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Home My WebLink AboutU-2509 Stakeholder Dsn Workshop Mtng #4 - 1-7-16 - Meeting Summary.pdfTransportatiora MEMORANDUM TO: FROM: ��r ��cRa�Y Gauernerr NIGHC]LAS J. TENNYSC3N secrnrary January 27, 2016 Meeting Participants Keith Lewis, Project Manager, VHB Don Brown, Senior Project Planner, VHB SUBJECT: Meeting Summary — Local Stakeholder Design Workshop Meeting #4 for STIP No. U-2509 — US 74 (Independence Blvd.) Improveinents, Conference Drive to I-485 in Mecklenburg County TIME & LOCATION: In Attendance: Kathi Ingrish C. J. O'Neill Hazen Blodgett Jen Thompson Norm Steinman Keith Hines Tim Gibbs Candice Leonard Jason Lawrence David McDonald Stuart Basham *attendance by phone January 7, 2016; 1:30 PM-4:00 PM Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center Charlotte, North Carolina MEETING SUMMARY Town of Matthews Town of Matthews Town of Matthews Town of Matthews CDOT CDOT CDOT CRTPO CATS CATS NCDOT — Div 10 Jordan-Ashley Walker Wilson Stroud Stacy Oberhausen* Greg Brew Steve Kendall Andy Lelewski* Keith Lewis Jeff Hext Don Brown Tom Harlrnett Jennifer Harris* fNothing Corr�pares�..�_ NCDOT — Div 10 NCDOT-PDEA/PDU NCDOT-PDEA/PDU NCDOT-RDU NCDOT-RDU NCTA VHB VHB VHB Stantec HNTB State of North Carolina I Department of Transportation I Project Development and 8nvironmental Analysis 1000 Birch Ridge Drive � 1548 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, NC 27699-1548 919-707-6000 U-2509 January 7, 2016 Local Stakeholder Design Workshop Meeting #4 January 27, 2016 OV0PV1eW' The main purpose of this meeting was to conclude the discussion surrounding express lane access points that took place at the first three stakeholder Design Workshop Meetings (August l 8, October 22, and December 10, 2015). A second purpose was to obtain decisions from local stakeholders to move the project forward through the environmental documentation, preliminary design, and NEPA/404 Merger processes. This is a supplemental fourth of three planned design workshops. Keith Lewis (VHB) began the meeting with introductions and gave an overview of the purpose of the meeting and decisions made in the previous stakeholder design workshop meetings. Comments received, responses, follow-up discussions, and decisions made are presented below, by topic. General Comments and Discussion: • CJ O'Neill (Town of Matthews) noted that the Independence Pointe Parkway segment over I-485 is a high priority for the Town of Matthews. Greg Brew (NCDOT-RDU) agreed but added that the timing of delivering that segment may be delayed. Norm Steinman (CDOT) added that some components of this project will do better in STI as stand-alone projects. • Traffic analysis will be needed to determine what the congestion will be in the fuiure. This may help determine the need for and location of Express Lane access points. (Narm Steinman — CDOT) • Kathi Ingrish (Town of Matthews) stated that the urban neighborhood that will be built out by the Sportsplex will add inore traffic to Matthews. These vehicles will need access to the Express Lanes or they will be using local roads longer. • Tom Harknett (Stantec) stated that with Express Lanes, access is not provided everywhere. • Tom Harnett (Stantec) added that longer distances between access points means higher tolls can be charged. This makes the tolling more cost effective. It was also noted that a minimum toll amount could be set if desired. • The City of Charlotte will verify whether ar not the proposed Eastern Circumfereniial Road is assumed in the traffic analysis model. • Greg Brew (NCDOT-RDU) noted that there are more options to study furtber as a result of this meeting. • Norm Steinman (CDOT) is concerned what restricting access to the auxiliary lane in areas where there will be express lane access points will do to the adjacent businesses. • Each additional alternative that would need to be studied for traffic operations would add two to three months to the schedule. Direct Connectors and Mer�e Access Points for Express Lanes from General Purpose Lanes: The discussion at this meeting culminated in the following decisions. Several meeting attendees had to leave the meeting early; thus these decisions will be confirmed in a follow up conference call with the City of Charlotte (this conference call has been scheduled for February 12, 2016): • Conference Drive — Direct Connector • Krefeld Drive — Ingress/Egress in both directions • Sardis Road North — General Purpose Interchange only • Sam Newell Road — Egress Only Eastbound US 74; Ingress Only Westbound US 74 • Between NC 51 and Matthews-Mint Hill Road — Ingress Only Westbound US 74 • West of I-485 — Egress Only Eastbound US 74 • I-485 — Direct Connector segments included and evaluated separately U-2509 January 7, 2016 Local Stakeholder Design Workshop Meeting #4 January 27, 2016 • Monroe Bypass — Direct Connections The following comments were made during the discussion about the locations of direct connectors and merge access points for express lanes. These comments conflict and were used by the stakeholders in crafting the decisions noted above. General Direct Connector Comments • Tom Harknett (Stantec) stated that in areas where there is a substantial amount of weaving prior to adding Express Lanes, Direct Connectors are better than Ingress/Egress access points in helping with the additional traffic movements. • Tom Harknett (Stantec) stated that typically, egress points come before a direct connector, and ingress points come after a direct connector. • Tom Harknett (Stantec) noted that there would be one reversible express lane west of Albemarle Road (proposed under STIP Project U-5526A). • Norm Steinman (CDOT) stated that a Direct Connector should be placed where there is a large generator of traffic. • David McDonald (CATS) suggested looking at the possibility of doing an ingress/egress point at the same location as a Direct Connector. Tim Gibbs (CDOT) and Norm Steinman (CDOT) noted that this is being done on the I-77 North Express Lane project. Andy Lelewslci stated that to do the ingress/egress and Direct Connector at the same location would become extremely complicated with signing. • Norm Steinman (CDOT) stated that the selection of Express Lane Access Points is inore complicated than a linear approach can address. CDOT does not want to pick one access point over the other without more information on the traffic operations. � A direct connector is better for iransit than an ingress/egress point (Norm Steinman — CDOT). • It has been noted in previous meetings that 2 miles between access points is the minimum ideal spacing. With a Direct Connector at Conference Drive, it would be 2 miles to Krefeld, another 2 miles to Sain Newell Road, and another 2 miles to I-485. Conference Drive • All in attendance showed support for the Direct Connector at Conference Drive. Krefeld Drive • Keith Lewis (VHB) noted that and ingress and egress access point at Krefeld Drive gives access to Village Lake Drive and Sardis Road North. • It was suggested to look at the possibility of a direct connector at Krefeld Drive instead of at Sardis Road North. Norm Steinman (CDOT) stated that a direct connector at Krefeld Drive could work for transit. David McDonald (CATS) and CJ O'Neill (Town of Matthews) agreed. Sardis Road North • Tim Gibbs (CDOT) noted that the City of Charlotte prefers a direct connector at Sardis Road North with the City's interchange option versus a direct connectar at Sam Newell Road. � Jason Lawrence (CATS) indicated that Sardis Road North would be a better location for a Direct Connector for rail and for a future park and ride lot than Sam Newell Road. • Hazen Blodgett (Town of Matthews) noted that the Town of Matthews believes a Direct Connector at Sardis Road North would be better than at Sam Newell Road. • Jeff Hext (VHB) noted that traffic analysis would be needed before a determination could be made on which Sardis Road North interchange option would be chosen. That U-2509 January 7, 2016 Local Stakeholder Design Workshop Meeting #4 January 27, 2016 interchange option would have to be determined before Sardis Road North could be considered an option for a Direct Connector. • If Sardis Road would have an interchange other than the one proposed by the City, traffic would inake it difficult to malce a Direct Connector wark. Norm Steinman (CDOT) noted that this is why a Direct Connector should be put at a grade separation and not at an interchange. Norm added that a final decision on where to put the Direct Connector in the vicinity of Sardis Road would require additional thought. • Norm Steinman (CDOT) stated that a Direct Connector at Sardis Road would be good for the development of the 80 acres of undeveloped land at this location. • It was noted that Sardis Road is only one mile from Krefeld Drive. • Norm Steinman (CDOT) suggested that it is possible to have a Direct Connector at Sardis Road North that has ramps connecting to Sardis Road North away from the actual Sardis Road North interchange with US 74. Sam Newell Road • Hazen Blodgett (Town of Matthews) stated that the parallel roads would become a connector to Sardis Road North if Sam Newell Road would have a Direct Connector; this is not efficient. • Hazen Blodgett (Town of Matthews) noted that traffic is the most important issue in Matthews. Getting vehicles back and forth across US 74 is of primary concern, and a Direct Connector at Sam Newell Road would be bad for the Town of Matthews. • Kathi Ingrish (Town of Matthews) noted that a Direct Connector at Sam Newell Road would add traffic to local roads, which would create problems for the Town of Matthews. This is not desirable. � Kathi Ingrish (Town of Matthews) reminded stakeholders that Sam Newell Road floods south of US 74; Sam Newell Road is not a good option for a Direct Connector. • Norm Steinman (CDOT) stated that unless the general purpose lanes are stopped, there would be no reason to get off at a Sam Newell Road Direct Connector. • CJ O'Neill (Town of Matthews) suggested that an ingress point one way and an egress point be located at Sam Newell Road instead of a Direct Connector. • David McDonald (CATS), Norm Steinman (CDOT), and Tim Gibbs (CDOT) suggested looking at both an ingress/egress point and a Direct Connector at Sam Newell Road. David McDonald (CATS) suggested that a direct connector at Sam Newell Road be tested with traffic. I-485 and the Monroe By�ass Connections • Tim Gibbs (CDOT) expressed interest in separating the I-485 Direct Connectors as a separate project. Additional Express Lane Access Points • It was noted that the U-5526A project corridor would need an additional ingress and egress point west of Idlewild Road once the U-2509 project is constructed. There was discussion of whether or not this additional express lane access point would be part of the U-2509 project or a different project. No conclusion was reached at the meeting. Transit Considerations: • Norm Steinman (CDOT) stated that CATS might want a park and ride lot in ihe future. No exact location for the potential park and ride lot has been determined. • David McDonald (CATS) stated that a direct connector would be safer for �ransit vehicles. However, transit could make it work if a direct connector were not provided. He added that the US 74 corridor will continue to change in the future. U-2509 January 7, 2016 Local Stakeholder Design Workshop Meeting #4 January 27, 2016 Without a direct connector where the future park and ride lot would be, transit would have to use the parallel connector roads more. Ori�in and Destination Data and Traffic and Revenue Studv: Tom Harknett (Stantec) provided an overview update of the origin and destination data. Some general comments regarding his findings are attached to this meeting summary. Next Steps: A conference ca11 will be set up with the City of Charlotte to confirm what access points for the express lanes will be included in the project. The effect of this additional meeting on the project schedule will need to be determined. The meeting was adjourned at 4:00 PM. Action Items: • Briefing of Town of Matthews Board once access points have been decided (requested by Hazen Blodgett at Stakeholder Meeting #1). • City of Charlotte and NCDOT project team will meet to discuss economic development and other concerns the City has (requested at Stakeholder Meeting #3). • Ii was requested that VHB consider altering the design of the Sam Newell Road/Arequipa Drive connection and the Sam Newell Road/Northeast Parkway connection. They may need to "T" in the opposite direction from how they are being shown currently. Refinements such as these will be done at a future date (requested at Stakeholder Meeting #3). • NCDOT and VHB will set up a phone meeting with the City of Charlotte to verify decisions made after their 3:30 departure from this meeting. (this phone meeting has been scheduled for 2-12-16) • The City of Charlotte will verify whether or not the proposed Eastern Circumferential Road is assumed in the traffic analysis model. Please direct any comments or questions about the meeting summary to Wilson Stroud, 919-707- 6045, wstroud(a�ncdot.�; Keith Lewis, 919-334-5619, kdlewis�a vhb.com; or pon Brown, 919- 334-5609, dbrown cr,vhb.com. If requested, a revised version will be re-issued. � :1�.�f.y