TITLE: Title
Consideration of Potential Infrastructure Improvements for Pedestrian Safety
PURPOSE: The purpose of this agenda item is for the Board to review potential infrastructure improvements identified through the Transportation Advisory Board’s research on pedestrian safety in town.
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DEPARTMENT: Planning
CONTACT INFORMATION: Christina Moon - 919-918-7325; Patricia McGuire - 919-918-7327
INFORMATION: At the October 7, 2014 Board of Aldermen meeting, Terri Buckner addressed the Board with a request for a pedestrian safety improvements in the downtown and for the appointment of a short-term taskforce to research the topic. The Board referred the request to the Transportation Advisory Board (TAB). (A link to the meeting may be found here: <https://carrboro.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=335858&GUID=9A1A313D-227D-4CEE-A356-8FB4AE959B8C&Options=&Search>=)
In response to the request, the TAB set up a booth during the April 2015 open streets event with maps and sticky notes seeking input on locations where pedestrian infrastructure--sidewalks, ADA ramps, lighting, etc.--could be improved. The TAB also worked with staff to develop an online mapping tool to obtain additional information via the Town’s website (<http://www.townofcarrboro.org/1090/Bike-and-Ped-Comment-Map>).
Transportation Advisory Board presented its findings, including a map of pedestrian safety concerns, at the January 19, 2016 Board of Aldermen meeting. (The agenda materials may be found here: (<https://carrboro.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=456605&GUID=2E20CD1A-C495-4B01-B45E-7B08D7449346&Options=&Search>=). Based on this citizen and Board input, staff met with representatives from NCDOT in order to begin to identify potential infrastructure projects and associated costs. A summary of the TAB’s recommendations is provided in a staff memorandum (Attachment B). Estimates are included for informational purposes only and are intended to provide the Board with a sense of approximate costs relating to certain types of improvements. Funding would be identified in future budgets, as projects are prioritized and more specific designs developed.
FISCAL & STAFF IMPACT: There are no fiscal impacts associated with the discussion of this item. Potential future costs and staff time are dependent on the Board’s recommendations for next steps.
RECOMMENDATION:r Staff recommends that the Board discuss the infrastructure improvements identified and provide input toward prioritizing potential projects.