TO: Mayor and Members of City Council
THRU: Adam Lindsay, ICMA-CM, Assistant City Manager
FROM: Sheila Thomas-Ambat, PE, CCM, CFM, Public Services Director
Brian McGill, PE, PTOE, Interim Assistant Public Services Director - Traffic
Virginia Small, Transportation Planner
DATE: August 26, 2024
RE:
Title
Fayetteville Comprehensive Transportation Plan
end
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S):
Council District(s)
All
b
Relationship To Strategic Plan:
Goal I: The City of Fayetteville will be a safe and secure community.
Objective 1.1: To fully prepare for emergency and disaster response
Goal III: The City of Fayetteville will be a city invested in Today and Tomorrow.
Objective 3.1: To enhance City street connectivity, traffic flow, and stormwater systems
Goal IV: The City of Fayetteville will be a highly desirable place to live, work and recreate.
Objective 4.3: To improve mobility and connectivity through sidewalk, trail, and bike lane investments
Executive Summary:
The City of Fayetteville frequently experiences major incidents such as inclement weather, automobile crashes, and utility or railroad maintenance, where subdivisions with a single point of access can be cut off from the surrounding roadway network. As part of a Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP), Kittelson & Associates Inc. (Kittelson) developed a methodology to identify subdivisions with limited access and prioritize connectivity improvements to meet these public safety needs. Potential street connections were evaluated based on a series of five scores: Resiliency, Feasibility, Equity, Multimodal Access, and Community Access. After applying this methodology, Kittelson worked closely with Public Services, Development Services, Police, and Fire to review and recommend 17 connections. Kittelson developed planning-level concept designs and cost estimates for each connection. The second part of the CTP development included a comprehensive multimodal mobility and safety analysis on major travel corridors maintained by the City, resulting in a series of project recommendations intended to address multimodal safety and connectivity. Lastly, Kittelson reviewed the City’s development code and made recommendations to address street connectivity within new developments and infill.
Funding of $750,000 was approved for the Comprehensive Transportation Plan’s Connectivity Project Support with the most recent budget adoption, with Fiscal Year 2025 allotting $375,000 and a planned allotment of $375,000 in Fiscal Year 2026. With approval of the CTP, the Connectivity Project Support funding will be prioritized for “Connectivity Location 6 - Liberty Hills - Phase 1” CIP project. The attached CIP sheet updates the previous Council action and allocation of these same funds towards Liberty Hills Phase 1.
Background:
The City of Fayetteville (the City) frequently experiences connectivity issues during major storm events and other incidents such as automobile crashes, utility failures, or railroad maintenance, where subdivisions with a single point of access can be blocked and cut off from the surrounding roadway network. The layout of most City streets also discourages multimodal connectivity between neighborhoods. In the Summer of 2022, the City selected Kittelson to assist with the development of a Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP). This plan was intended to build upon regional momentum focused on expanding transportation options and improving street connectivity. As part of the CTP, Kittelson developed a methodology to identify subdivisions with limited access onto the surrounding roadway network, often through a single road, and help the City prioritize connectivity improvements.
Kittelson worked closely with a Steering Committee comprised of City Staff to collect data, develop performance metrics, and review possible connections. This Steering Committee consisted of staff from Public Services, Development Services, and Emergency Response (Police and Fire). Through this collaboration, an evaluation methodology was developed which includes five scores: Resiliency, Feasibility, Equity, Multimodal Access, and Community Access. These scores were calculated using a variety of factors related to each subdivision, including the number of access points per household, historical flooding and disconnection locations, flooding susceptibility, median household income, level of transportation disadvantage, proximity to emergency responders, the regional transportation network, schools, and other community resources.
After applying this methodology to all medium to large size subdivisions with a single point of access within the City limits, Kittelson and the Steering Committee identified the Top 17 recommended connections. The recommended connections take into account geographic distribution and perceived public acceptance. Kittelson developed planning-level concept designs for each of the Top 17 connections and calculated high-level cost estimates for implementation.
An additional objective of the CTP was to perform a comprehensive multimodal safety and mobility analysis on major transportation corridors maintained by the City. This strategic corridor analysis resulted in a series of recommended improvements ranging from spot safety treatments to sidewalk and path connectivity needs to enhanced transit service and amenities. Kittelson prepared a project prioritization and implementation plan for these recommendations that included preliminary cost estimates, possible funding sources, and synergies with ongoing and planned resurfacing and stormwater improvements.
Lastly, Kittelson reviewed the City’s development code with the intention of understanding how the current code may perpetuate a lack of multimodal connectivity and to consider how it may be modified to be consistent with the goals of this task. The code was reviewed with a focus on connecting neighborhoods, providing multimodal access to community resources, and shortening emergency routes. Based on this review, Kittelson made several code revision recommendations.
The City of Fayetteville has a unique opportunity to address connectivity and resiliency and create more safe, sustainable, active, and affordable transportation options. This can be achieved through building vital connections and strategic corridor improvements that reduce vehicle miles travelled, reduce emergency response times, and serve pedestrians and cyclists, as well as modifying the development code to ensure that new development is also expanding transportation access. Future steps include identifying funding sources, considering synergy with ongoing maintenance and resiliency projects, archiving the full list of connection points (beyond the Top 17) for future project opportunities, and performing community engagement as projects become funded and undergo preliminary engineering and design.
During the City Council Work Session on May 6, 2024, Kittelson & Associates Inc. presented the draft Fayetteville Comprehensive Transportation Plan. Council provided consensus at this work session to receive the Comprehensive Transportation Plan report at a future regular meeting consent agenda for approval.
On June 12, 2024, Council held a budget work session where “CTP - Connectivity Project Support” was approved unanimously with a recommended Fiscal Year 2025 funding of $375,000 and a Planned Fiscal Year 2026 funding of $375,000. These items were included in the budget which was adopted at the June 24, 2024 Council session. The CIP for the Connectivity Project Support was broad and did not specify which location(s) would be prioritized. With approval of the CTP, the Connectivity Project Support funding will be prioritized for the “Connectivity Location 6 - Liberty Hills - Phase 1” CIP project. Funding will be used on progress refined construction project costs.
Issues/Analysis:
The Comprehensive Transportation Plan analysis evaluates the local roadway network and connectivity to identify strategic corridor improvements and vital connections.
Budget Impact:
The report has not budget impacts; The action requested of Council is authorizing the specific target for funds that have been set aside for a broad scope of activities that encompass the CTP.
Options:
By approval you accept this report
By approval you accept the “Connectivity Location 6 - Liberty Hills - Phase 1” CIP Project as the authorized target of the $750,000 “CTP - Connectivity Project Support” fund.
Recommended Action:
Approve and accept this report and “Connectivity Location 6 - Liberty Hills - Phase 1” CIP Project as the authorized target of the $750,000 “CTP - Connectivity Project Support” fund.
Attachments:
Fayetteville Comprehensive Transportation Plan_Final
Appendix A - Map Package
Appendix B - Connections Spreadsheet
Appendix C - Connectivity Cut Sheets
Appendix D - Development Code Review Memorandum
Appendix E - Corridor Profiles
Connectivity Location 6 - Liberty Hills - Phase 1 - CIP Project
Connectivity Location 6 - Liberty Hills - Phase 1 - COF CIP Project