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Update on the Shelton Street Sidepath and Maple Avenue Contraflow Lane (TIP# BL-0149)
PURPOSE AND BACKGROUND: The Town was awarded federal funds through the Triangle West Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) competitive Regional Flexible Funding process to advance three projects in the 2021 Bike Plan. These include: 1) construction of a sidepath along Shelton Street (in front of the Carrboro United Methodist Church) to support the Town’s Safe Routes to School program, 2) installation of pavement markings to create a pedestrian lane along East Poplar Avenue and, 3) new pavement markings to add a contraflow bike lane to the one-block section of Maple Avenue next to the Drakeford Library Complex.
The Town Engineer, Sungate Design, developed a series of conceptual plans for the Shelton Street project for review and comment by key stakeholders: the church, the principal at Carrboro Elementary School, parents of children attending Carrboro Elementary School, and members of the Transportation, Mobility and Greenways Advisory Commission. As designed progressed, the CHCSS District staff, NCDOT and related Town departments (Fire, Police and Public Works) were included in the review as well.
The purpose of this agenda item is to provide the Town Council and members of the community with an opportunity to review and comment on the Shelton Street Sidepath design, now at 30 percent. The Town has been working closely with the CHCSS District to coordinate the sidepath with the design of the new school campus (Granicus Item 26-114). In addition, the sidepath project has been extended further south than originally intended to reduce the conflict points at the Shelton/Hillsborough and Hillsborough/W Main intersections (Shelton Street Multi-Use Path | Carrboro, NC - Official Website <https://www.carrboronc.gov/3391/Shelton-Street-Multi-Use-Path>). These intersections were identified as part of the development of the new Safe Routes to School Action Plan (Granicus Item 26-105).
Information relating to the concept plan for the Maple Avenue contra-flow project will also be provided. The project will involve new pavement markings to change the street from one-way southbound to one-way northbound. Sharrows will be added to the northbound vehicle lane and a new 5-foot wide bike lane will be added for cyclists heading southbound. The East Poplar project was completed by the Public Works Department as part of the Town’s resurfacing program after the OWASA pipe repair project and will be removed from the TIP project.
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Department
DEPARTMENT: Planning, Zoning, and Inspections
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Fiscal and Staff Impact
FISCAL AND STAFF IMPACT: The Town has been allocated $1,112,000 for the projects, this includes $889,600 (80-percent federal funds) and $222,400 (20-percent local match). There are no budgetary impacts as the project was included in the Town’s CIP with funding earmarked for FY26.
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Community Impact
COMMUNITY IMPACT: These three projects were identified as part of the 2021 Bike Plan; the Shelton Street project was also included in the Safe Routes to School Action Plan. All are intended to improve safety along key downtown corridors, particularly for pedestrians and bicyclists. The Shelton Street infrastructure will improve access to Carrboro Elementary School during the morning and afternoon peak, and for children and their families after hours, as the new school campus will include an open play area in front of the new building. Improvements at Hillsborough Road and West Main Street should provide significant community benefits for residents seeking to cross West Main Street as pedestrians and cyclists. The all-way stop should provide added clarity for drivers in a location where visibility can be challenging. The improvements along Maple Avenue will provide clear, safe connections for bicyclists in a location with easy access to existing bike paths: Libba Cotten, Roberson, PTA Thrift Store.
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Climate Impact
CLIMATE IMPACT: All three projects add to the existing bike-ped network, providing important linkages to key destinations, Carrboro Elementary School, Town Commons, the Drakeford Library Complex and associated bike paths. The more off-road facilities provide connections to everyday destinations, the more likely residents, including less confident bicycle riders will choose to ride or walk rather than drive; this in turn reduces greenhouse gas emissions. All of these locations are already paved so little to no additional impervious surface is anticipated.
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