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Authorize the Town Manager to Submit Design Work to NCDOT for the West Franklin Street Lane Reallocation Project.
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Staff: |
Department: |
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Bergen Watterson, Transportation Planning Manager |
Planning Department |
Overview: This memorandum provides background, overview, and next steps for the proposed West Franklin Street Lane Reallocation project. Many lane reallocation projects result in an increased number of pedestrians and bicyclists, more customers and higher sales revenues for local businesses, and decreases in speeding and crashes along the redesigned corridors.
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Recommendation(s): |
That the Council adopt the resolution, authorizing the Town Manager to submit design work to NCDOT for the West Franklin Street Lane Reallocation Project.
Background
Town staff have been considering redesigning the lanes on West Franklin Street for a number of years, and it is a recommended project in the 2017 Mobility and Connectivity Plan. The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) will be resurfacing the road between May and August of 2020, which provides an opportunity to add bike lanes by changing the pavement markings on West Franklin at a fraction of the cost that it would normally be. Additionally, the Town of Carrboro is evaluating a lane reallocation on East Main Street, which, if implemented, would provide important connectivity for bicycles between the towns.
In October 2019 Town Council asked staff to proceed with the traffic analysis and pavement marking plans required by NCDOT to determine whether a lane reallocation on West Franklin Street would function adequately.
Overview
The West Franklin Street Lane Reallocation, if approved by Town Council and NCDOT, would extend from Columbia Street to Merritt Mill Road. The exact design is not known at this time, but it would likely include bike lanes of some sort, additional on-street parking, and a center turn lane. The analysis will also include consideration of loading/delivery vehicles and transit needs.
Next Steps
Staff will work with HNTB to update the traffic counts and capacity analysis for West Franklin Street performed in 2015. Because the traffic counts and analysis are building off of work done several years ago, it will be completed faster and require less funding than if we started from scratch. Ramey-Kemp will design the pavement marking alternatives, create visualizations, and conduct public outreach in coordination with staff. The cost of design is expected to be approximately $50,000. All of this work is expected to be complete and handed over to NCDOT for approval by April 1, 2020.
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Attachments: |
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• Resolution |
A RESOLUTION Authorizing the Town Manager to Submit Design Work to NCDOT for the West Franklin Street Lane Reallocation Project (2020-01-22/R-4)
WHEREAS, Town staff have been considering redesigning the lanes on West Franklin Street for a number of years, and it is a recommended project in the 2017 Mobility and Connectivity Plan; and
WHEREAS, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) will be resurfacing the road between May and August of 2020; and
WHEREAS, in October 2019 Town Council asked staff to proceed with the traffic analysis and pavement marking plans required by NCDOT to determine whether a lane reallocation on West Franklin Street would function adequately.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council authorizes the Town Manager to proceed with and submit the design work to NCDOT for approval and execution of the West Franklin Street Lane Reallocation project.
This the 22nd day of January, 2020.
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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 authorizes the Town Manager to submit design work to NCDOT for the West Franklin Street Lane Reallocation Project.