TO: Mayor and Members of City Council
THRU: Michael Gibson, Interim Assistant City Manager
FROM: Sheila Thomas-Ambat, Public Services Director
DATE: October 5, 2026
RE:Title
Cross Creek Channel Improvements
Title
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COUNCIL DISTRICT(S):
Council District(s)
2
b
Relationship To Strategic Plan:
Goal 1: Safe and Secure Community
Goal 3: High Quality Built Environment
Goal 4: Desirable Place to Live, Work and Recreate
Executive Summary:
An evaluation of 14 alternatives to improve the Cross Creek channel within and approaching downtown Fayetteville has identified two concepts with the potential to provide significant reductions in flooding and favorable cost-benefit ratios. Both concepts have been advanced to the 15% design level and are presented to City Council for review and consideration. Subject to City Council’s direction and favorable consideration, staff recommend advancing the two concepts to the 30% design level to further evaluate feasibility, refine project costs and benefits, and support future funding and implementation decisions.
Background:
Among the proposed solutions described in the Cross Creek Watershed Study Report of May 2025 was PS302, widening of the Cross Creek Channel from the Martin Luther King, Jr. Freeway to Green Street. On August 4, 2025, City Council authorized further analysis of this alternative up to a level of 15% design. On August 22, 2025, a contract was executed with Hazen and Sawyer to review historical plans related to the stream corridor and prepare concepts for alternative channel configurations.
Issues/Analysis:
Two concepts have been identified for further investigation. Concept 7A includes replacement of the Green Street Bridge and enlargement of the Cross Creek channel between Ray Avenue and Green Street. Concept 9A includes replacement of the existing CSX branch line culvert north of Segra Stadium with a longer-span bridge.
For Concept 7A, additional analysis will be needed to evaluate potential rock excavation requirements, property acquisition, stakeholder coordination, permitting requirements, and available funding opportunities.
For Concept 9A, the primary next step is to initiate discussions with CSX regarding the potential replacement of the existing culvert beneath the railroad track.
The two concepts could also be evaluated as a combined project. Advancing them together would allow for consideration of hydraulic compatibility between the improvements and may provide opportunities to improve overall project efficiency and the cost-benefit ratio.
Budget Impact:
There is no impact to the General Fund. Funding to advance the project to the next phase of design was included in the FY27 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and will be funded through the Stormwater Enterprise Fund.
Options:
1. Provide consensus to advance the Cross Creek Channel Improvement project from the current 15% design level to the 30% design level, to include coordination with CSX, refinement of cost-benefit analyses, evaluation of potential funding opportunities, and further development of project co-benefits.
2. City Council does not provide consensus to advance the Cross Creek Channel Improvement project from the current 15% design level to the 30% design level and provide further direction to staff.
Recommended Action::Recommended Action
City Council provide consensus to advance the Cross Creek Channel Improvement project from the current 15% design level to the 30% design level, to include coordination with CSX, refinement of cost-benefit analyses, evaluation of potential funding opportunities, and further development of project co-benefits
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Attachments:
Cross Creek Downtown Channel Improvements 15% Preliminary Design Presentation