1. Linh Nguyen, TPB, NCDOT February 11, 2011 1 Madison County Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP ) Madison County Board of Commissioners Meeting Marshall, NC

2. February 11, 2011 Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP): What is it? Long range multi-modal transportation plan for a town/city, group of towns/cities, or a county Concept for broad range of improvements over 25-30 year planning period, NOT financially constrained Vision Plan, No funding attached Developed cooperatively: NCDOT & local stakeholders Incorporates Land Use plans, community & statewide goals Elements Include: – Highway – Public Transportation & Rail – Bicycle – Pedestrian

3. February 11, 2011 CTP: What is it? (cont’d) Current & future conditions – Lanes, Right-of-Way (ROW), volume, capacity – Level Of Service (LOS), congestion, safety Deficiencies & recommended improvements – For all modes Final product – CTP = maps showing recommended improvements – Technical report

4. February 11, 2011 A Comprehensive Transportation Plan Does NOT... ; Make a promise to build roads. ; Determine a pinpoint location of new roads. of new roads. ; Make a promise to build roads. ; Determine a pinpoint location of new roads. of new roads. The Road goes HERE!! We will build this road for you!

5. February 11, 2011 CTP: Why is it Needed? Analysis and recommendations are a basis for project prioritization by the Rural Planning Organization (RPO) Projects must be in a mutually adopted CTP to be eligible for inclusion in NC Transportation Improvement Program (NCTIP) Use CTP recommendations to protect right of ways Coordinated Subdivision and Land Use Controls

6. February 11, 2011 Construction, Maintenance, Operations Building & Maintaining the Road Project Design Design & ROW Project Planning Minimizing the Impacts Program Development Funding the Projects Long-Range Planning Determining the Need Project Development Process We are here in the process

7. February 11, 2011 CTP: Who is involved? NCDOT RPO Local stakeholders – County – Towns – Business interests: Retail, Office, Industrial – Other modes: Bus, Rail, Bicycle, Pedestrian – Environmental interests

8. February 11, 2011 CTP: What are the steps? Requires land development plan Form a CTP Steering Committee Goals & Objective Survey – Public Involvement Vision statement Network: roads to study Data collection/Future projections Analysis – Base Year (2009) and Future Year (2035) Presentation to Steering Committee and Officials Test Alternatives Preliminary Recommendations Public Involvement (Nov 2010 @ Marshall, Mars Hill, Hot Spring) Final Recommendations/Adoption/Endorsement

9. December 3, 2010 CTP Steering Committee Composed of representative from: – Madison County – Marshall – Mars Hill – Hot Springs – NCDOT Division & District Office from Division 13 – NCDOT TPB – Land-of-Sky RPO Staff

10. December 3, 2010 Role of CTP Steering Committee Coordinate with county/town councils, planning boards Develops vision statement Agrees on roads to be studied Assists with public involvement and survey Reviews plan as it is developed (consistency with vision) Assists with adoption & endorsement – Municipalities, County Board of Commissioners, RPO, NCDOT

11. February 11, 2011 Question ???? Recommendation: Highway Rail & Transit Bicycle Pedestrian

12. February 11, 2011 Highways Recommendations 1. US 19 Widening – from I-26 to Yancey County line (NCTIP project # R-2518A – under construction) Existing Recommended Lanes: 2-lane rural Lane: 4-lane divided Boulevard 2009 ADT: 7,800 to 9,700 Capacity: 60,700 vpd 2035 ADT: 16,700 to 21,800Speed: 55 mph Speed: 55 mph Capacity: 15,800 vpd Purpose: Add capacity to alleviate future traffic congestion

13. December 3, 2010

14. February 11, 2011 Highways Recommendations (cont.) 2. NC 213 Bypass – from existing NC 213 (Carl Eller Rd) just west of I-26 Interchange to existing NC 213 (Cascade Rd) in the vicinity of Gabriels Creek Rd NC 213 (without Bypass)Recommend NC 213 Bypass Lanes: 2-3 lane Lanes: 2-lane 2009 ADT: 9200 to 12000 vpd2009 ADT: NA 2035 ADT: 15300 to 20100 vdp2035 ADT: 12,000 vpd Speed: 25 – 35 mph Speed: 45 mph Capacity: 9300-13900 vpdCapacity: 15,800 vpd Purpose: 1. Provide alternate route for through trip travel in Mars Hill area. 2. Alleviate future travel congestion on existing NC 213 3. Enhance Safety by minimize future vehicle/pedestrian conflict in the Mars Hill downtown, especially through the Mars Hill College area

15. December 3, 2010

16. February 11, 2011 Highways Recommendations (cont.) 2. US 25/US 70 Widening (Marshall) from NC 251 to North Main Street (US 25/US70 Bus) Existing Recommended Lane: 2-3 lane Lane: 4-lane divided Boulevard 2009 ADT: 8,700-11500 vpdSpeed: 45-55 mph 2035 ADT: 16400-21900 vpdCapacity: 60,700 vpd Speed: 45-55 mph Capacity: 13900-15800 vpd Purpose: Add capacity to alleviate future traffic congestion

17. December 3, 2010

18. February 11, 2011 Highways Recommendations 3. Little Pine Rd/NC 63 Connector (including improving existing Little Pine Rd) from US 25/US 70 in Marshall to NC 63 near Spring Creek Community (NCTIP Project # FS-0513A) Existing Propose Connector Lane: 2-lane (18-20 ft pavement) Lane: 2-lane (24ft pave) 2009 ADT: 500-1400 vdp 2035 ADT: 1300-4400 vpd 2035 ADT: 1000-2900 vpd Speed: 35 mph Speed: 35 mph Capacity: 15800 vdp Capacity: 7,400 vpd Purpose: To provide alternate route between NC 63/209 and US 25/US 70 To provide safer travel environment and better connectivity

19. December 3, 2010

20. February 11, 2011 Highways Recommendations 4. Widen Bruce Road from North Main Street to Riddle Rd Existing Recommended Lane: 2-lane (16 ft pavement) Lane: 2-lane (24ft pave) 2009 ADT: 800 vdp Speed: 25-35 mph 2035 ADT: 1500 vpd Speed: 25 mph Capacity: 7,200 vpd Purpose: To provide safer travel environment for school buses from Mars Hill Elementary School

21. February 11, 2011 Highways Recommendations 5. Add left-turn lane on Main Street at NC 213 in downtown Mars Hill Purpose: To improve capacity on Main Street and to improve travel efficiency at Main/NC 213 intersection

22. December 3, 2010

23. February 11, 2011 Boulevard Facility US 70 East of Goldsboro Cary Parkway Moderate mobility, moderate access 30 to 55 mph Minimum 2 lanes with a median Connections: At-grade intersections for most major and minor cross streets Driveways allowed – primarily right- in/right-out; encourage consolidation and/or sharing of access Examples: US 1 in Raleigh, NC 55 (Holly Springs Bypass), US 70 between Clayton and Smithfield

24. February 11, 2011 High mobility, low access 45 to 60 mph Minimum 4 lanes with a median Connections: Interchanges (major cross streets) and at-grade intersections (minor cross streets) Driveways are limited in location and number; right-in/right-out only Traffic signals not allowed Examples: US 117 north of I-40, US 74 just east of I-277 in Charlotte Expressway Facility US 221 (Marion Bypass) US 220 in Rockingham County

25. February 11, 2011 Freeway Facility US 74 Near Waynesville US 264 East of I-95 High mobility, low access 55 mph or greater Minimum 4 lanes with a median Connections provided only at interchanges; all cross streets are grade-separated Driveways not allowed Traffic signals not allowed Examples: I-40, I-26, US 64 between Rocky Mount & Williamston, US 1 between Raleigh and Sanford

26. February 11, 2011 Major/Minor Thoroughfares US 441 South of Dillsboro US 13 North of Ahoskie Balanced mobility and access 25 to 55 mph Minimum 2 lanes, no median; includes facilities with a continuous left turn lane Connections: At-grade intersections Driveways allowed with full movements; consolidate or share connections if possible NC and US routes are always Major Examples: NC 86 north of Hillsborough, US 64 in Siler City, US 70 through Kinston, NC 168 in Currituck County

27. February 11, 2011

28. Transit & Rail Recommendations 1. Express bus service from Downtown Asheville to Mars Hill (recommended in the French Broad River MPO CTP and LRTP) 2. Park and Ride lot off of Calvin Edney Rd north of NC 213/I26 Interchange 3. Park and Ride lot off of NC 251 between US 25/US 70 and US 25/US 70 Bus

29. December 3, 2010

31. February 11, 2011 Bicycle Recommendations 1. Multi-Use Path – along NC 251 from Buncombe County line to US 25/US 70 2. Share the Road signs on NC 213 between Mars Hill and Marshall (NCDOT will need to perform analysis of road before installing)

32. December 3, 2010

33. February 11, 2011 Pedestrian Recommendations 1. Multi-Use Path – along NC 251 from Buncombe County line to US 25/US 70 2. Upgrade a number of older sidewalks in downtown areas to ADA Compliance 3. Fill in gaps in downtown sidewalk networks 4. Add pedestrian path connecting NC 213 to Mountain View St in Mars Hill

34. December 3, 2010

36. February 11, 2011 CTP Adoption Maps 1. Adoption Sheet 2. Highway Map 3. Highway Map Inset 4. Rail and Transit Map 5. Rail and Transit Map Inset 6. Bicycle Map 7. Pedestrian Map 8. Pedestrian Map Inset

37. December 3, 2010

45. December 20, 2010

46. February 11, 2011

47. Proposed Inclusion of Marshall Bike & Pedestrian Plan in CTP documentation Include a referral of the Marshall Comprehensive Plan in the Bike & Pedestrian Chapter of the CTP documentation (ie, Town of Marshall has adopted a Comprehensive Land Use Plan in 2009. It is recommended that the Town uses this Plan as a basis to implement the Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan (Figure 3- 1)** in the area. In addition, the Town will work with the Bicycle & Pedestrian Unit of NCDOT on a more detail Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan for the area. The Madison County CTP will be amended to include this plan once the it is completed.) ** Marshall’s Bike & Ped Plan is included as Figure 3-1

48. February 11, 2011 CTP Completion Schedule: 1. Adoption by Towns in Madison County Mars Hill – Adopted December 6, 2010 Marshall – Adopted January 19th, 2011 Hot Spring – February 7, 2011 2. Endorsement by Land-Of-Sky RPO – February 2011 3. Adoption by NCDOT Board of Transportation – March 2011 4. Completion of Technical Documentation – End of March 2011 5. CTP Study Close Out – End of April 2011

49. February 11, 2011 NCDOT Contacts Transportation Planning Branch (CTP): – Linh Nguyen, PE, lnguyen@ncdot.gov, (919) 715-5737, ext. 67 Highway Design Branch – R-2518A US-19 Widening – Thad Duncan, tfduncan@ncdot.gov, (919) 250-4016@ncdot.gov District Engineer: – Jeff Moore, PE, jhmoore@ncdot.gov, (828) 298-2741jhmoore@ncdot.gov Board of Transportation Member: – Wanda Proffitt Land-Of-Sky Rural Planning Organization: – Natalie Murdock, Natalie@landofsky.org, (828) 251-6622