Agenda - 10-11-1995 - Items 1 and 2 - Appendix 2

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4 The Northwest Small Area Plan presents a conceptual road network plan that is based on transportation modeling for the year 2010. The Plan's transportation modeling recognizes that Homestead Road is scheduled to be improved to a 3-lane facility, and assumes that the intersection of Eubanks Road and N.C. 86 will be signalized in its current alignment. The Plan's transportation modeling also assumes that Eubanks Road will be improved to a fully paved 2-lane facility, and will become a significant east-west corridor as growth occurs in Carrboro's northern planning jurisdiction. Although the Plan does not assume that additional improvements (widening to 3 or 4 lanes) will be made to Eubanks Road, it does not preclude that further improvements may be needed based on future development and demand. The Carrboro Work Group continues to plan for Carrboro's northern planning jurisdiction, an area that is adjacent to the western border of Chapel Hill's Northwest Area. The Carrboro Work Group tentatively plans to send a draft report to the Board of Aldermen in August 1995. The Northwest Area Plan assumes that growth will occur in Carrboro's northern planning jurisdiction and that Eubanks Road will become a significant east-west corridor. We agree that improvements need to be made to Eubanks Road; however, we feel that additional study is needed regarding the possible widening of Homestead Road and the issue of preserving the existing character of this road. 2. Transportation Corridor Robin Lackey also indicated that the Carrboro Small Area Plan Work Group supported the Transportation Corridor along the rail line. She requested that the Council consider potential implications since the rail line does run through downtown Carrboro. Members of the Northwest Small Area Plan Work Group also have spoken in favor of the transportation corridor concept. One idea is the use of diesel-powered trolleys along the rail line, given that the old railroad right-of-way from the University's power plant to campus still exists. Staff Comment: The Northwest Small Area Plan Work Group recommended that a transportation corridor be developed in coordination with the existing rail line. The Recommended Plan discusses four potential options for the use of this transportation corridor: pedestrian/bikeway, busway, guided busway, or light rail transit. In concluding, the Work Group does not state specifically how the transportation corridor should be developed. The Plan recommends undertaking a feasibility study of the transportation corridor concept in order to investigate short-term and long-term feasibility of this idea.