the planning stages. Mr. Small showed a map specifying the status of Univer­sity buildings along South Columbia Street. Council Member Werner inquired whether a five lane roadway with a twenty‑four foot median and bicycle lanes would severely encroach University buildings in the area. Mr. Small said yes, noting that buffering options would be non‑existent.

 

Council Member Werner asked whether there had been discussions concerning the University paying for any South Columbia Street roadway amenities. Mr. Small stated that there had been no for­mal discussions. He added that informal staff level discussions had been held concerning buffering.

 

Council Member Werner asked how much of the total right‑of‑way cost was attributable to the acquisition of State (University) land. Mr. Small stated that the bulk of right‑of‑way cost was for non‑University land. Council Member Werner asked how much was currently allocated in the Town's budget for roadway con­struction. Mr. Small said $500,000. Interim Town Manager Loewenthal noted that no more money was available from the 1986 bonds for roadway improvements.

 

Council Member Andresen inquired how much land disturbance would be necessary if the Council elected to pursue the Department of Transportation basic project recommendation (five traffic lanes). Mr. Small said this would be difficult to quantify, but would generally have a minimal impact on the west side of the project and seventy to eighty feet of disturbance on the east side. Council Member Andresen inquired about median landscaping. Mr. Small noted that the opportunities for landscaping of a sixteen foot median would be very limited, while a twenty‑four foot medi­an would offer greater flexibility.

 

Council Member Andresen said she had problems with constructing a five lane roadway in the area. Council Member Andresen suggested that a roadway project similar to Wade Avenue, in Raleigh, would be a preferable alternative. Council Member Andresen stressed the need for sidewalks and bicycle lanes throughout the Town. Mr. Small said that traffic volumes on South Columbia Street necessitate two good travel lanes in each direction and a center turning lane. Council Member Andresen asked where problems would occur if the project were designed as four lanes, without a center turning lane. Council Member Preston inquired whether any thought had been given to a three land road with bus pull‑offs. Council Member Preston stated that there is a need to encourage people to use other means of transportation other than personal automobiles. Mr. Small responded that neither of these alternatives would offer sufficient travel lanes, resulting in traffic tie‑ups. Mr. Small noted that there would be room to include a five foot sidewalk along South Columbia Street. He added that the majority of this cost would be borne by the Town.

 

Council Member Preston inquired whether sidewalks would impact the width for the project. Mr. Small said that sidewalks would not add width, while bicycle lanes would add up to twelve feet in width. Council Member Preston asked whether small dogwoods and crepe myrtles could be maintained in a sixteen foot median strip.

 

Mr. Small said this would pose problems, depending upon how close plantings were to the edge of the median.

 

Council Member Brown stated that basically commuter traffic was being discussed relative to South Columbia Street traffic prob­lems. Mr. Small said that University officials foresee heavy traffic being constant throughout the day in this area in the future. Mr. Small noted that commuter traffic tie‑ups are cur­rently a problem on South Columbia Street. Council Member Brown inquired whether the use of single occupant vehicles was being perpetuated by proposing the widening of South Columbia Street. Mr. Small stated that several programs were underway to attempt decrease the number of single occupancy vehicle trips. Council Member Brown noted that ridesharing and carpooling programs needed to be explored in greater depth.

 

Council Member Wallace observed that Wade Avenue is a beautiful four‑lane, no median street in Raleigh, with sidewalks on one side and relatively little noise since trucks are not permitted on this street. Council Member Wallace noted that crossovers at signalized intersections along Wade Avenue move a very large vol­ume of traffic. Council Member Wallace said he could not see a clear resolution to the South Columbia Street matter before the Council.

 

Council Member Herzenberg expressed concern that he could foresee South Columbia Street becoming a roadway similar to Airport Road, a less than attractive entranceway to the Town. Council Member Herzenberg suggested that efforts should be made to reduce traf­fic prior to expanding the South Columbia Street corridor. Coun­cil Member Herzenberg said that if roadway expansion were abso­lutely necessary, he would prefer to include a median in such a plan.

 

Council Member Rimer inquired about the design speed of the pro­posed South Columbia Street expansion. Mr. Small said 35 miles per hour, with lower speed limits in some areas. Council Member Rimer inquired about the anticipated level of service in 2008. Curtis Yates, of the Department of Transportation, said that a level of service C was anticipated in 2008. Council Member Rimer stated that traditional solutions were being discussed relative to South Columbia Street. Council Member Rimer asked why more innovative approaches were not being pursued. Mr. Small stated that grades in curbs along South Columbia Street impose a signif­icant constraint to innovative design. Mr. Small added that it would be physically impossible to reduce lane widths along South Columbia Street. Council Member Rimer noted that the Planning Department was currently work on computer traffic modelling.

 

Council Member Brown noted that the City of Houston employs high‑occupancy vehicle lanes to expedite the movement of vehicles carrying two or more passengers. Mr. Yates stated that high‑occupancy vehicle lanes are used on freeways to move traffic at higher speeds. Mr. Yates said that high‑occupancy vehicle lanes would not be viable for situations such as South Columbia street. Council Member Werner observed that vehicle traffic pat­terns to the University are spread out over the course of a day.

 

Council Member Wallace asked how long the Council had to make a decision on possible widening of South Columbia Street. Mayor Howes noted that the Council would have to seriously consider the matter further at its January 8th meeting. Mr. Yates stated that an environmental assessment for South Columbia Street was scheduled for April, 1990, followed by a North Carolina Depart­ment of Transportation public hearing in June, 1990.

 

Council Member Wallace inquired how much time there was for Coun­cil input. Mr. Yates responded that a commitment by the Council had actually been needed by mid‑December, 1989. Mr. Yates noted that the Department of Transportation proposes construction of a five‑lane basic section of South Columbia Street. Mr. Yates noted that the Council could choose to explore one other alternative in addition to the basic proposed project. He noted that the Town would bear any additional costs associated with alternative roadway improvement plans. Council Member Werner inquired whether it would be possible to select alternatives in between those offered. Mr. Yates said no. Council Member Werner noting that the cost estimates provided were preliminary, inquired about the range in these numbers. Mr. Yates said that actual costs would vary by no more than twenty percent. Mr. Yates noted that it would ultimately be necessary for the Town and State to enter into a municipal roadway agreement for any improvements to South Columbia Street.

 

Council Member Wallace said that the Council needed to get very busy with its decision‑making process on South Columbia Street. Mayor Howes concurred, noting that the Council should be prepared to make decisions at its January 8th meeting. Mayor Howes added that if the Council was unable to reach agreement at the meeting, the Department of Transportation Board would need to reevaluate the situation.

 

Mr. Yates observed that intersecting streets along South Columbia street are much closer together than cross streets along Wade Avenue. Mr. Yates added that left‑turn storage bays along Wade Avenue taper in and out. He noted that this arrangement would not be practical along South Columbia Street. Council Member Andresen said she appreciated the Department of Transportation's desire to receive public input on the proposed South Columbia Street proJect. Council Member Andresen expressed concern that there did not appear to be much freedom of decision in the matter at hand. Mr. Yates said that Department of Transportation staff had been working with Town staff to devise roadway alternatives.

 

Council Member Andresen inquired when improvements to the south­ern portion of U.S. 15‑501 would be completed. Mayor Howes noted that this project was included in the Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP). Council Member Andresen inquired whether it was cor­rect that the Department of Transportation would not pay for a four‑lane roadway. Mr. Yates said this was correct.

 

Council Member Wilkerson said he appreciated Council Member Andresen's frustration in having to make an extremely critical decision in a short period of time. Council Member Wilkerson said he was unsure where funds could be tapped, if an alternative other than the basic project were pursued. Council Member Wilkerson stated that members of the Council needed to consider the matter carefully prior to the January 8th meeting.

 

Council Member Werner requested that the Interim Town Manager outline other critical roadway projects and alternative financing mechanisms at the Council retreat on January 6th.

 

Mayor Howes suggested that the Council needed to focus on more than monetary issues, including an examination of the Purefoy/Coolidge area of South Columbia Street, taking into ac­count houses and properties which could be affected by widening of the roadway. Mayor Howes said he was aware that consensus might be difficult to achieve on this matter, but said that it was necessary to reach agreement.

 

Mr. Small said he would be very willing to conduct a field tour of the South Columbia Street for any interested Council Members, at the convenience of the Council.

 

The work session concluded at 9:12 p.m.