Build a Better Boulevard: Presentation of Recommendations for Transportation Retrofit for Wilkinson Boulevard

BELMONT, CRAMERTON + McADENVILLE, North Carolina January, 2015

BUILD-A-BETTER BOULEVARDWILKINSON BLVD

HIGHWAY COMMERCIL strips have been around for more then 50 years.

CLASSICLY AMERICAN landscape, from Las Vegas to Anywhere USA.

BUILT FOR THE CAR designed to be experienced from the car.

UNCOMPRIMISING in how they impacted the communities they served.

HIGHWAYS NOW GATEWAYS into most communities, the first impression for visitors.

AESTHETIC IMPROVEMENTS in the form of landscape, signage and zoning have helped to reduce some negative impacts.

MIMIKING MAIN STREET was, and in many places, still is the goal of towns and cities trying to spruce up their images.

REDUCING CAR DOMINANCEby introducing people and nature into the scene.

AFFECTIVE AND COSTLY

IS WILKINSON BOULEVARD READY FOR ITS MAKEOVER?

WILKINSON CORRIDOR INTERVENTION CATEGORIES Management 1m- Traffic Management systems, i.e.: adaptive signal system, or similar signal phasing update.2m- NCDOT electronic information signs along I-85 and Wilkinson Blvd. 3m- Written and approved protocol between Highway Patrol, Police, and NCDOT to coordinate traffic management during exceptional conditions (accidents, Christmas Lights)

Policy 4p- Alternate Parallel system (East and West McAdenville Road, and East and West Catawba Street) 5p- Interstate I-85 Interchange redesigns to single point signal configuration6p- Multi-way design for Park Street between the new East McAdenville Road signal and Wilkinson Blvd. 7p- Relocation of N Main Street, north of Wilkinson intersection, to align with new interchange proposed immediately west of existing I-85 exit. 8p- Square-Back-Access for Lakewood Intersection. 9p- Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Updates

Design 10d- Wilkinson Blvd Section: six 10.5 ft travel lanes, one 5ft planted center median with lighting two 16ft landscaped shoulders, cyclist + sidewalk facilities and pedestrian scaled lighting 11d- Plan for the Catawba/McAdenville Road intersection showing new turn lanes and sidewalk/landscape/paver treatment. 12d- Plan for the Park Street intersection showing new turn lanes and sidewalk/landscape/paver treatment. 13d- Plan for N. Main Street intersection showing new turn lanes and sidewalk/landscape/paver treatment.14d- Plan for the Lakewood Road intersection showing new turn lanes and sidewalk/landscape/paver treatment.15d- Plan for the Market St/Wesleyan Road intersection showing new turn lanes and sidewalk/landscape/paver treatment.

Context: Site + Situation

- Total length 515 miles

- Connects Wrightsville Beach NC and Chattanooga TN

-Runs through Asheville and Charlotte.

- Designated a US State route in 1926.

- Total length completed in 1936

- Study area is 4.2 miles in length within Gaston County, NC


- Metropolitan Thoroughfarenetwork


- Metropolitan Thoroughfarenetwork handling a population of 1 million within the shadedareas shown.


- Peninsula: Belmont, Cramerton, and McAdenville are located on the only large peninsula in the region with over 20 miles of river front.


- Peninsula: over 20 miles of river front

- I-85: 4 miles of limited access carrying an average of 100,000 cars per day.


- Geography and Topography of the immediate area shape the existing pattern of development and traffic flows and the path of new development and future traffic flows.

-Current commuting patterns show the impacts of the study area’s geography and topography:

73,549 – South + Southeast Corridors

44,799 - North + NortheastCorridors

34,685 - West Corridor

Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2010.

I-77 SouthSouth BlvdSouth Tryon

St

Independence Blvd

Monroe RdIdlewild Road

I-85Wilkinson Blvd

I-77 NorthHighway 21

Old Statesville Rd I-85

North Tryon StHighway 49

History: Growth Corridors

- Wilkinson is one of 5 Corridors that radiate from Central Charlotte

I-77 NorthHighway 21

Old Statesville Rd

I-85North Tryon StUniversity Blvd

Independence Blvd

Monroe RdLawyers Road

I-77 SouthSouth BlvdSouth Tryon

St

I-85Wilkinson Blvd



-Each Corridor consists of a combination of Interstates, Boulevards, Streets, or Roads. In the western corridor Wilkinson Blvd is paired with I-85

WestinghouseArrowood Business

Park Carolina Place Mall



- Each Corridor consists of a combination of Interstates, Boulevards, Streets, or Roads. In the western corridor Wilkinson Blvd is paired with I-85

- Approximately 10 to 12 miles from central Charlotte along each of the other Corridors is a cluster of employment and commercial development.

Ballantyne

Crown PointMatthews Township

University CityUNC Charlotte

University Research Park

Concord Mills MallCharlotte Motor

Speedway

Northlake MallHuntersville Business

Park



-Each Corridor consists of a combination of Interstates, Boulevards, Streets, or Roads. In the western corridor Wilkinson Blvd is paired with I-85

- In each Corridor, growth patterns are dictated by local access and metropolitan connectivity.

1980-1989

1985-1990

1991-1998

2001-2008

2012-2019


- Along each Corridor, growth patterns are dictated by local access and metropolitan connectivity.

- The Wilkinson Blvd Corridor is next in line to receive growth and development from the latest economic expansion.

Local Impacts

- Growth will disperse to the north and south of I-85 and Wilkinson, concentrating along routes with direct bridge access.

Local Impacts

- Over time, growth will disperse to the north and south of I-85 and Wilkinson with the largest increases north of I-85.

- Currently 3 Catawba River Crossings totaling 17 lanes, just over half belonging to I-85.

- Currently 6 South Fork River Crossings totaling 18 lanes, over half belong to I-85 and Wilkinson Blvd.

Local Impacts

- Over time, growth will disperse to the north and south of I-85 and Wilkinson with the largest increases north of I-85.

- North/South commuting will increase in volume at a higher rate than East/West commuting.

Local Impacts

- Over time, growth will disperse to the north and south of I-85 and Wilkinson. The largest increases will occur north of I-85.


- Existing Interchanges on I-85 and existing Intersections on Wilkinson Blvd will be impacted by significant increases in traffic.

Local Impacts


- Existing Interchanges on I-85 and existing Intersections on Wilkinson Blvd will be impacted by significant increases in traffic.

- Existing road network will be unable to accommodate efficient flow of increased traffic volumes and new trip origin and destination routes.

Local Impacts

- To insure Wilkinson Blvd remains a functioning supplemental traffic artery to I-85, as well as a viable alternative to local traffic in eastern Gaston County the thoroughfare network along the Corridor will need to be redesigned and added to.

A parallel system would provide an alternate route for many within Belmont, Cramerton and McAdenville to access all local needs. It would tie together the centers of each community and offer secondary access to more developable properties north and south of Wilkinson Blvd.

New and improved north/south streets and intersections/interchanges with Wilkinson/I-85 will alter the current character and development opportunities along the Corridor.

Constraints

- Property Ownership and Municipal Limits along Wilkinson Blvd in the Study area. Small and shallow lot sizes along significant stretches of Wilkinson make it difficult to offer market acceptable sites for development.

Constraints

- Typical property dimensions for commercial/retail development along auto dependent thoroughfares start at 500 feet in depth.

Franklin Street Gastonia

Wilkinson Blvd

Belmont

Wilkinson BlvdCharlotte

Constraints

- Average Daily Traffic within study area is 16,000 vehiclesA steady decline over previous 25 years by several thousand daily vehicles.

Constraints

- Park Street handles 27,000 vehicles per day north of Wilkinson (+60%) and 17,000 south of Wilkinson.

A steady increase over previous 10 years by several thousand daily vehicles.

- Main Street handles 16,000 vehicles per day just north of Wilkinson and 15,000 vehicles per day just south of Wilkinson.

A steady increase over previous 10 years by several thousand vehicles per day.

Constraints

- Existing Rights-of-Way, easements, and topography constrain development opportunities along more than half of the Blvd within the study area.

Green – ElectricBrown – GasGrey – RailTan – SlopesGreen/Blue – Creeks and RavinesPurple – Bridge elevation

Opportunities

- Existing Rights-of-Way, easements, and topography constrain development opportunities along more than half of the Blvd within the study area.

- New development opportunities, circled in red, lie beyond the immediate frontage circled in red.




Management

-For Arterial and Collector streets controlled by signals, capacity is determined at the intersections.

-Adaptive Signal Control is the most promising mobility management tool to optimize signal operations

-It adjusts traffic signal phase order and duration based on real time measured traffic demand. Cases of 22% safety boost

ManagementAdaptive Signal Systems

-The only second generation version, In-Sync, is well suited to Wilkinson Boulevard application based on:

- Frequent wide variations in demand- Often from rerouted I-85 emergency traffic - Seasonal variation- Long periods of under capacity traffic demand- Long sections of arterial highway vs. finer network

- Reported crash reduction of over 22% at some locations due to fewer stops


Signal timings loose value as traffic changes:

- new volumes & patterns

- by time of day, week & month

- Gradually they differ from initial timing settings

- Do Nothing is not an option

Signal Timing & Delay

Time [in years]

Del

ay [i

n se

cond

s]

do nothing


Periodic Retiming

Requires full staff attention every 1 to 2 years


Time [in years]

Del

ay [i

n se

cond

s]

do nothing

periodic retiming


Constant Refinement:

- sensors, cameras/loops collect traffic data

- memory stores the history of patterns

- all at the signal controller box

Timings are fresh based on constant data input and analysis


Time [in years]

Del

ay [i

n se

cond

s]

do nothing

constant refinement

periodic retiming

ManagementTraffic Incident Management

No overhead dynamic message signs or fiber optic cable for camera equipment exists between mile marker 15.3 at Jenkins Road near Gastonia on the west, to the wayside park near mile marker 28, I-85 eastbound, near the Catawba River, in Mecklenburg County

We recommend full ITS implementation of dynamic message signs, Incident Management Assistance Patrol vehicles and Emergency Coordination procedures for the Wilkinson/I-85 corridor..




4p - Parallel System

-To provide a more robust traffic network, especially during peak periods and incidents East Catawba Street & East McAdenville Road

Light Orange – Existing Orange – New + Re-Alignment

Parallel System

-To provide a more robust traffic network West Catawba Street & West McAdenville Road

Light Orange – Existing Orange – New + Re-Alignment

13 miles in total length9 miles of existing road and street network4 miles of new construction and re-aligned

5p - Single Point Urban Intersection InterchangeSPUI

Freedom Drive/I-85 Charlotte

SPUI’s

The following would be built as Single Point Urban Interchanges

Exit 23: NC-7 McAdenville Rd

New Exit 24: Hickory Grove Rd

Exit 26: Belmont Mt Holly Rd

Exit 27: NC 273/Park St

6p - Park Street Multi Way Design + Single Point Urban Intersection

7p – N. Main Relocation

- Construction of a new SPUI at Exit 26 would be best supported by a relocation of N. Main St to the west.


- Construction of a new SPUI at Exit 26 would be best supported by a relocation of N. Main St to the west.

- The new alignment would allow traffic a direct route from downtown Belmont north to I-85 and offer Belmont Abbey College a prominent main entry off a round-a-bout at the newly aligned intersection with existing N. Main at the front of its Campus.



- The existing Right-of-Way for N. Main St would become a dedicated greenway, part of the Carolina Thread Trail. This arrangement would guarantee a permanent greenway facility, separate from the current rail line corridor that parallels N. Main St currently.



- The Greenway would become a promenade between Belmont Abbey’s Campus and Belmont, providing a generous green corridor for cyclists, joggers and pedestrians.


- The Greenway would become a promenade between Belmont Abbey’s Campus and Belmont, providing a generous green corridor for cyclists, joggers and pedestrians.

- The re-aligned N. Main St would also provide greater visibility and access for Belmont Commerce Park across from the Abbey Campus. The Greenway and future rail would pass through the property.


- The re-aligned N. Main St would also provide greater visibility and access for Belmont Commerce Park across from the Abbey Campus. The Greenway and future rail would pass through the property.

- South of I-85, the relocation of N. Main St would open up a one-of-a-kind development opportunity at the most high profile location in Gaston County. With direct access to I-85, and Wilkinson Blvd, the 30+ acres of property would provide a high quality corporate office/business park.

The combined Commerce Park, Belmont Abbey College and Corporate Office Park would become the “business address” for eastern Gaston County.

Alliance for Growth: Poised to Prosper Greater Gaston Economic Development Corporation

8p – Square-Back Access

- To disperse traffic loading during peak periods and provide some degree of relief to congestion at major intersections, “Square Back” streets can be implemented.

- These consist of two lane streets that frame quadrants of the main intersection.

- The Lakewood intersection provides an opportunity to implement a Square Back system Already built and new developments off Wilkinson Blvd would tie internal streets (yellow existing, orange proposed) as shown.

9p – Comprehensive Plan& Zoning Update

- Wilkinson Boulevard is currently zoned Highway Commercial along most of its length within Belmont. In Cramerton the zoning is a mix of Traditional Neighborhood, Multi-family, and Highway Commercial. The Study recommends revising the existing zoning to match what the real estate market has already shown to be the most viable development pattern. The proposed zoning would be similar to Cramerton’s, but with additional considerations added to clearly address the desire to concentrate commercial development at key intersections while promoting mixed-use, but more residential based development between intersections.




Wilkinson Blvd – Catawba River & Southfork River Bridge Sections

4 lane section

wide planted sidewalk and

cycle way

6 lane section reduced

sidewalk and cycle way

Wilkinson Blvd – Typical Section



Wilkinson Blvd – Typical Left Turn Section

Wilkinson Blvd – Typical Left Turn Section

Wilkinson Blvd at Catawba River

East Catawba St and East McAdenville Rd Intersection

East Catawba St and East McAdenville Rd Intersection

East McAdenville and East Catawba Street Sections

Park Street Intersection

Park Street Intersection

Park Street Multi-way Section

Wilkinson Blvd and N. Main Street

Wilkinson Blvd and N. Main Street

N. Main Street Section

Lakewood Drive Intersection

Lakewood Drive Intersection

Lakewood Section

Market St/Wesleyan St Intersection

Market St/Wesleyan St Intersection

Market St/Wesleyan St Section

Gaston Cleveland LincolnMPO

A Matrix of Recommended Projects has been prepared for incorporation into the Gaston-Cleveland-Lincoln MPO and NCDOT plan programs. These are: CTP: Comprehensive Transportation Plan. This is the fiscally unconstrained list of transportation needs in a given area. Getting on this list as a “needed improvement” matters to the “mainstreaming” of a project in the funding process. MTP: Metropolitan Transportation Plan. This is the 25 year fiscally constrained project list for the MPO. It is a federal requirement and is not binding to the NCDOT and as such is more a vision and policy document for the MPO. STIP: Statewide Transportation Improvement Program. This is the short-term (4-10 year) list of projects expected to be implemented in the near future.

Project Benefit by Type TimeframeSponsor (who administers

project?)Next Steps Impact on Existing Plans or

Proposed ProjectsSubmit as Project in SPOT 4.0?

Parallel road system Traffic flow, land use As development occurs Municipalities Incorporate in CTP None No

"Square back" system for Park, Main, Lakewood intersections Traffic flow, land use As development

occurs Municipalities Incorporate in CTP None No

Adaptive signal system along Wilkinson Blvd Traffic flow Near-term (by 2020) NCDOT Confirm sponsorship and

maintenance requirementsYes- I-85 widening and

diversion traffic Yes

I-85 interchange at Exit 26 Traffic flowConcurrent with I-85

widening (mid-2020s)

NCDOT Incorporate in CTP Yes- I-85 widening No

Deploy Intelligent Transportation System along I-85 Traffic flow Mid-term (by 2025) NCDOT Consider ranking in SPOT

4.0, if necessary Yes- I-85 widening Yes

Multi-way design for Park Street btw E. McAdenville and Wilkinson

Non-motorized users, property owners Mid-term (by 2025) NCDOT Incorporate in CTP and

submit in SPOT 4.0 None Yes

Wilkinson Blvd modified typical cross section

Non-motorized users, property owners Mid-term (by 2025) Municipalities Confirm municipal interest,

NCDOT concerns, and costs None No

Catawba/ McAdenville Road intersection improvements Traffic flow, land use Mid-term (by 2025) NCDOT Confirm scope and submit

in SPOT 4.0 None Yes

Park Street intersection improvements Traffic flow, land use Mid-term (by 2025) NCDOT Confirm scope and submit in SPOT 4.0 None Yes

Lakewood intersection improvements Traffic flow, land use Mid-term (by 2025) NCDOT Confirm scope and submit in SPOT 4.0 None Yes

Market/Wesleyan intersection improvements Traffic flow, land use Mid-term (by 2025) NCDOT Confirm scope and submit

in SPOT 4.0 None Yes

Replacing two bridges along Wilkinson Blvd Non-motorized users Long-term (after

2025) NCDOT Incorporate in CTP Yes- Wilkinson Blvd modified cross section No

Relocated N. Main Street intersection improvements Traffic flow, land use Long-term (after

2025) NCDOT Incorporate in CTP Yes- I-85 widening No

N. Main Street intersection improvements Traffic flow, land use Long-term (after

2025) NCDOT Incorporate in CTP None Yes

Wilkinson Blvd Corridor StudyPlanning & Urban Design: MetrocologyTransportation Planning: Hall Planning & EngineeringOutreach Coordinator: The Civic Hub