TITLE: Title
Presentation of the DCHC-MPO Draft Comprehensive Transportation Plan
PURPOSE: The purpose of this agenda item is for the Board of Aldermen to receive a presentation of the draft Comprehensive Transportation Plan.
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DEPARTMENT: Planning
CONTACT INFORMATION: Bergen Watterson, 919-918-7329, bwatterson@townofcarrboro.org <mailto:bwatterson@townofcarrboro.org>; Tina Moon, 919-918-7325, cmoon@townofcarrboro.org <mailto:cmoon@townofcarrboro.org>
INFORMATION: The Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro MPO (DCHC-MPO) is required by the state to create a Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP), which is an aspirational long-range multi-modal transportation planning document. The CTP differs from the more widely recognized Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP, formerly Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP)) in that it is not fiscally constrained. A transportation project must be included in the CTP in order to be considered for funding through the SPOT process.
Jurisdictions have traditionally used long-range transportation documents as an element of comprehensive planning for determining consistency during the development review process when considering petitions for rezoning and land use permits, and as a mechanism for requiring right-of-way and other transportation improvements from applicants. Most of the jurisdictions in the DCHC-MPO, including the Town of Carrboro, currently use an adopted Thoroughfare Plan for this purpose. The CTP is designed to replace local Thoroughfare plans.
Town staff has been working with DCHC-MPO and North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) staff to create the CTP and to ensure that Carrboro’s transportation needs are accurately reflected. The draft CTP is currently out for public comment, and MPO and NCDOT staff are circulating to all of the jurisdictions to gather feedback through public workshops and presentations to local elected officials. Public comments will be accepted through February 24, 2017, a timeframe which provides the Board the opportunity to finalize comments at a February meeting if so desired. The Transportation Advisory Board and the Chapel Hill Transportation and Connectivity Advisory Board are co-hosting drop-in public information session on February 19th from 6:00pm - 8:00pm at the Chapel Hill Library. The DCHC-MPO Board is expected to adopt the CTP in March 2017 and NCDOT in April 2017. If adopted, staff will prepare draft text amendments to the Land Use Ordinance to reflect the change from the Thoroughfare Plan to the CTP for the Board’s consideration at a future meeting.
The public comment materials may be found here: <http://www.dchcmpo.org/programs/ctp/default.asp>
The full draft CTP can be found here: <https://connect.ncdot.gov/projects/planning/Pages/CTP-Details.aspx?study_id=Durham-Chapel%20Hill-Carrboro>
Representatives from the DCHC-MPO and NCDOT will make the presentation.
FISCAL & STAFF IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact associated with receiving the presentation and providing comment.
RECOMMENDATION:r Staff recommends that the Board of Aldermen approve the resolution receiving the presentation and consider providing comments on the draft CTP.