John Kirk Road Proposed Thoroughfare Plan Amendment

Transcription

1 John Kirk Road Proposed Thoroughfare Plan Amendment PROPOSED ACTION The Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization (CRTPO) is proposing to amend John Kirk Road as shown on the adopted Thoroughfare Plan. The amendment would include: A revised alignment A change in the classification from a Major to a Minor Thoroughfare The University of North Carolina at Charlotte held a public meeting on July 9 th but CRTPO is still seeking public comments about this amendment, which is being considered due to traffic patterns along John Kirk Road and Cameron Boulevard. The CRTPO Board (known as the MPO) will make its decision based on the results of analysis by staff and comments received at the public meeting and during the public comment period. The public comment period ended on August 5, Technical Coordinating Committee Meeting Thursday, August 6, 2015 Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization Meeting Wednesday, August 19, 2015 WHAT IS CRTPO? The Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization (CRTPO) is the federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the Charlotte Urbanized Area. Federal legislation requires that Urbanized Areas with populations larger than 50,000 have an MPO to carry out the multi-jurisdictional transportation planning process within its planning area boundary. The governing body of the CRTPO is known as the MPO and consists of elected and appointed officials from jurisdictions in Iredell, Mecklenburg and Union counties, as well as the North Carolina Board of Transportation. The Technical Coordinating Committee (TCC) includes staff representing various organizations involved in the transportation planning process. The TCC is charged with making technical recommendations to the MPO. Additional information can be found about CRTPO at

2 John Kirk Drive Thoroughfare Amendment Public Comment Summary ID Name Received Via: Date Received Comment Response 1 Alex Fleck Public Meeting 7/9/2015 This looks like an excellent project that aligns with the changing needs of the university Comment noted. 2 Ashley Clayton Public Meeting 7/10/2015 Notification to properties along John Kirk regarding construction start dates and road closures would be appreciated so that we could notify our residents Comment noted. 3 Daniel Hamlon Public Meeting 7/11/ )Hawk Signal at Van Landingham and John Kirk 2.)Some urban planning to push pedestrian traffic towards the crosswalks (AKA pond, nice designed space, talk to the architecture students at UNCC) 3.) Use leeway space to differentiate University and residential areas. Comment noted. 4 Neil Edwards Public Meeting 7/12/2015 I would strongly recommend avoiding the installation of a "HAWK signal" on the widened section of John Kirk. It seems counter intuitive (and fiscally irresponsible) to add an impeding feature that will slow the flow of traffic when traffic flow is the initial problem. Pedestrian access will be improved without the addition of this signal. Comment noted. 5 Wendall Horton Public Meeting 7/13/2015 Bike lanes and sidewalks should be integrated with greenway or park/recreation spaces. I think that is an important consideration. Comment noted. 6 Van Johnson Public Meeting 7/14/2015 The area where the existing road gets removed would be a great place for a small park of some sort, maybe a fountain or statue or nice gazeebo would all be wonderful for the area! Please have improved crosswalks. Comment noted. 7 Ed Mulheren 7/20/2015 Divert any money for this project to reconfigure Harris Houston rd, since we already improved john kirk drive previously. Harris Houston rd needs to be widen and a bike lane to handle the resident s needs. Some 25 years ago the city promised to improve harris Houston rd, we are still waiting. Thank you for your comments. The project is related to how UNCC is proposing to redevelop the East Campus area. Funding has not been determined at this time, although it is expected that UNCC would fund it as it is related to their campus work. This is not a City project. Consequently, it is not likely that funding for this project could be reallocated to improve Harris Houston Road as you propose

3 MEMORANDUM To: From: Mr. Neil Burke, AICP, PTP Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization Steve Blakley, PE Dillon Turner, EIT Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. Date: April 24, 2015 Subject: John Kirk Drive Thoroughfare Amendment Project Background: In the early 2000 s NCDOT realigned Mallard Creek Church Road to establish a new intersection with NC 49. The remnant of the original Mallard Creek Church Road connection to NC 49 was renamed John Kirk Drive. The new Mallard Creek Church Road connection to NC-49 replaced the service of the old connection (John Kirk Drive) as a major thoroughfare. MUMPO (now CRTPO) has had plans to reclassify John Kirk Drive from a major thoroughfare to a minor thoroughfare; however, this has not been finalized to date. Project Purpose: The University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNC Charlotte) has plans to intensify the land use of their East Village. The East Village of UNC Charlotte is bounded by John Kirk Drive s connection to Van Landingham Road to the south and Cameron Boulevard to the north. UNC Charlotte, Kimley-Horn, CDOT and NCDOT have analyzed and coordinated over the past 8 months to understand current and future traffic conditions in the vicinity of East Village. The results have shown that the majority of traffic, both current and future, is accessing campus along John Kirk Drive from both Mallard Creek Church Road and NC 49. Based on these findings, the consensus is to realign John Kirk Drive directly into Cameron Boulevard. Attachments: Proposed Realignment Map of Reclassification kimley-horn.com 2000 South Boulevard, Suite 440, Charlotte, NC

4 Proposed John Kirk Drive Realignment and Classification Change John Kirk Drive Thoroughfare Plan Amendment Public Meeting July 9, 2015 LEGEND Existing John Kirk Proposed Realignment

5 Why is John Kirk Drive Proposed to be Changed East Mallard Creek Church Road is the major thoroughfare To process Traffic more efficiently How is John Kirk Drive Changing Proposed to be reclassified from a major thoroughfare to a minor thoroughfare New intersection with a traffic signal Change Process The Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization (CRPTO) =Deciding Body o Technical Evaluation-Complete o Public Input Period- In Process

6 CRTPO Thoroughfare Plan Proposed Thoroughfare Modification for John Kirk Drive CRTPO TCC Meeting August 6, 2015

7 Source: CRTPO Existing Roadway Classifications in the Site Vicinity

8 East Village LEGEND Minor Thoroughfare Major Thoroughfare Class II Freeway-Expressway Existing Roadway Classifications in the Site Vicinity

9 UNC Charlotte Current Master Plan

10 Major Flow In and Out of Campus Minor Flow Bypasses Campus Volumes Into Campus vs Bypassing Campus on a Typical Weekday Along John Kirk Drive

11 Proposed John Kirk Alignment

12 Proposed John Kirk Alignment With Right-of-Way

13 Public Input Meeting and Responses Meeting was held on July 9, 2015 Meeting Notice: o Over 450 postcards mailed out o CRTPO s Website o CDOT Installed a Road Sign 8 Attendees General Comments o Pedestrian Control o Remnant Right-of-Way o Mixed Reviews on HAWK Signal o Keep Bike Lanes and Sidewalks o Notice Before Construction LET o A citizen requested improvements be made to Harris Houston Road but the roadway is out the scope of this amendment

14 Request: Recommend approval of: 1.) Modification of John Kirk Drive from a major thoroughfare to a minor thoroughfare. Source: CRTPO 2.) Reconfigure the intersection of John Kirk Drive at Cameron Boulevard. LEGEND Major Thoroughfare Minor Thoroughfare Proposed Minor Thoroughfare UNC Charlotte Road