Agenda - 02-16-1988 - Laserfiche WebLink

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40 U. S'T'UDY PROCESS The current report has been developed as a joint effort of the staffs of NCDOT and the five local jurisdictions in the urban area within the framework of the Technical Coordination Committee (TCC). The Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) has provided input and direction to the process by reviewing land use and population data collection efforts and future projections, forecasts of travel demand, and the deficiency analysis. The area included in this study covers most of Durham and Orange Counties and portions of Chatham and Wake Counties. The Research Triangle Park and Raleigh- Durham Airport are included in this large area. The study area extends well beyond the boundaries of the Urban Area in order to include areas of future growth. The study began in 1985 with the collection of information regarding housing, employment, land use, traffic volumes, and modal splits. This information was used to develop a computer model which simulates the existing traffic on the existing street system. Once the model was calibrated to closely match these traffic patterns, projections of future population and employment were applied to the model to generate future traffic volumes. Projections for 2000 and 2010 were made as target dates for this study. The resulting travel forecasts for 1985. 2000 and 2010 were then assigned to the area's existing thoroughfare system (including committed improvements which are currently under construction or programmed such as; I-40, Durham Freeway, widening on 1-85 and Chapel Hill Bypass, etc.). The deficiencies of this "Existing plus Committed" (E+C) network were assessed by identifying facilities with insufficient capacity to carry expected traffic volumes. Assuming full implementation, the currently adopted individual thoroughfare plans for Durham and Chapel Hill- Carrboro were similarly analyzed. The findings of these analyses were documented in Report #1 which was presented at a joint meeting of the governing bodies of the jurisdictions within the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Urban Area on April 2, 1987. Following the meeting, members of the thoroughfare study staff met with each elected body individually to answer questions and receive comments on the deficiency analysis at regularly scheduled meetings of the various elected boards in April. During September, 1987, the study group held three public information meetings and a informal drop-in session to present these findings to interested citizens and receive comments (discussed in Chapter 4). After considering citizens' ideas and concerns, the study team analyzed several permutations of candidate thoroughfare plans, all of which used the existing plans for Durham and Chapel Hill-Carrboro as a framework from which to expand or alter. These plans were analyzed with regard to social and environmental impacts, 2.1