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Minimum Problem Statements – Highway – 11 <br />There are other transportation issues on NC 98 besides congestion. The US 70/NC 98 bridge is <br />considered functionally obsolete. The East End Connector project, which started construction in 2015, <br />will make needed improvements to this bridge. Intersection delay is currently not a problem . The <br />intersections on the NC 98 corridor have a level-of-service of C or better (i.e., A or B) based on the 2014 <br />DCHC MPO Mobility Report Card. <br /> <br />The current and future residential development in the NC 98 area and the expected retail development <br />on NC 98 will generate increased bicycle, pedestrian, and transit traffic. Sidewalks and bike lanes are <br />rare, and bus stops do not have any amenities. The CTP recommends a bike lane for the complete <br />extension of the NC 98 corridor and sidewalks to fill any of the existing gaps. In addition, NC 98 roadway <br />improvements need to consider safe crossing treatments for bicycle and pedestrian traffic that cross NC <br />98. <br /> <br />The US Army Corps of Engineers and resource agencies should be included in the environmental analysis <br />stage of the project development very early. Environmental impacts will be a concern and likely have an <br />impact on the design and viability of adding lanes to this roadway. NC 98 crosses over Lick Creek and <br />Little Lick Creek, and the Lick Creek section contains wetlands, Army Corps of Engineers property and <br />critical watershed. The entire length of this project segment is within either a protected or critical <br />watershed. <br /> <br />Barbee Chapel Road (SR 1110) (NC 54 to Farrington Mill Road (SR 1109)) <br /> <br />Barbee Chapel Road (SR 1110), from NC 54 to Farrington Mill Road (SR 1109), is currently a two-lane <br />undivided suburban road that does not provide adequate pedestrian and on-road bicycle facilities. <br />Improvements are needed to accommodate pedestrian and bicycle traffic and improve connectivity <br />between Chapel Hill, Chatham County, Durham, and Research Triangle Park. <br /> <br />This section of Barbee Chapel Road currently has a 60-foot right-of-way, sidewalks at a few locations, <br />and no bicycle lanes. The 2011 AADT is 11,000 vehicles per day (vpd); by 2040, the AADT is expected to <br />be 19,100 vpd compared to a LOS D capacity of 11,600 vpd for the existing right-of-way. There are <br />mostly residential units along this stretch of Barbee Chapel Road/Farrington Road and plans to build <br />more residential units nearby as well. The traffic around Barbee Chapel Road will only increase with the <br />increased development around this area. This route also serves as a connection to developing Chatham <br />County neighborhoods and as a relief route for nearby NC 54 and I-40. This route is part of the Triangle <br />Commuter Bike Initiative. <br /> <br />The current and planned residential development around Barbee Chapel Road will generate increased <br />bicycle, pedestrian, and transit traffic. The current pedestrian facilities are discontinuous and <br />inadequate for existing pedestrian traffic. There are no bicycle facilities, and many of the bus stops do <br />not have any amenities and do not include bus pull-outs resulting in blocked traffic. The need for <br />pedestrian, bicycle, and transit facilities will only increase with additional development around Barbee <br />Chapel Road. Bicycle lanes have been proposed along this route in the Durham Comprehensive Bicycle <br />Transportation Plan. The DurhamWalks! Pedestrian Plan recommends sidewalks on both sides of this <br />route.