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Community Input Requested for CNIP Road Projects (March 14, 2017) Charlotte city staff identified the need for improvements to Brown-Grier Road and Sandy Porter Road during the community involvement process for the Comprehensive Neighborhood Improvement Program (CNIP) for the Whitehall/Ayrsley area. The project team held a public meeting February 16 to present preliminary conceptual plans and to gain a better understanding on which features the community prefers. If you were not able to attend the meeting please take this opportunity to weigh in on these features by clicking on the Online public meeting image below and completing the survey.
The staff PowerPoint presentation provides greater detail on the plans and is available HERE. The plan for Brown-Grier Road calls for a four lane divided road with a raised grassy median and left turn lanes at cross streets. It also includes on each side a bike buffer, bike lane, 8 foot planting strip, and a 10 foot multi-use path. The typical cross section would require a 123 foot right-of-way. The project limits for the Brown-Grier Road project are Steele Creek Road and Whitehall Park Drive.
Staff presented two options for Sandy Porter Road, which did not project as much traffic as Brown-Grier Road. Option 1 calls for a three lane road with a center left turn lane similar to the current road. It also includes on each side a bike buffer, bike lane, and 8 foot planting strip. It would have a 6 foot sidewalk on the west side of the street and a 10 foot multi-use path on the east side. The typical cross section would require a 90 foot right-of-way. Option 1 does not restrict left turns, reduces right-of-way needed by four feet, and maintains existing access.
Option 2 calls for a two lane divided road with a raised grassy median, left turn lanes at cross streets, and pedestrian refuges. It also includes on each side a bike buffer, bike lane, and 8 foot planting strip. It would have a 6 foot sidewalk on the west side of the street and a 10 foot multi-use path on the east side. The typical cross section would require a 94 foot right-of-way, four more feet than Option 1. Option 2 is more aesthetic, creating a place making amenity, provides more safety by including pedestrian refuges and limiting left turn lane traffic conflicts, provides traffic calming, and includes less impervious area (asphalt).
When you complete the survey, be sure to indicate that you like either the center left turn lane for Option 1 or the raised median and pedestrian refuges for Option 2. The project limits for Sandy Porter Road are Williams Glen Road and South Tryon Street. In November 2016 voters approved a $55,000,000 bond referendum for Neighborhood Improvement Bonds to pay for continuing expenses for the Whitehall/Ayrsley and other CNIP projects. The six Whitehall/Ayrsley CNIP project locations are shown on the map below. To view a more detailed map showing the CNIP projects, click HERE or on the map.
Once staff has received input from the community through the survey, they will finalize the conceptual plans, begin preliminary design, and schedule additional public meetings. To receive updates, text "charmeck cnip5" (with a space between "charmeck" and "cnip5") to 468311 or click "Notify Me" on the CharlotteFuture.com/ Whitehall page. Construction currently is underway on apartments at the corner of Sandy Porter Road and Brown-Grier Road. Developers will be required to make road and sidewalk improvements on adjacent streets. The city also has a project to build sidewalks on Brown-Griers Road and Gallant Lane between adjacent neighborhoods and schools. (See Sidewalks Planned on Brown-Grier Road and Gallant Lane (April 7, 2015.) Construction will require relocation of some trees recently planted on the Kennedy Middle School campus by TreesCharlotte. Sidewalk construction should begin this spring, and a sidewalk should be in place on the south side of Brown-Grier Road from Griers Fork Drive to Sandy Porter Road by the beginning of the next school year.
To comment on this story, please visit the Steele Creek Forum or the Steele Creek Residents Association Facebook Page.
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