Agenda - 03-13-2012 - 8d - Laserfiche WebLink

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NC 54/ I-40 CORRIDOR STUDY TRANSPORTATION-LAND USE MASTER PLAN SUMMARY— before they enter the corridor. The package of facilities crossing will likely not result in significant traffic impacts will together serve regional commuters, latent demand beyond the congestion that already exists or will exist for satellite parking, and future parking for light rail in the future without substantial intersection capacity transit, and could provide an alternative to the Friday improvements. Constructing a grade-separated Center lot should it redevelop in the future. interchange at Barbee Chapel Road will ease congestion and lessen delays as traffic grows in the future. A From a bicycle and pedestrian network standpoint, the grade-separated interchange at Barbee Chapel Road recommended plan fills in gaps and improves safety and could likely be designed to accommodate the C-2 light access along NC 54 through geometric modifications rail alignment, but may entail significantly higher costs and the creation of a 15' shared use path adjacent to for extending the elevated segment of the light rail and the roadway between Barbee Chapel Road and the a potential tri-level structure. Another option for the C2 1-40 interchange. This is a critical gap in the corridor, alignment would be to move the alignment further to the and high speed traffic precludes an on-road solution south to avoid conflicts with the proposed ramp. These for the section east of the Friday Center. Additional additional costs will need to be considered in the next non-motorized transportation recommendations are phase of the Light Rail development process. identified throughout the corridor, including along Barbee Chapel Road and at US 15-501. The potential construction of the C2 alignment and the potential development of the Lloyd property on the north The roadway improvements, especially the superstreet side of NC 54 would likely generate high pedestrian intersection design and partial cloverleaf interchange demand across NC 54. This would be located just design at US 15-501, take advantage of existing slightly east of the future elevated crossing that would infrastructure and will provide maximum capacity for the be constructed at Barbee Chapel Road. While crossing cost of construction. The transportation recommendations at Barbee Chapel Road would still provide access to for other modes will help to manage demand in the the Hillmont light rail station within a half-mile walk of corridor, further extending the life of the roadway the Lloyd property, a more substantial direct pedestrian improvements. The recommendations for each mode are crossing may be needed. This is another cost implication linked to others, to support a well-balanced and inter- that should be considered in the EIS process. connected mobility network. Each improvement is an investment in another,and together will build a stronger system for mobility than optimizing the network for one particular mode. The Durham-Orange County Corridor Alternatives Analysis (AA) was conducted concurrently with the NC 54/1-40 Corridor Study. The AA recommends two light rail alignments be carried forward to the PE/NEPA phase within the NC 54/1-40 study area. Both alignments, shown in Figure ES-1, recommend elevated crossings over NC 54. Alignment C1 will have no adverse impacts along the NC 54 corridor. Alignment C2 may cause complications at the Barbee Chapel Road intersection with NC 54, where the proposed C2 alignment crosses Barbee Chapel Road just south of NC 54. With the current intersection configuration, an at-grade light rail DECEMBER 2011 E-b