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36

5

Recommendations

valid given the changes in direction from these numerous partners as well as the updated

priorities contained in this Plan.

Town of Morrisville Ordinances.

The Town of Morrisville created new ordinance language

in September 2006 that described pedestrian and cycling facility terms, where bi-

cycles and walking are allowed; and safe cycling and walking behavior. The terms

from this ordinance stem sometimes from other sources like the North Carolina Gen-

eral Statutes, and are used to define facility types in the design section of the

Trans-

portation Plan

. Most importantly, this ordinance states (by omission) that bicycles

are allowed on sidewalks, which runs counter to safety studies that suggest riding on

sidewalks is from 2 to 24 times more dangerous than riding a bicycle in the road and

that sidepaths and sidewalks encourage more wrong-way cycling (which further

increases the chance of injury). The ordinance does require that when multi-lane

(four lanes or wider) roadways are constructed or widened in the town, the outer

lane should be a wide outside lane of at least 14 feet. Wide outside lanes allow cars

to more safely pass cyclists on the roadway. Other ordinance language affecting

bicycle/pedestrian travel is scattered throughout the ordinance, for example, the

4% density bonus allowed for the construction of each 1,000 feet of greenway con-

structed in Planned Unit Development overlay areas (Section 3.2.3). Section 5.4.2 of

the Morrisville Design and Construction Ordinance specifies developer requirements

for sidewalks, including their installation on both sides of all town streets.

Morrisville’s subdivision and zoning ordinances also codify development practices

that get realized in private (and public) development actions. The ordinance is impres-

sive in its requirements for off-street parking placement and design, requiring pedestrian

walkways and/or greenspace every third aisle and, in many areas, for parking lots to be

located in side or rear yards. Parking areas often create “dead zones” for pedestrians and

frequent curb cuts produce conflict points for cyclists, so the additional attention paid

to these details is appreciable. One area of the parking ordinance to reconsider is the

Type 3 Area parking requirements for areas of “lower community prominence” where it is

not clear that the parking location requirements still hold. These areas on non-residential

collector streets can serve as integral, low-volume corridors for cyclists and pedestrians,

and should be treated similarly to other streets, especially given the large amount of land

that may be developed as institutional or industrial/commercial uses east of NC 54. The

aesthetics of greenway areas are specifically addressed through screening requirements

(e.g., Section 3.3(a) and 4.2(a)(1)) as demonstrated in the photo.

These ordinances are implemented through a development review process, which is aided

(as much for the developer as the staff) by a development review checklist. This checklist

contains a review of bicycle and pedestrian accommodations, and again could serve as

a model for other communities to adopt. More specificity on these requirements may be

necessary to fully impart the significance of the location and design.

Town of Morrisville Adopted Plans.

In addition to the Transportation Plan, three types of

plans already adopted by the Town have a particular bearing on the recommended proj-

ects and policies that need to be considered in this comprehensive transportation plan:

parks/greenways, small area, and downtown revitalization. Each of these three is consid-

ered briefly in the following paragraphs.

Parks, Recreation, Greenways & Open Space Comprehensive Master Plan (2006).

The Plan identifies standards for the provision of community facilities likes parks and

softball fields, but does not recommend a standard for greenways (e.g., miles of

greenway per resident). Proposed greenways are indicated in stream, utility ease-

ment, and rail (south of Morrisville-Carpenter Road) corridors. A survey conducted

in conjunction with the Plan indicated a relevant need for more bicycle lanes and

greenways, as well as more opportunities for youth and seniors to be active.

North Morrisville-Shiloh Small Area Plan (2002)

. This Plan was created to preserve

the heritage of the Shiloh Community and guide future development plans. There

are several implied elements that indirectly affect project recommendations, par-

ticularly: incorporating the Shiloh Cemetery into a heritage trail plan; the mixed use

and commercial development mixtures in some areas; and an overpass of the rail-

road at Lichtin Boulevard (now Carrington Mill Road). The most direct mention of

bicycle/pedestrian accommodations is the area west of NC 54 and Church Street,

which was recognized for its potential for greenways and park development:

A well spaced network of stream and drainage corridors for potential greenway

linkages benefits the North Morrisville/Shiloh Area west of NC 54. In addition, an

overhead transmission line passes through the area on a north south axis, creat-

ing an easement underneath. Collectively, this network affords the opportunity

to provide for pedestrian/trail access (1) from residential areas to major open

space areas (2) from residential areas to the Shiloh village center (3) from areas

south of McCrimmon Parkway up into the Shiloh community (and vice versa).

Trail development along natural drainage corridors will require the dedication of

easements parallel to these streams.

State of North Carolina Standards, Policies, and Law.

In 2000, the N.C. Board of

Transportation, which has individual project and policy approval authority for al-

most all of the work conducted by NCDOT, adopted a resolution declaring bicy-

cling and walking a critical part of the transportation system. The resolution states

that the Board of Transportation:

…concurs that bicycling and walking accommodations shall be a routine part

of the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s planning, design, construc-

tion, and operations activities and supports the Department’s study and consid-

eration of methods of improving the inclusion of these modes into the everyday

operations of North Carolina’s transportation system.

5.4 Bicycle and Pedestrian Network, cont’d

Example of screening techniques.

Bike lanes and multi-use path

along Parkside Valley Drive.