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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 11-17-20; 12-2 - Information Item - US 15-501 Corridor Study 1 PLANNING & INSPECTIONS DEPARTMENT Craig N. Benedict, AICP, Director Comprehensive Planning 131 W. Margaret Lane (919) 245-2575 Suite 201 (919) 644-3002 (FAX) ORANGE COUNTY P. O. Box 8181 www.orangecountync.gov NORTH CAROLINA Hillsborough, NC 27278 MEMORANDUM TO: Board of County Commissioners FROM: Nishith Trivedi, Transportation Planner CC: Craig Benedict, Orange County Planning Director Tom Altieri, Comprehensive Planning Supervisor DATE: November 17, 2020 SUBJECT: US 15/501 Corridor Study ATTACHMENT 1: US 15/501 September 9, 2020 Presentation ATTACHMENT 2: US 15/501 Orange County Staff Review This memo provides the Board of County Commissioners an update on the US 15/501 regional corridor study. The US 15/501 Corridor Study started summer 2018. A website (Reimagining15501.com) was created to encourage public participation throughout the planning process with the following public meetings: • June 26, 2018 — Workshop • October 22, 2018 — Workshop, tour, and travel profile report • October 17, 2019 — Workshop, 3 alternatives discussed, comment forms There were other public events including pop-up events in Durham and Chapel Hill; online public input map; local boards and commissions; interim reports to MPO Board; and, meetings with staff and elected officials. The study was later put on hold due to the discontinuation the Durham Orange Light Rail Transit (DO LRT). The discontinuation of the DO LRT required amending the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Transportation Plan (DCHC MPO MTP) in order for the study to continue. September 9, 2020, DCHC MPO staff presented the continued US 15/501 corridor study to the MPO Board with updated recommendations — DO LRT removed — and the MPO Board authorized the release of the final report for public comments. Visions of the 4 segments were updated to reflect a new multimodal corridor accommodating transit, bike, ped and auto (Attachment 1). MPO Board also directed MPO staff to address public and Board comments before they would take action on the study. From September 9, 2020 to present, MPO staff met with local officials of Chapel Hill and Durham to address their concerns on the study. Orange County was not included in these discussions. MPO staff has provided Orange County Transportation Planning staff a summary of how their concerns are addressed and Orange County Transportation Planning staff has reviewed them (Attachment 2). 2 November 3, 2020, Orange County Transportation Planning staff discussed these issues with MPO staff to gain additional information on the US 15/501 study. Summary of the discussion is below: • Chapel Hill is now publically opposing the widening even though numerous development projects — approved by the city— are almost complete and resulting in increased traffic. • Durham understands the need for grade separation at Mt. Moriah Road and US 15/501 but sees some challenges to connecting to the internal street network. o Grade separation is part of the 2018 adopted Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP). An interchange was identified at Southwest Durham Drive as part of the previous corridor study in 1994. Other alternatives have been evaluated since the CTP adoption. • Transit remains in the study. November 4, 2020, DCHC MPO Board discussed the study and MPO staff responses to public as well as Board comments. Highlights from the meeting are below: • Public— New Hope Commons — requests more information on how grade separation will be addressed for US 15/501 and Mt. Moriah Road. • Chapel Hill representative — corridor is designed around and turning into highway/freeway. • Chapel Hill representative — requests the study be redone with another consultant. • Carrboro representative — study is reacting to the pressures for a more urban area. • Orange County representative — the area does deserve a more urban model with multimodal. • Durham representative — this area was seen as a mini city with transit-oriented- development. • Chapel Hill representative— requests study not go forward and other options be explored. Significance to Orange County • Orange County is in the process of updating its County Transit Plan and this section of US 15/501 is a small part of the larger strategic transit corridor that connects to other regional corridors like US 54 and 1-40, and urban centers like downtown Durham, Duke, UNC and RTP. o Without an approved study that provides for multimodal accommodations like this study, this region has less ability with NCDOT to seek multimodal improvements along its corridors. o If this study is approved, it would be helpful to inform the recommendations included in the County Transit Plan update. • Development is increasing in Carrboro and Chapel Hill as more residential and commercial projects are completed, resulting in escalating demands placed on current transportation network which is failing to meet this increased demand. o The study continues recommending transit-oriented-development approach to the area as parking garages, large supermarkets, office complexes, etc. attracts more vehicular traffic between the two counties along this regional corridor. o Rural roads (e.g. Whitefield Road, Erwin Road) also experience increase traffic as congested urban roads cause rural roads to be become equally congested. • Like NC-54 West Corridor Study, NCDOT will address their regional corridors that are failing — level of service D-F — to resolve congestion, safety, freight, access, economic development, and other issues using their process. 2 3 o Orange County and member jurisdictions may lose more NCDOT support for local projects as NCDOT continues seeing local jurisdictions and MPO not supporting regional improvements. Orange County Planning staff will reach out to Chapel Hill to request a meeting between the respective elected representatives to the DCHC MPO to discuss Chapel Hill's concerns and coordinate with all other jurisdictions as part of the Orange County Transit Plan update. If you have any questions regarding the information contained herein, please contact Nishith Trivedi at ntrivedi(ab_orangecountync.gov. 3 US 15-501 orrid r Stud Attachment 1 y DCHC MPO Board Meeting September � Andy Henry, DCHC � l DVRHAM - CHAPEL HIiL CARRBDR� Rachel Gaylord-MIIeS, VVJI' Metropolitan Planning Organization � �t Planning Tomorrow's Transportation ' • d . Presentation P u rpose * Process Products Recommendations 5 • Key travel corridor, growing demand and travel delay, and changing land use. • Purpose — coordinate land use and Purpose transportation; and, identify multimodal transportation projects for MPO's long-range plans and TIP (Transportation Improvement Program) r. Reimagining 15-501 • Project began in 2018 • Project Steering Committee — staff from local governments, NCDOT, transit agencies. • Extensive public input — corridor tour; three Process public workshops; pop-up events in Durham and Chapel Hill; online public input map; local boards and commissions; interim reports to MPO Board; and, meetings with staff and elected officials. �W Reimagining 15-501 6 00000. Products isting Plans Website Final Community Websit ReportWorkshops Corridor WorkshopsVision GoalsIF Ik' IFPopup Meetings ,F Conceptual%7k A Travel - Popup MeetingsAf , Alternati Strategies I I it Reimagining 15-501 Final study for release today... • 1- Full report: highlights from interim report, recommendations with proposed cross-section, Final Report and implementation plan . 2- Conceptual design: high-level drawing on map; demonstrates feasibility • 3- Summary report: easy to read and reference; graphic based OWN .e. Reimagining 15-501 7 Recommendatmion • Ephesus Church Road to 1-40 • Vision: • Balance between the conflicting priorities of accessibility and mobility with a design that improves the flow of through traffic, but Segment 1 also provides tools for creating a more urban environment through reduced travel speeds, increasing the number and safety of crossing locations for bicyclists and pedestrians, and streetscaping to provide a more urban feel. High capacity transit service is prioritized with the inclusion of a bus only lane. =111HII:1:111 Reimagining '15-501 8 Segment 1 i-�'� IF�177 .feLi 16r�#" I I fl Reimagining 15-501 • 1-40 to US 15-501 Bypass • Vision: • Focus is on mobility with a design that focuses on multimodal grade separations, Segment 2 while recommending local street networks within developments adjacent to the corridor for local traffic and bicycle and pedestrian movements along the corridor. High capacity transit service is prioritized with the inclusion of a bus only lane. I I "1111[111tJILM ,r. �w Reimagining 15-501 9 Segment 2 �W Reimagining 15-501 • US 15-501 Bypass to Chapel Hill Road • Vision: • Aims to provide a more urban cross section that reduces the speed of vehicles and Segment 3 provides a more pedestrian friendly environment with bicycle and pedestrian facilities and land use closer to the corridor. For the entire corridor, capitalize on opportunities to create land use patterns that promote multimodal travel, and incorporate urban design and human-scale design. lReimagining '15-501 10 Segment 3 ri 1 4 } a s{bnM�lPPH vroranr= TMELL M 1\NRIAI# OPAMWEr,�w nvdavnE sr,M�nvH r 1 IT Pj&4XWry I I fl Reimagining 15-501 • Chapel Hill Road to University Drive • Vision: • Aims to provide a more urban cross section that reduces the speed of vehicles and provides a more pedestrian friendly Segment 4 environment with bicycle and pedestrian facilities and land use closer to the corridor. For the entire corridor, capitalize on opportunities to create land use patterns that promote multimodal travel, and incorporate urban design and human-scale design. Reimagining 15-501 11 Segment 4 JA Q s xs s r 9 Ir rr ir # s is s s�wr€ WE LAM WJFR . µMdb4 7NM 7R4WL sisz SJi6l S�IJdE vzv,.a r WI! LA%F 4 7 1-Rok-C)f Vft 41HIN:1 ! I Reimagining 15-501 Implementation Lang Term- anticipated after 20 years Mid Term - Short Term- nticipeted within 10 - 0 years anticipated withi n 10 years I " ! I ' Reimagining 15-501 12 • September 9 — MPO Board release final report for public comment (9/8 through 10/15 = 37 days) Next Steps • October 14 — Public hearing • November 11 — Approve final report • Include US 15-501 projects in updated and amended long-range plans (MTP and CTP) EMOH11;1:111 �. �W Reimagining '1 5-501 13 Attachment 2 US 15/501 Public Comment Summary and DCHC MPO Staff Response Segment#1—Ephesus Church Road to 1-40(Chapel Hill) 1. Chapel Hill—Recommended Cross Section for Segment 1 is "bicyclists and pedestrians to safely and comfortably cross, and too car-centric." a. DCHC MPO Staff—Consultant recommended cross section accommodates transit, walking and cycling. However, a large portion of the growth will go to automobiles given the ample parking lots and structures within the new development. i. Orange County Transportation Planning comments- New development includes— Wegman's supermarket (construction complete), multi-story apartment in Blue Hill District (construction almost complete), redevelopment of Blue Cross Parcel (construction in-process) and UNC Healthcare facilities, all approved by Chapel Hill. b. DCHC MPO Staff-Staff has discussed the addition of a single bus-only lane in each direction (i.e., resulting in two travel lanes and one bus-only lane in each direction). i. It would not address expected increase in vehicles trips; travel delays will also increase on corridor as well as Erwin Road, Ephesus Church Road, Old Chapel Hill Road and regional corridors like NC-86. ii. Additional single travel lanes were also discussed. However,this alternative is not sufficient for high capacity transit services along the corridor. iii. Orange County Transportation Planning comments—similar to the NC-54 Phase 2 study, increased congestion along Chapel Hill's portion of US 15/501 will cause increased congestion and safety issues on adjacent and parallel routes like NC-86, which already has multiple crash hotspots in Orange County. 1. Whether it is car, bus only or both travel, additional lanes will be required simply because of the increased local—residential &economic—development constantly occurring along the corridor. 2. Chapel Hill currently has a STIP project U-5304—Capacity Improvements from NC-86 (South Columbia St.)to 1-40—funded by Statewide Mobility with ROW 2029. NCDOT will widen all of US-15/501 as a function of this.The study provides local jurisdiction with leverage as to how widening should take place. 2. RED Transit Lanes—Consultant recommended an option for"outside bus-only lanes as RED transit lanes, which allow all vehicles to use that lane to access driveways and make right-turns, and for emergency vehicle use." a. DCHC MPO Staff—this is an Operational Solution that can be implemented once the recommended infrastructure [Widening] in the US 15-501 Study is constructed. b. Orange County Transportation Planning comments—Like NC-54 Corridor, NCDOT will not invest in Operational Improvements on ANY corridor when they may end up widening it anyways later. i. NCDOT considers Operation Improvements as short-term solutions and will not be implemented, especially for corridors that currently or will require widening in the future. 14 ii. Though the FAST Act has been extended to another year, NCDOT does not have the financial resources for such short term solutions for an economically growing region. Segment#2—1-40 to US 15-501 Bypass(includes 1-40/US 15-501 interchange) 1. Chapel Hill—Grade Separation—"Mt. Moriah Road, Southwest Durham Drive and the proposed collector road/bridge are changed to at-grade intersection." a. Future Growth—based on high density development,the quadrants (New Hope Commons and Patterson Place) have had grade separation intersections and right-in/right-out at Mt. Moriah road in MPO's plans since 1990. i. The area will eventually redevelop to higher density, multi-story office and medical centers, and possibly have a signature corporate building b. DCHC MPO Staff—all 4 intersections along this segment will experience severe congestion and safety issues and would be extremely dangerous to cyclists and pedestrians. Synchronizing multiple signal phases to accommodate all turning movement will cause greater delays. Interchange further complicates safety and congestion. i. Study recommends interchange at Southwest Durham Drive and grade separation at Mt. Moriah Road and proposed collector road east of Southwest Durham Drive, resulting in improved travel time and safety for all users, especially cyclists and pedestrians for an area that currently has over 52,000 vehicles per day. ii. Transit vehicles will also have faster access to development and improved circulation. c. Orange County Transportation Planning comments—NCDOT STIP 1-3306, Widening 1-40 and interchange improvements at US 15/50 has already been through extensive public involvement. Staff agrees with study and MPO Staff. i. Orange County Transportation Planning appreciates the thoroughness of Multi-Use Path in the study and its anticipated expansion including those that may connect to the regional Triangle Bikeway Study currently underway. ii. Orange County Transportation Planning staff was successful in getting the Triangle Bikeway Study expanded to Chapel Hill along NC-54 and onto US-15/501. General Comment: Crossing Design Some comments asked for more details on the designs of the street crossings for cyclists and pedestrians. (E.g. right-on-red turn and raised crosswalks) These design and operational details are beyond the scope of the US 15-501 Corridor Study and will be determined when the projects are funded and receive more detailed design. These design details can maximize the comfort and safety of the cyclists and pedestrians.