Smith Level Road plans delayed

After two decades and the development of multiple design options, the Carrboro Board of Aldermen was slated Tuesday to agree on a plan to widen Smith Level Road.

But instead of selecting one of the two available options, the board chose to delay the vote until Alderman Alex Zaffron, who was absent, could offer his input.

Mayor Mike Nelson said Zaffron was the primary board representative on the project, and he thought Zaffron’s opinion would clarify funding issues the aldermen face.

“This discussion has been going on for a really long time,” Nelson said. “Alex has been our point man with the (N.C. Department of Transportation).”

Nelson indicated that he favored the NCDOT alternative to its original plan. The alternative was presented to the town Jan. 5. The plan features two traffic lanes and a bicycle lane, gutter, curb and sidewalk on the west side of the road.

This plan would require the town to pay the right-of-way and utility costs — estimated at $300,000 — while the state’s Moving Ahead program would fund the remainder.

Town manager Steve Stewart said the town had not foreseen so large a financial responsibility and would explore town revenues and ask the state and county for assistance.

“The bottom line is that this is a fairly sizable chunk of money, something we had not anticipated until January 5,” Stewart said.

The aldermen asked town staff and NCDOT officials for specifics on ways to fund the alternative expansion option.

“While I’m inclined to vote, $300,000 is a lot of money,” said Alderman Joal Broun.

NCDOT division engineer Mike Mills said the town could enter an agreement whereby the NCDOT would front the money necessary for the right-of-way and be reimbursed by the town at a later date.

The fate of the section of Smith Level Road between Morgan Creek and Rock Haven Road has been in contention for 20 years.

Controversy over the expansion became heated in 2001 at a public hearing to discuss NCDOT’s original proposal to expand Smith Level to four lanes. Citizens raised concerns for the safety of pedestrians and bikers and over the flow of traffic to Frank Porter Graham Elementary School.

Town transportation planner Dale McKeel said those who spoke at the public hearing questioned the need for the project.

“It’s taken this long for the town and the department to work through the issues raised at that meeting,” McKeel said.

In response to citizen feedback, the aldermen in 2003 asked NCDOT to consider an alternate plan to make the road more pedestrian-friendly and reduce the number of traffic lanes.

“The four-lane plan is not our position or the position of our citizens,” Nelson said Tuesday.

McKeel said there was also support for the alternative because construction could be completed before the area’s third high school is slated to open.

Under NCDOT’s original plan, the town would be expected to cover 30 percent of sidewalk costs, about $60,000, Stewart said.

Alderman Mark Chilton said he believes the town is more likely to fund the alternative plan in spite of the added costs because of overwhelming town favor for the plan.

The aldermen did not decide on a date to re-tackle the issue. Mills offered to delay until mid-February.

Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.