Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 04-28-2005-1b2 To: Assembly of Governments Meeting From: Karen Lincoln, Transportation Planner, Orange County Planning Date: Apri125, 2005 Re: Homestead/High School Roads Sidewalk Development Update The NCDOT Division 7 Engineer met with members of the Homestead and High School Roads Safety Task Force on April 11, 2005, to explain the current status of the project to construct sidewalks on the north side of Homestead Road from High School Raad to Rogers Road and on Rogers Road from the existing sidewalk at Glenbrooke subdivision to Homestead Road, 1, NCDOT has not included the sidewalks in the two-year (2004 - 2005) NC Moving Ahead program, which has now been extended to three years because of budget issues. 2, There are no funds programmed for the sidewalk project. NCDOT would fund the highway project in the NC Moving Ahead program in FY 2006, if that program is continued. NCDOT will not know if the NC Moving Ahead program will be continued past the original 2-years, An NCDOT budget issue has prompted NCDOT, starting in .lanuary 2005, to delay programmed projects, While NCDOT has the money that has been allocated for programmed projects, if NCDOT continues to start new construction projects, costs will outpace the yearly available allocation for such projects in the near future. The NCDOT Division 7 Engineer identified the following list of actions that must take place in order to construct the sidewalks in FY 2006, 1. The Division 7 Engineer will write David King's Office to request money to construct sidewalks on the north side of Homestead Road from Camden Road to Rogers Road and on the east side of Rogers Road to connect the existing sidewalk to Homestead Road. 2. The Division 7 Engineer will include a project in the NC Moving Ahead program for Orange County for improvements to provide for additional pavement, curb and gutter, right-of--way acquisition, and utility relocation on Homestead Road between Camden Lane and Rogers Road, and on a portion of Rogers Road north of Homestead Road. .3. The Orange County Board of Commissioners, the Canboro Board of Aldermen and the Chapel Hill Town Council will provide letters to the Division 7 Engineer and copies to the Division 7 Board of Transportation Member requesting that NCDOT transfer a portion of the Moving Ahead fiords that have been set aside for Jones Ferry Road/Smith Level Road to use for the following: To provide for additional pavement, curb and grrtter, right-of--way acquisition, and utility relocation on Homestead Road between Camden Lane and Rogers Road, and on a portion of Rogers Road north of Homestead Road.. To provide a traffic signal at the intersection of Homestead and High School Roads. This work would allow for NCDOT to construct sidewalks on Homestead Road and Rogers Road, using a different pot of Moving Ahead funds, and would accommodate the provision ofbicycle lanes on Homestead Road in the future.. 4. The NCDOT District Office will, within the next few weeks, investigate plats to determine specific right-of--way needs, and then proceed to survey and stake the required right-of--way along Homestead Road and contact property owners regarding obtaining the right-of=way.. ~1~II ~' ° '~ ~~ . Brief Background 1 Homestead and High School Roads Safety Task Force Orange County created the Homestead and Nigh School Roads Safety Task Farce in December 2003 in response to a petition from a citizens group to attain improvements far pedestrian and bicycle access to Chapel Hill High Schaal, Smith Middle School and Seawell Elementary School from adjacent residential neighborhoods, The task force met in spring of 2004, and concluded that, with existing and planned pedestrian and bicycle facilities, an additional section of sidewalk along the north side of Homestead Road from Camden Road to Rogers Road and a short extension of the existing sidewalk on the east side of Rogers Road would complete a safe pedestrian access from the surrounding neighborhoods to High School Road, Officials and staff from Carrboro, Chapel Hill and Orange County met June 1, 2004, with the Division 7 Board of Transportation member to discuss local requests for the 2006-12 Transportation Improvement Program, At that meeting the local officials requested funding for the Homestead Road sidewalks, and the BOT member said that he would contact the Division of Public Transportation, The BOT member subsequently contacted Carrboro to inform the Town that NCDOT would provide funds in the second year program for NC Moving Ahead, The NCDOT representative, at the June 22, 2004, meeting of the Homestead and High School Roads Safety Task Force, reported that NCDOT would provide funds in the NC Moving Ahead program to construct the sidewalk from Camden Road to Rogers Road and the section of sidewalk an the east side of Rogers Road, and that NCDOT must obtain 10 feet of right-of-way to constnict the sidewalks in a manner to accommodate the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) project on Homestead Road anticipated for future construction. NCDOT noted that the scope of the project was too large (approximately $0,5- million) to be included in the contract for the current Moving Ahead project (to provide 2-ft. paved shoulders, turn lanes at Seawell School Road and Rogers Road, and resurfacing from Old NC 86 to beginning of curb and gutter section near NC 86), and gave an anticipated delivery date in 2005 for the sidewalks and intersection improvements at Homestead and High School Roads, The location of the sidewalks, in the Joint Planning Area Transition Areas of Carrboro and Chapel, presented a problem regarding maintenance of the sidewalks. Resolution of legal issues concerning Orange County granting permission to the Towns of Carrboro and Chapel Hill to maintain sidewalks outside their municipal limits, but within their planning jurisdictiens, caused some delay in the process, but the County and Towns completed necessary tasks in December 2004 to allow Carrboro and Chapel Hill to enter into municipal agreements with NCDOT. NCDOT had to let second year Moving Ahead projects by .January 2005, NCDOT did not include the Homestead and High School Roads project in the Moving Ahead program and there had been no communication between the C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Seltings\Temp\DackgroundforAOGMCeting_I floc Brief Background 2 Homestead and High School Roads Safety Task Force NCDOT Division of Public Transportation (the division handling Moving Ahead funding far bicycle and pedestrian projects) and the Division of Highways. NCDOT Division staff attended a meeting of the task farce in February 2005 to explain the status of the sidewalk project. Jahn Hunsinger, NGDOT Division 7 Project Manager, told the group that NCDOT would consider the Homestead Road sidewalk as a candidate project for the next NC Moving Ahead program but NCDOT will not consider funding for the next Moving Ahead program until after January 1, 2006. He added that Carrboro and Chapel Hill must obtain the right-of-way and pay to have utilities relocated in order for NCDOT to include the sidewalk in the next Moving Ahead program. Based on previous aspirations and expectations, the group was left with many questions regarding how the project had "fallen off the wagon", and how to get the project funded and constructed. C:\DOCUments and Settings\Admini5trator\Lacal Seltings\Temp\DackgroundforAOGMeeting_I doc NOTE: These notes have not been reviewed by the group, and there may be changes. Mike Mills, NCDOT Division 7 Engineer, has reviewed, and agrees with the 4 items at the end of these notes regarding actions to promote this project. Meeting Notes Homestead -High School Road Safety Task Force April 11, 2005 The Task Force met on April 11, 2005, Those in attendance included the following: Task Force Members: Sharon Cook, Orange County Community Representative Chuck Edwards - N.C, Department of Transportation Alice Gordon, Orange County Board of Commissioners Mary Rabinowitz, Carrboro Community Representative Jim Ward, Chapel Hill Town Council Alex Zaffron, Carrboro Board of Aldermen Others in Attendance: Mike Mills, NCDOT Division 7 Engineer Mike Cowan, NCDOT Deputy Division Engineer Eric Chupt, Winmore Development Beth Velaiquette, Chapel Hill Herald Patrick Winn, Chapel Hill News Karen Lincoln, Orange County Dale McKeel, Town of Carrboro Gordon Sutherland, Town of Chapel Hill After introductions, Karen Lincoln stated that Mike Mills, NCDOT Division 7 Engineer, was present to clarify confusion from the meeting on February 215` regarding the status of the project to constnact sidewalks along the north side of Homestead Road from High School Road to Rogers Road and along Rogers Road from Homestead Road to the existing sidewalk at the Glenbrooke subdivision. Mike Mills, NCDOT Division 7 Engineer, gave an overview of the NC Moving Ahead program and explained that the two-year program was intended for projects that could be completed within a short timeframe and did not require lengthy processes for obtaining additional right-of-way or environmental mitigation. He reviewed criteria for selecting projects for the Moving Ahead program, Homestead Road was included in the Moving Ahead program's projects (year one) for improvements within in the right-of-way (2-foot paved shoulders, some intersection improvements and resurfacing), and those improvements have been completed, Mr. Mills stated that NCDOT, in January 2005, faced a budget issue that forced NCDOT to start delaying some projects, Although the money is available to complete approved programs, NCDOT does not have the spending authority to complete some Meeting Notes Homestead & High School Road Safety Task Force April 11 2005 Page 2 transactions. NCDOT has, therefore, extended the Moving Ahead program to three years. Completion dates for year-two projects are not certain. NCDOT was confident that, after the Moving Ahead year-two projects were completed, there would be money left over for more projects (such as the Homestead Road sidewalk project). Until the year-two program is completed, NCDOT will not know if there will be any money left over, The Homestead Road sidewalk project is not currently in the NC Moving Ahead program, nor has funding been identified for project construction. Division 7 Moving Ahead funds, if funding is continued beyond the original program period, can be used for the roadway improvements (widened outside lane for bicycle traffic and curb and gutter), but money for sidewalks must be obtained through David King, who is in charge of the Moving Ahead funds set aside for public transportation. NCDOT still considers it to be a worthy project, but it would be difficult to implement in 2005. Sharon Cook asked if there were any funds to address specific school needs, She referenced the NCDOT Regional Traffic Engineer s comment (at the March 2003 task force meeting) that the proposed traffic signal at the intersection of Homestead and High School Roads met NGDOT warrants for a light because of the amount of pedestrian traffic. Mr. Mills responded that the intersection met warrants for pedestrian traffic, but not for vehicular traffic, and that spot safety ft~nds and small construction funds were other sources available for such projects. There was discussion about the requirement for the developer of Winmore to construct a turn lane at High School Road and a sidewalk from the Winmore entrance to Camden Road; now NCDOT is constructing the sidewalk from High School Road to Rogers Road (that includes the part between High School Road and Camden Road). It was noted that those improvements would be in place if that project had gone according to schedule, but the time line has changed. The original developer sold the project and that dialogue with NCDOT fell through. However, the Conditional Use Permit is still valid and the current owner/developer is still responsible far providing those improvements. District Engineer Chuck Edwards Hated that he and Dale McKeel are having discussions with the new developer regarding required improvements. If NCDOT can obtain the right-of-way, NCDOT will construct the turn lane on Homestead Road at High School Road. Sharon Cook asked how much right-of-way is needed and how much the right-of-way would cost? Chuck Edwards answered that the project would require approximately 10 feet of additional right-of-way and the cost is unknown. C:\Documents and SettingsV+dministramr\L,ocal Settings\Temp\05041 I-Meeting Notes_I doc Meeting Notes Homestead & High School Rcad Safety Task Force April 11 2005 Page 3 Mike Mills suggested that money could be moved from the second year Moving Ahead project to install guardrail, provide 2-foot paved shoulders and resurface Jones Ferry Road. (That project is being delayed until Carrboro decides whether to use money programmed for Janes Ferry Road for Smith Level Road improvements, if Carrboro decides to downgrade the TIP project for Smith Level Rcad to a Moving Ahead project.) There was some discussion about how the Jones Ferry Road Moving Ahead project was chosen. Neither Orange County nor Carrboro requested the project. Jim Ward said that the group's understanding last June (2004) was that NCDOT had moved with incredible speed to make the project happen and now, he would like to hear something from NCDOT that it is committed to doing the project. Discussicn ensued referencing the Jtane 22, 2004, meeting of the task force in which NCDOT reported that NCDOT would provide funds in the NG Moving Ahead program to construct the sidewalk from Camden Road to Rogers Road and the section of sidewalk on the east side of Rogers Road, and that NCDOT must obtain 10 feet of right-of-way to construct the sidewalks in a manner to accommodate the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) project on Homestead Road anticipated for future constn~ction. Mike Mills stated that NCDOT is committed, but it will take more time. After discussion regarding how to get this project on the Moving Ahead list, Mr. Mills outlined the following actions and persons responsible to move the project forward. 1. The Division 7 Engineer will write David King's Office to request money to construct sidewalks on the north side of Homestead Road from Camden Road to Rogers Road and on the east side of Rogers Road to connect the existing sidewalk to Homestead Road. 2. The Division 7 Engineer will include a project in the NC Moving Ahead program for Orange County for improvements to provide for additional pavement, curb and gutter, right-of-way acquisition, and utility relocation on Homestead Road between Camden Lane and Rogers Road, and on a portion of Rogers Road north of Homestead Road. 3. The Orange County Board of Commissioners, the Carrboro Board of Aldermen and the Chapel Hill Town Council will provide letters to the Division 7 Engineer and copies to the Division 7 Board of Transportation Member requesting that NCDOT transfer a portion of the Moving Ahead funds that have been set aside for .Jones Ferry Road/Smith Level Road to use for the following: To provide for additional pavement, curb and gutter, right-af-way acquisition, and utility relocation on Homestead Rcad between Camden Lane and Rogers Road, and on a portion of Rogers Road north of Homestead Road. To provide a traffic signal at the intersection of Homestead and High School Roads. C:\Uocuments and Scuings\Adminislrator\Local Settings\Tcmp\OSO41 I-Mccling Notcs_I doe Meeting Notes Homestead & High School Road Safety Task Force April 11 2005 Page 4 This work would allow for NCDOT to construct sidewalks on Homestead Road and Rogers Road, using a different pot of Moving Ahead funds, and would accommodate the provision of bicycle lanes on Homestead Road in the future. 4. The NCDOT District Office will, within the next few weeks, begin to investigate plats to determine specific right-of-way needs, and then proceed to survey and stake the required right-of-way along Homestead Road and contact property owners regarding obtaining the right-of-way. The next steps for local jurisdictions are to request that NCDOT transfer a portion of the Moving Ahead funds that have been set aside for Jones Ferry Road/Smith Level Road to the Homestead Raad project, and to alert the neighborhoods that NCDOT will be surveying and staking the right-of-way needed for the project, The group will reconvene later in the year (in about four months) to assess progress, An optimistic timeframe for completion of the project, if all goes well, is sometime in FY 06. C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Lacul Settings\temp\05041 I-Meeting Notes_I doe