TITLE: Title
Review of Alternatives - Intersection Improvements at Merritt Mill- Franklin-E. Main - Brewer
PURPOSE: The purpose of this item is for the Board of Aldermen to receive information on alternative improvements being designed to alleviate congestion and increase safety at this intersection and consider communicating support for NCDOT's continued work on the project.
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DEPARTMENT: Planning
CONTACT INFORMATION: Patricia McGuire, pmcguire@townofcarrboro.org, 919-918-7327; Christina Moon, cmoon@townofcarrboro.org, 919-918-7325
INFORMATION: This high-profile intersection has marked the boundary between the Towns of Carrboro and Chapel Hill for many decades. Funding for transportation improvements at this intersection was included in the State Transportation Improvement Program FY 2014 to 2020. Town staff have been in communication with North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), Durham Chapel Hill Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (DCHC MPO), and Town of Chapel Hill representatives on the review of conceptual designs since reporting to the Board of Aldermen on the project status on May 10, 2016 (https://carrboro.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=2712759&GUID=F31D4355-7E4E-4453-84E3-912FFAAA0AA8&Options=&Search=&FullText=1).
Estimated level of service - increased capacity, reduced delay, and improved safety are the primary design considerations in this location. The tight urban setting provides little room for significant change without affecting existing surrounding properties, including existing buildings, in some way. After considering many options when a clearly superior design had not emerged, NCDOT requested direction on how the Towns would like the project to proceed so that possible designs could be further refined and scheduled for consideration by the public at an input session. The project schedule envisions right of way acquisition proceeding so that construction could be underway in 2019.
Of the many con...
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