TITLE: Title
E Main Street Restriping Plan: Public Input Summary and Proposed Design Modifications
PURPOSE: The purpose of this agenda item is to provide the Council with a summary of the public feedback received for the proposed E Main Restriping and to discuss possible minor modifications to the design based on feedback received.
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DEPARTMENT: Planning
CONTACT INFORMATION: Zachary Hallock, 919-918-7329, zhallock@townofcarrboro.org <mailto:zhallock@townofcarrboro.org>; Tina Moon, 919-918-7325, cmoon@townofcarrboro.org <mailto:cmoon@townofcarrboro.org>; Trish McGuire, 919-918-7327, pmcguire@townofcarrboro.org <mailto:pmcguire@townofcarrboro.org>
INFORMATION: At the March 10th Town Council meeting, staff provided a presentation on the results of the operational analysis and concept design for a restriping plan for East Main Street. That agenda item can be viewed at: <https://carrboro.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=4389400&GUID=C1F7C70F-3584-46AD-B9C2-48933B725DAF>
Since the March 10 Council Meeting, the following public input opportunities have been provided:
1. A presentation to the Economic Sustainability Committee on March 11;
2. Display boards showing the results of the operational analysis and conceptual restriping design placed in the front hallway of Town Hall, from 3/13 to 3/24;
3. Distribution of flyers to businesses along E Main Street on March 11 and 12, which included information about the project, the project webpage, and the previously anticipated public meeting schedule (prior to COVID-19);
4. Distribution of information over the Town’s online presence and social media platforms (Town Website Newsflash, Facebook, NextDoor, & Twitter);
5. Mailed notice to all residents of the Lloyd-Broad neighborhood including information about the project, the concept plan, a comment form, and a stamped return envelope to facilitate feedback;
6. Mailed notice to all businesses located along E Main Street and their owners providing information about the project, a link to the project webpage, and directions on how to best provide feedback; and
7. A presentation to the Transportation Advisory Board (via Zoom) on April 9, comments from the TAB meeting will be reported as part of the April 14th update.
To date, staff have received approximately 25 email comments on the project; about 88 percent of which have been in support of the proposed changes.
The three negative emails received voiced concern or skepticism about the proposed benefits of the project, and generally asserted that reducing the number for lanes from 4 lanes down to 3 lanes would increase peak hour travel time and congestion--making traffic much worse. The email comments received have been included in this agenda item as Attachment B.
To date, staff have received 3 mailed comments. The comments received are summarized below:
• Concerns with the peak hour operations of the traffic signal of E Main St. at Lloyd St.
• Concerns with the sight lines across the northeast corner of the intersection of E Main St and Lloyd St blocking the view of the bicycle lane
• Appreciation from a resident with a visual impairment who appreciated efforts (such as adding bike lanes) to get people who ride bikes off the sidewalk.
The mailed comments received have been included in this agenda item as Attachment C.
On April 6, Town staff received correspondence that NCDOT is amenable to the proposed restriping plan (Attachment D). This specified final pavement plan requirements and requested that the Town submit a letter of support requesting the modification under signature of the Mayor.
Based on the feedback received from residents and businesses and pending vetting these suggestions through NCDOT and our consultant, the following modifications have been identified for inclusion in the final version:
1. Add bike lanes on E Main Street from W Rosemary to Merritt Mill to create consistent connection with Chapel Hill;
2. Add specialized pavement markings indicating the conflict areas between bus stops and bike lanes based on coordination with Chapel Hill Transit;
3. Revise the cross section of W Rosemary to retain the existing on-street parking along the south side of the street and add a shared lane marking;
4. Add pavement markings on E Main Street at its intersection with Brewer Lane to help vehicles know they should not block the Brewer Lane approach while waiting for the signal at Merritt Mill.
Town staff discussed these items and others with NCDOT staff on Friday morning; additional information will be provided during the presentation.
Pending approval from Council, staff will work with our consultant to develop the final pavement marking plans to include these changes and submit to NCDOT.
FISCAL & STAFF IMPACT: There will be a fiscal impact associated with the modifications and maintenance responsibilities identified by NCDOT, which is estimated at approximately $16,000. Staff is working with NCDOT to clarify these responsibilities and provide a more accurate cost estimate.
RECOMMENDATION:r Staff recommend the Council consider the resolution (Attachment A) approving the concept design with the proposed modifications and directing staff to draft a letter to NCDOT indicating Town support for the proposed restriping plan for East Main Street to be implemented as part of the upcoming resurfacing.