Date:
Monday, March 9, 2009 - 12:30pm to 5:00pm
Location:
Carrboro Elementary
NOTICE OF A COMBINED PUBLIC HEARING FOR PROPOSED
TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS TO SR 1919 (SMITH LEVEL ROAD) FROM SOUTH OF
ROCK HAVEN ROAD TO BRIDGE NO. 88 OVER MORGAN CREEK IN CARRBORO
TIP Project No. U-2803 Orange County
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) will hold a Pre-Hearing Open House and Combined Public Hearing on March 9, 2009 at Carrboro Elementary School, located at 400 Shelton Street, Carrboro, 27510.
NCDOT representatives will be available at a pre-hearing open house in the auditorium lobby between the hours of 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. to answer questions and receive comments relative to the location and design of the proposed project. Interested citizens may attend at any time during the above mentioned hours. Handouts and comment sheets will be distributed. The formal public hearing will begin at 7:00 p.m. in the auditorium. The hearing will be open to those present for statements, questions and comments. The presentation and comments will be recorded and a written transcript will be prepared.
NCDOT proposes transportation improvements to SR 1919 (Smith Level Road) which include: widening Smith Level Road to three lanes (between Rock Haven Road and Culbreth Road), transition between three to four lanes (between Culbreth Road and BPW Club Road), and widen to a four-lane, median divided roadway between BPW Club Road and Morgan Creek. A roundabout intersection is proposed at the intersection of Smith Level Road and Rock Haven Road.
Sidewalks and bicycle accommodations are proposed throughout the project.
A map displaying the location and design of the project and a copy of the environmental document – State Environmental Assessment / Finding of No Significant Impact - are available for public review at the Town of Carrboro, 301 W. Main Street, Carrboro, 27510.
The map is also available online at:
http://www.ncdot.org/doh/preconstruct/highway/roadway/hearingmaps_by_county/ .
Anyone desiring additional information may contact Ed Lewis, Human Environment Unit, at 1598 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1598, by phone (919) 431-6585, by fax (919) 431-2001 or by email at elewis@ncdot.gov.
NCDOT will provide auxiliary aids and services under the Americans with Disabilities Act for disabled persons who wish to participate in this hearing.
Anyone requiring special services should contact Mr. Lewis as early as possible so that arrangements can be made.
Comments
Hill & Morgan Creek Greenway
My chief concerns with this project are:
On a steep downhill, bikes often approach the speed limit and cyclists need to be able to utilize greater lane width, especially if the lane edges are obstructed by litter, foliage, ice, salt, bad pavement, etc.. For this reason, wide outside lanes (no stripe) are preferable to bike lanes on steep descents. Furthermore, it is never a good idea to put a bike lane on only one side of a two-way street, because that would encourage wrong-way cycling. Wide lanes with Sharrows would be the appropriate treatment for the hill on Smith Level Rd..Smith Level/Greensboro serves important destinations including Carrboro High School to the south and Weaver Street and Farmer's Market to the north. This section will also intersect with the future Morgan Creek Greenway. It is important that road widening in this section be planned to safely interchange bike & ped traffic with the future greenway--e.g. to allow safe ped crossing where necessary, discourage "wrong way" cycling, and facilitate easy, efficient and safe access for all travelers.The DOT design map for this project doesn't even show the Morgan Creek greenway!