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Support Implementing Protected Bike Lanes on Cameron Avenue.
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Staff: |
Department: |
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Colleen Willger, Director |
Planning |
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Bergen Watterson, Transportation Planning Manager |
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Overview: The Mobility and Connectivity Plan <https://www.townofchapelhill.org/home/showpublisheddocument/47405/637400951184270000> calls for protected bike lanes on Cameron Ave. between Merritt Mill Rd. and Pittsboro St. Cameron Avenue between Merritt Mill and Pittsboro will be resurfaced in fall of 2023, which provides an opportunity to greatly improve the existing bike lanes. There are 19 existing on-street parking spaces on the north side of the road that, if not removed, will limit the Town’s ability to implement the Council-approved protected bike facility.
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Recommendation(s): |
That the Council adopt the resolution supporting implementing protected bike lanes on Cameron Ave. by directing staff to remove the 19 existing on-street parking spaces on the north side.
Key Issues:
• Pre-COVID, Cameron Ave. between Pittsboro and Merritt Mill would see 600 bikes a day and 16,000 a month, making it one of the highest traveled bike corridors in the region, if not the state.
• Staff receives frequent complaints and requests for improvement, which we have put off knowing that the upcoming resurfacing will provide opportunity for enhancement.
• A petition, calling the protected bike facilities on Cameron the “Extension of the Libba Cotten Bikeway” was presented to Transportation and Connectivity Advisory Board on September 27, 2022 and garnered support from the Board (see attached recommendation). Mayor and Council have received dozens of emails supporting the petition.
• The 19 on-street parking spaces will need to be removed if the Town wants to implement high-quality protected bike lanes. These 19 spaces:
o have been out-of-service due to the OWASA construction on Cameron since the spring
o have been under-utilized since COVID
o are primarily used by students who are late to class and on UNC game days, according to parking staff
• On September 8 a UNC student on his bike was run over by a dump truck who turned right in front of him at the Cameron/Pittsboro intersection, claiming he did not see the cyclist.
• Continuous physically protected bike lanes are necessary for improved connectivity across Town, to get more people to safely cycle, support a complete community, and are in high demand.
• Staff must begin designing the protected bike lanes soon in order to stay on schedule with public outreach this fall and final plans to the contractor by the spring.
Fiscal Impact/Resources: Parking space removal will impact the parking enterprise fund, though the extent is unknown due to COVID and the OWASA construction project on Cameron. The cost of the protected bike lanes is unknown at this time because staff has not started design.
Where is this item in its process?
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Attachments: |
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• Resolution |
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• Transportation and Connectivity Advisory Board Recommendation |
A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING IMPLEMENTING PROTECTED BIKE LANES ON CAMERON AVENUE BY DIRECTING STAFF TO REMOVE THE NINETEEN EXISTING ON-STREET PARKING SPACES ON THE NORTH SIDE (2022-10-12/R-6)
WHEREAS, the Town Council adopted the Mobility and Connectivity Plan update in October 2020, which included protected bike lanes on Cameron Avenue between Merritt Mill Road and Pittsboro Street; and
WHEREAS, Cameron Avenue between Merritt Mill Road and Pittsboro Street will be resurfaced in fall 2023, providing an opportunity to enhance the bike lanes; and
WHEREAS, pre-COVID, Cameron Avenue saw 600 bikes a day and 16,000 a month, making it one of the highest travelled bike corridors in the region; and
WHEREAS, there are 19 existing on-street parking spaces on the north side of the road that will need to be removed in order to implement high-quality protected bike lanes. These 19 spaces have been out-of-service since the spring due to the OWASA construction project, have been under-utilized since COVID, and are reported to be used primarily by students who are late to class and on UNC game days; and
WHEREAS, continuous physically protected bike lanes are necessary for improved connectivity across Town, to get more people to safely cycle, support a complete community, and are in demand.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council supports implementing protected bike lanes on Cameron Avenue and directs staff to remove the nineteen existing on-street parking spaces.
This the 12th day of October, 2022.
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The Agenda will reflect the text below and/or the motion text will be used during the meeting. |
presenter
By adopting the resolution, the Council supports implementing protected bike lanes on Cameron Avenue and directs staff to remove the nineteen existing on-street parking spaces on the north side.