Morrisville Transportation Plan

Existing Conditions

3.1 Roadways cont’d

While Figure 3.2 tells a story about the travel conditions in Mor-

risville, it doesn’t tell a complete story about the other parts of a

transportation system that have to work together to achieve the

goals of a community. The design of the streets, how well they

interact with the neighboring homes and businesses, how friendly

they are to cyclists, pedestrians, public transportation patrons;

and how well they can accommodate the needs of changing

demographics and external forces must also weigh heavily in any

recommendation to make improvements to the street system. Fol-

lowing are brief descriptions of the east-west and north-south cor-

ridors in Morrisville, as well as the neighborhoods that they serve

(Figure 3.7). For detailed information on current conditions for

major roadways, including lane widths and adjacent land uses,

please see Appendix E.

North-South Corridors

NC 54 (Chapel Hill Road)

is the major north-south route through

town and some segments operate at a low level of service dur-

ing the peak rush-hour periods. The roadway is bounded by a

railroad (Norfolk Southern) on the west, often lying entirely within

the right-of-way of the rail company. The most congested inter-

sections are along this most congested of roadways, especially

Aviation Parkway/Morrisville-Carpenter Road. This intersection

has been redesigned and is slated for improvements that include

carrying four lanes across the railroad.

Davis Drive, Town Hall Drive and Church Street

comprise the re-

mainder of the local north-south corridors. Although only small

portions of Davis Drive are within the Town limits, it nevertheless

connects commercial areas at intersections (Areas H and E in

Figure 3.7) and provides access to Research Triangle Park to the

north and Cary to the south. Davis Drive is planned to eventu-

ally become a six-lane roadway with parallel bicycle/pedestrian

multi-use paths, but it is currently being widened to four lanes.

Town Hall Drive is a four-lane boulevard (portions with a narrow

median) connecting McCrimmon Parkway and Morrisville-Car-

penter Road. Town Hall Drive serves as the primary connector for

the governmental uses in Area F, residences in the Shiloh Area (I),

and Cedar Fork and Montessori Elementary Schools near Area G.

Church Street is one of the oldest streets in town, with two lanes

connecting quiet residential neighborhoods in the south, under NC 540 to the Kitts Creek

Subdivision (Area A) and into Durham. Conflicts with the railroad and poor geometry at

the NC 54 intersection in Durham have prompted the eventual closing of the street to di-

rect access to NC 54, with significant ramifications for the residents in Area A. Finally,

Inter-

state 40

, although not within the Town limits, serves a bypass function similar to that of Davis

Drive. Apart from carrying heavy loads of through-traffic around NC 54, this road currently

serves Route 301, the Triangle Transit’s regional bus route with service to Morrisville.

East-West Corridors

Although Morrisville is well-served by north-south routes, east-west connectivity remains a

major issue with the transportation system. The effect of the barrier created by the Norfolk

Southern rail line cannot be overstated; currently the Town is limited to at-grade crossings

at Church Street (soon to be closed), Barbee Road (soon to be closed), McCrimmon Park-

way, Aviation Parkway/Morrisville-Carpenter Road, and Morrisville Parkway.

NC 540

and

Cary Parkway

cross the railroad on grade separated bridges, but can only be reached at

the far north and south ends via the most congested roadway in the Town (NC 54). The

NC 540 grade separation does not allow drivers on Church Street to cross the railroad be-

cause all ramps to NC 540 are accessed from the east side of NC 54.

McCrimmon Parkway

is a two-lane road that connects residential Areas I and G, and pro-

vides access to residents of Area A across the railroad and to NC 54. Many travelers make

the “S-shaped” movement onto

Perimeter Park Drive

to reach Airport Bou-

levard and then I-40. While McCrimmon Parkway will eventually have four

lanes of traffic, it is currently an over-capacity, two-lane facility.

Morrisville-Carpenter Road

and

Morrisville Parkway

each connect (gen-

erally) residential communities not only in Morrisville but also the rapidly

growing northwest area of Cary. Morrisville-Carpenter Road is a two-lane

road that is developing sporadically into a four-lane roadway, while the

four-lane Morrisville Parkway’s median-divided cross-section mirrors that of

Cary Parkway to the east. Cary Parkway is within the town limits for only

a short stretch, but provides access for Morrisville and Cary residents to

major existing and upcoming retail shopping in Area D.

Aviation Parkway and Airport Boulevard

are transitioning two-lane road-

ways that will eventually become four lanes. Aviation Parkway connects

the Town Center Plan area (Area C) to offices and Lake Crabtree County

Park to the northeast and I-40. A major “choke point” is the causeway

crossing of Lake Crabtree just east of the Town limits, which currently has

two lanes with no shoulder or sidewalk. Airport Boulevard has a high con-

centration of retail shopping (Morrisville Outlet Mall in Area B) and hotels

to serve airport customers, but is anchored by gas stations at the western

terminus with NC 54.

Widening of Davis Drive to four lanes in spring 2008.

Area Labels:

Area A - Kitts Creek Subdivision

Area B - Morrisville Outlet Mall

Area C - Town Center

Area D - Cary Parkway at NC 54

Area E - Davis Drive @ Morrisville-Carpenter Road

Area F - Town Government buildings

Area G - Cedar Fork and Montessori schools

Area H - Davis Drive @ McCrimmon Parkway

Area I - Shiloh Historic Area