20181249 Ver 1_NC 540 Triangle Expressway (Complete 540)_20181116 (2)

ACCESS2040
�ACCESS2040 is an alternative to the proposed I-540 Southeast Extension toll highway project dubbed
"Complete 540." Rather than constructing a massively expensive toll highway that would divide
southern Wake County into "inside the beltway" and "outside the beltway" segments, ACCESS2040
relies ori expanding a number of existing streets to become key arterial roads that provide quick access
routes throughout the area.
ACCESS2040 is a natural extension of the North Carolina Capital Area Metropolitan Planning
Organization's (CAMPO) 2040 Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP), relying on 52 projects that are
already planned and funded under the MTP. ACCESS2040 extends these improvement projects,
creating seven improved arterials. Three of the arterials, including an expansion of the existing Ten-Ten
Road corridor, run east-west and connect Holly Springs to Knightdale, just as Complete 540 would do.
Four arterials run north-south, connecting home to work for many commuters. The arterials are
connected to the surrounding surface streets, with a number of grade-separated intersections
(overpasses) to speed traffic. They include sidewalks and support all modes of travel, including transit,
bicycle, and pedestrian. As a result, the arterials would link existing land use patterns—one of the goals
of the MTP—rather than dividing them. '
This more thoughtful approach carries huge benefits without sacrificing effectiveness. Compared to
Complete 540, ACCESS2040 reduces traffic congestion more and significantly improves mobility, the
distance or time it takes to get between two points regardless of traffic. At $294 million, ACCESS2040
costs less than one seventh the $2.24 billion it would cost to build Complete 540, resulting in a
dramatically more appealing benefit/cost ratio. ACCESS2040 requires far fewer "takings" of private
property to construct, and results in far less harm to natural resources, a particularly important
consideration in a rapidly urbanizing area. Finally, as its name implies, ACCESS2040 would be open to
everyone rather than limited to those willing and able to pay tolls.
Key features of the ACCESS2040 alternative:
• Basic Idea: Use CAMPO's 2040 MTP, create 7 arterials, 3 east-west and 4 north-south.
• Traffic: Provides more congestion relief than Complete 540 in the Triangle as a whole, and on
every "measure of effectiveness" that directly measures congestion.
• Mobility: Provides more than half the mobility benefit of Complete 540, as measured by
increase in average speed and decrease in travel time.
• Cost: Only $294 million, less than one seventh of the $2.24 billion cost of Complete 540.
e Benefit/Cost�Ratio: Compared to benchmark standard of 1, ACCESS2040 has a benefit/cost
ratio of 2.1, compared to 0.47 for Complete 540. �
• Access: Open-access rather than tolled, and supports all modes of travel; including transit, bike,
pedestrian.
• Growth: Connect land use patterns, rather than dividing areas, guiding more sustainable growth.
• Private Property: Requires 20 "takings" to construct, compared to 217 for Complete 540.
•. Environment: Far less damage to natural resources.
ACCESS2040 meets southern Wake County's transportation needs sustainably and at low cost. With
this compelling roadmap ready and waiting, it makes no sense to accelerate the misguided Complete 540
project instead.
https://www.southernenvironment.org/uploads/audio/NC_I-540_Extension Report.pdf