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Calendar Details:
Monday, November 24
12:00pm - Restructuring Government, Room CH-14. AGENDA: City Manager's Evaluation Categories, Citizen Boards/Commissions, Small Business Opportunity Program (SBOP)
3:30pm - Transportation Committee meeting, Room 280. AGENDA: Focus Area Update, Fast Lanes Study Update, Centers, Corridors & Wedges Update
5:00pm - Council Dinner Briefing, Room 267
6:30pm - Council Business Meeting, Chamber
Thursday, November 27
Thanksgiving Holiday
Agenda Notes:
Agenda Item #42-A: Muddy Creek Stream Restoration, Parcel #23 – Pulled
Resources:
Jennifer Barker, E&PM, 704-718-7728, jbarker@ci.charlotte.nc.us
Becky Insogna, E&PM, 704-336-4550, binsogna@ci.charlotte.nc.us
This item has been pulled from the November 24 Council Business Meeting agenda by staff in order to collect signatures from multiple parties involved in the ownership of the parcel. The item will be placed on the December 8 agenda.
Information Items:
Thanksgiving Day Parade
Resource:
Dave Christopher, CDOT, 704-336-3889, dchristopher@ci.charlotte.nc.us
The 61st annual Carolinas Thanksgiving Day Parade will begin at 9:45 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day, November 27 beginning at Ninth Street and Tryon Street. It will follow the standard parade route turning left on Third Street to disburse at Davidson Street. Ninety to ninety-five units are expected to participate.
The major change for this year is the early starting time. Previously, the parade began at 12:45 p.m. and arrived at the intersection of Trade and Tryon at 1:00 p.m. This year, the parade will arrive at the intersection promptly at 10 a.m. to begin live television coverage. The parade will then be rebroadcast from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The event producer and city staff collaborated on this mutually beneficial change. It promotes attendance for the general public by not competing with early dinner plans and the NFL. It also provides a benefit by reducing the street closures from a ten hour duration to five, resulting in police and staffing time savings. All streets should reopen by 1 p.m.
I-485 Northwest Segment Opening
Resource:
Danny Pleasant, CDOT, 704-336-3879, dpleasant@ci.charlotte.nc.us
Several of the news media have been reporting on confusion about opening dates for the nearly completed northwest segment of I-485. Some have pointed to delay in the installation of traffic signals as preventing the road from opening before Thanksgiving. Some have implied that CDOT is responsible for that delay at the WT Harris Boulevard interchange. In addition to CDOT's work, other items need to be completed before the road can open: 1) NCDOT's road construction contractor still needs to install pavement markings and signage, 2) NCDOT needs to install two traffic signals at the NC 115 interchange.
Traffic signals are among the final items to be installed on any major road project. CDOT is responsible for the installation of traffic signals on State projects, for which we are reimbursed. NCDOT requested installation on steel strain poles at this interchange. Unlike a traditional wood pole installation, the foundations for steel poles are substantial and require a custom design specific to the site. The process for designing the signal installation cannot be started until roadside space adjacent to the intersection is prepared, graded, and made available to the signal contractor. It normally takes 3 months to design and complete the signal installation. Upon completion of the signal installation at the WT Harris Boulevard interchange, CDOT and its contractor will have completed this work in only seven to eight weeks.
Listed below is a history of CDOT's work on this site:
- September 30-site made available for CDOT's signal contractor on one of the two ramps;
- October 20 - site made available on the other ramp; contractor conducted soil testing;
- November 4 – CDOT's contractor received completed foundation designs; designs sent to NCDOT with a request for expedited review; review usually takes several weeks;
- November 7- received NCDOT approval of foundation designs;
- November 12 – CDOT's contractor deployed crews to start work setting foundations;
- Steel strain poles were previously ordered and available, these do not depend on site availability.
On November 12, CDOT was informed that the targeted opening date for the freeway segment was December 2. Before then, CDOT was informed the completion date was February 2009 and told to complete the work as soon as possible. CDOT's signal contractor has committed to an early completion date of December 8. This will require signal crews to work overtime and on weekends. Of course, meeting the targeted completion date is dependent upon favorable weather.
CDOT was also responsible for installing two traffic signals at NC 16 in conjunction with opening this section of I-485. These signals will be operational within the next week.
If this section of I-485 is completed prior to signals being operational at the WT Harris Boulevard interchange, Barry Moose, NCDOT Division Engineer, will allow these ramps to open and operate under stop sign control on a temporary basis until signal work can be completed.
Newell-Hickory Grove Road/Old Concord Road Rail Crossing Improvements
Resource:
Mark Cole, CDOT, 704-432-5244, mcole@ci.charlotte.nc.us
The purpose of this item is to provide an update to a July 23, 2008 Council Manager Memo item. To recap, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) proposes to construct a southbound left-turn lane from Old Concord Road onto Newell-Hickory Grove Road in Northeast Charlotte. These improvements were recommended by a 1997 Traffic Separation study that reviewed eight at-grade crossings along the North Carolina Railroad (NCRR) corridor in Northeast Charlotte for potential safety and capacity improvements. Implementing this project will require the removal of 16 to 20 old growth trees measuring 24 inches in diameter and larger.
In January of 2007, CDOT and NCDOT Rail Division executed a Memorandum of Understanding that outlined a variety of agreements related to several proposed railroad crossing improvement projects within the City of Charlotte. As part of this agreement, CDOT agreed to remove trees located within the railroad right of way along the west side of Old Concord Road within the construction limits.
While planning for this work, residents owning property along Old Concord Road adjacent to the trees expressed concerns about the tree removal. As a result, CDOT has been working to address these concerns and explore potential ways to reduce the impact of the project on the trees. CDOT sent a letter to NCDOT requesting approval to widen toward the railroad tracks, and to use narrower lanes to preserve as many of the old growth trees as possible. NCDOT found they are not able to consider the revisions because of North Carolina Railroad policy disallowing widening roads toward active rail lines and NCDOT practice governing lane widths. Without these options, CDOT will need to move forward with the tree removal required for the project. Staff will communicate with property owners prior to removing trees adjacent to their property.
CMPD Reassignments
Resource:
Chief Rodney Monroe, CMPD, 704-336-2337, rmonroe@cmpd.org
Chief Rodney Monroe has announced a number of changes in assignments among CMPD Command Staff. The reassignments are the result of promotions and changes that are being made to support the department's reorganization, which went into effect on September 6. The new assignments are as follows:
Promotions and reassignments will be effective on November 22.
