1. Comparative Traffic Study Morrisville-Carpenter Road versus Crabtree Crossing Extension Presentation to: Morrisville Town Council Prepared by: Parsons Brinckerhoff May 8, 2006

2. Study Area

3. Analysis & Conclusions  Analysis developed to compare two projects 4 roadway scenarios investigated – No Build, Widen M-C Road only, Crabtree Crossing Only, Build Both Projects 2008 AM and PM peaks were investigated due to differing traffic patterns and to focus on operations in relative near term Combination of intersection analysis, arterial analysis, and network efficiency analysis were conducted.  For each of these analyses, two primary conclusions: Widen M-C Road better in PM, Crabtree Crossing better in AM NC 54 at M-C Road is critical intersection and severely congested

4. Crabtree Crossing Road Advantages  Performs better in AM MC Road NC 54 signal Network efficiency  Improves Roadway Connectivity  Diverts Traffic from NC 54 Disadvantages  Requires left turn to be added on Morrisville-Carpenter Road  Performance improvement results from diversion (less reliable since I- 40 diversion to NC 54 could occur)  More expensive (approx. $8.5 million not including E Street) Other Issues  Four leg intersection requires signal at Town Hall Drive  E Street or Carolina Avenue not required

5. Widen Morrisville-Carpenter Rd Advantages  Performs better in PM MC Road NC 54 signal Network efficiency  Performs better during non-peak  Serves more traffic (18,000 vpd vs. 6,500 vpd)  Reduces neighborhood cut-thru traffic  Shorter eastbound queue  Serves more local east-west traffic  Signal not required at Town Hall  Less expensive  Median improves safety at Church St Disadvantages  Requires connection to Franklin- Upchurch Rd due to median  Median restricts access at Church Street Other Issues  Less expensive (approx. $7.3 million including E Street)  Median requires E Street or Carolina Avenue  Fire Station can operate during & after construction (if TTA not built)  Potential NCDOT project in very long term CONCLUSION: WIDEN MORRISVILLE-CARPENTER ROAD FIRST

6. NC 54 Intersection Operations ImprovementAverage Delay per VehicleComments AMPM No BuildLOS F 108.8 s LOS F 166.2 s Widen Morrisville-Carpenter Road Only LOS F 86.0 s (20% less) LOS F 105.3 s (37% less) Build First, improvements on two of four approaches, $7.3 M with E Street Build Crabtree Crossing OnlyLOS E 63.7 s (41% less) LOS F 117.0 s (30% less) Depends on NC 54 diversion, $8.5 M Build BothLOS E 55.0 s (50% less) LOS F 83.6 s (50% less) Total $15.8 M with E Street

7. How Can NC 54 Intersection be Improved? EXPANDED ANALYSIS - PRELIMINARY  Even with the widening of Morrisville-Carpenter Road, LOS F operations can be expected at the NC 54/ M-C Road intersection  Therefore, wanted to investigate if additional widening could be done at the NC 54 intersection as part of widening ADDITIONAL IMPROVEMENTS TO CONSIDER  NC 54 northbound – Add right turn and lengthen left turn bay, approx. $600,000 plus ROW  Convert new M-C eastbound right turn to shared thru-right, requires widening east of intersection, non-standard rail gates, approx. $900,000 with short extension PRELIMINARY FINDINGS  Improvements reduced delays in AM but reduced impact in PM  Impacts would include at least three relocations, including historical structures.  There is potential for additional intersection improvements being effective. Additional simulation analysis with new traffic counts would be needed, however. In addition, impacts would need reviewed.

9. NC 54 Intersection Improvements - PRELIMINARY ImprovementDelay ReductionComments AMPM Widen Morrisville-Carpenter Road Only Add EB right15.2%24.7%Best improvement AM & PM Add SB right1.4%10.8%Needed for RR preemption Additional Improvements to Consider Historical home & others impacted Add NB right / extend NB left15.7%0.4% (NB NC 54 improves 15%, EB MC Road improves 10% ) Primary impact in AM, NB left is causing queues in thru lanes Convert EB right to thru/right4.1%0.5%Minimal impact in PM, reduces AM eastbound queue Long Term Improvements Add WB thru7.5%11.1%Requires 2 nd WB lane over tracks, RR approval unlikely Widen NC 5412.0%18.8%Very expensive, not identified as long term project

10. Comparison of Crabtree Crossing vs. Additional Improvements - PRELIMINARY ImprovementAverage Delay per VehicleComments AMPM No Build108.8 s166.2 s Widen Morrisville- Carpenter Road Only ($5.8 M) 86.0 s (20% less than NB) 105.3 s (37% less than NB) Build First Possible Second Project Build M-C Road & Crabtree Crossing ($8.5 M) 55.0 s (50% less) 83.6 s (50% less) More congestion relief, more expensive, based on assumed diversion Widen M-C Road & Additional Improvements ($1.5 M plus ROW) 66.2 s (39% less) 104.0 s (38% less) AM relief but minimal PM relief, historic home & others impacted, less congestion relief, less expensive

11. Impact of Additional Improvements - PRELIMINARY  Including the additional improvements reduces AM delays an additional 20% but has little impact in the PM peak. (Note: Simulation indicates PM peak delays are reduced 10% - 15% for NC 54 northbound and M-C Road eastbound.)  Improvements do not significantly reduce eastbound queues in downtown, but do reduce queues on NC 54 northbound (in both AM and PM peak).  Additional improvements would require: Up to 3 relocations along NC 54 (including historical structures) Stream crossing requiring special permits on Aviation Parkway  Conceptual cost approx. $1.5 M plus ROW  Overlaps NCDOT project U-3343. Conclusion: There is potential for additional intersection improvements being effective. Additional simulation analysis would be needed, however. Note: Traffic analysis based on adjusted 2003 traffic counts. More detailed analysis to focus on intersection details would benefit from new traffic counts.