Agenda - 11-17-20; 12-2 - Information Item - US 15-501 Corridor Study

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2 November 3, 2020, Orange County Transportation Planning staff discussed these issues with MPO staff to gain additional information on the US 15/501 study. Summary of the discussion is below: • Chapel Hill is now publically opposing the widening even though numerous development projects — approved by the city— are almost complete and resulting in increased traffic. • Durham understands the need for grade separation at Mt. Moriah Road and US 15/501 but sees some challenges to connecting to the internal street network. o Grade separation is part of the 2018 adopted Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP). An interchange was identified at Southwest Durham Drive as part of the previous corridor study in 1994. Other alternatives have been evaluated since the CTP adoption. • Transit remains in the study. November 4, 2020, DCHC MPO Board discussed the study and MPO staff responses to public as well as Board comments. Highlights from the meeting are below: • Public— New Hope Commons — requests more information on how grade separation will be addressed for US 15/501 and Mt. Moriah Road. • Chapel Hill representative — corridor is designed around and turning into highway/freeway. • Chapel Hill representative — requests the study be redone with another consultant. • Carrboro representative — study is reacting to the pressures for a more urban area. • Orange County representative — the area does deserve a more urban model with multimodal. • Durham representative — this area was seen as a mini city with transit-oriented- development. • Chapel Hill representative— requests study not go forward and other options be explored. Significance to Orange County • Orange County is in the process of updating its County Transit Plan and this section of US 15/501 is a small part of the larger strategic transit corridor that connects to other regional corridors like US 54 and 1-40, and urban centers like downtown Durham, Duke, UNC and RTP. o Without an approved study that provides for multimodal accommodations like this study, this region has less ability with NCDOT to seek multimodal improvements along its corridors. o If this study is approved, it would be helpful to inform the recommendations included in the County Transit Plan update. • Development is increasing in Carrboro and Chapel Hill as more residential and commercial projects are completed, resulting in escalating demands placed on current transportation network which is failing to meet this increased demand. o The study continues recommending transit-oriented-development approach to the area as parking garages, large supermarkets, office complexes, etc. attracts more vehicular traffic between the two counties along this regional corridor. o Rural roads (e.g. Whitefield Road, Erwin Road) also experience increase traffic as congested urban roads cause rural roads to be become equally congested. • Like NC-54 West Corridor Study, NCDOT will address their regional corridors that are failing — level of service D-F — to resolve congestion, safety, freight, access, economic development, and other issues using their process. 2