TITLE: Title
Public Hearing for Jones Creek Greenway (C-5181) 60-Percent Design
PURPOSE: The purpose of this agenda item is to provide an update on the status of the Jones Creek Greenway at 60-percent design and to receive comments from the Board and members of the public.
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DEPARTMENT: Planning
CONTACT INFORMATION: Patricia McGuire - 919-918-7327; Christina Moon - 919-918-7325; Zachary Hallock - 919-918-7329
INFORMATION: This item provides the Board with a fourth update on the Jones Creek Greenway project, now at 60-percent design, and an opportunity to receive public comment. An informal drop-in session was held at the RENA Community Center prior to the Board meeting. The Jones Creek Greenway is a short segment of the Bolin Creek Greenway system that, when finished, will complete the connection from the northern end of Lake Hogan Farms Road to the existing southern end of Orange County’s Jones Creek Greenway and on to the Morris Grove Elementary School.
At the April 9th and May 7th Board of Aldermen meetings, the Board received a presentation from the Wetherill Engineering on the greenway at 15-percent and 30-percent design, respectively, and provided an opportunity for public comment. Staff provided short updates at the June 21st and September 10th meetings; the September updated included images of the existing sections of the County’s Jones Creek Greenway to help provide a sense of what the new segment will look like five to ten years after construction.
Greenway projects typically include check-in points at key intervals in the design process-usually 30-percent and 60-percent completion. At 60-percent completion, the consultants shift their focus to preparing for permit approvals from appropriate state and federal agencies. Staff will continue to keep the Board appraised on the status of the project but does not anticipate seeking additional public comment, in order to keep the project on schedule.
Staff has reached out to the Institute for Transportation Research and Education (ITRE) to obtain the specifications for installing a bike-ped counter along the multi-use path to obtain accurate user data for the greenway.
FISCAL & STAFF IMPACT: The anticipated total cost of the project is $850,250: 80% ($680,200) to be funded by federal Congestion Mitigation Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) funds and the remaining 20% ($170,050) through local match. The use of CMAQ funds includes a Greenhouse Gas emission analysis before and after completion.
RECOMMENDATION:r Staff recommends that the Board receive the presentation from Wetherill Engineering, offer feedback and receive public comment to help inform the design for the Jones Creek Greenway.