Agenda - 05-01-1989 - Laserfiche WebLink

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16 PTITSBCIRO STREET EXTENSION Background:The Pittsboro Street Extension is part of the currently approved Chapel Hill- Carrboro Thoroughfare Plan. It has been included in every thoroughfare or roadway plan for Chapel Hill since 1959, although the actual alignment has varied over time. The first discussion of the extension, in the 1959 Report on Major Thoroughfare Design, called for a two-way road extending from Maiming Drive to Airport Road to replace Columbia Street, which was to be converted to a cul-de-sac in the UNC Health Complex. In 1964, the report Thoroughfares: 1963-1983 recommended that Pittsboro Street be extended from Manning Drive to Airport Road,via Pritchard Avenue, and widened to four lanes. Columbia Street would continue to function as an arterial. - A 1969 report entitled Development Alternatives, which dealt with land use as well as transportation issues, recommended abandoning the Pritchard Avenue alignment, and proposed an alignment similar to that described in the 1959 plan. In 1976 Chapel Hill-Carrboro Transportation Plan,prepared by the NCDOT, the Pittsboro Street Extension was again recommended. However, it was suggested that a segment of Pritchard Avenue be included within the Extensions's alignment , although the Extension would ultimately connect to Airport Road at North Street. This was the first report in which the utilization of one-way pairing was recommended. However, this plan was not approved by the Chapel Hill Town Council. - The current adopted thoroughfare plan,the 1983 Chapel Hill/Carrboro Thoroughfare Plan Report also recommended construction of the Pittsboro Street Extension. However, it suggested that one-way pairing not be implemented immediately upon the completion of the new roadway construction, but instead implemented at the time when the traffic demand becomes such that the public demands relief from congestion. As a result of this recommendation, existing Pittsboro Street has been converted from a two-way to a one- way street. This has improved congestion at the intersections of Pittsboro Street and • Cameron Avenue and Pittsboro Street and Manning Drive. Three other alternatives were considered,during the analysis of the 1983 Plan. These alternatives are listed below: 1. Widen Columbia Street to six lanes. 2. Widen and realign Raleigh'Street and Hillsborough Street. 3. Extend Ransom Street sor:it to Columbia Street; widen and realign,the • north end with Mallette Strzet; extend Mallette Street to ROsemary; realign University Drive with the 'Manning Drive/Pittsboro Street intersection. 2.11 cesommor