Maps & Routes

Utilizing community input captured in Fall 2020, the project team evaluated over 100 miles of potential routes to develop a recommended alignment route. During the evaluation process, potential routes were studied to understand challenges and constraints.

Ultimately, alternative routes were removed from consideration due to one or more of the following conditions:

The recommended route avoids many of these challenges and uses available space in the I-40 corridor and along NC54 to create a direct, physically separated route to connect our region. The static matrix provides more details on the alternative routes that were removed from consideration.

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Bicycle Crash Analysis Map

This map shows bicycle-motor vehicle crashes along the Triangle Bikeway corridor within a 3-mile radius from the potential trail alignment. From 2007 to 2019, there were 474 crashes, 12 of which were serious injuries and 8 were fatal.

Most crashes occurred on the campuses of and in neighborhoods adjacent to the University of North Carolina and North Carolina State University in Chapel Hill and Raleigh, respectively. High-crash corridors include: NC-54. Raleigh Rd, Manning Dr, Hillsborough St, Western Blvd, Gorman St, and Avent Ferry Rd.

Compared to crash rates of municipalities along the project corridor, the Triangle Bikeway study area has the third highest bicycle crash rate per 10,000 residents in 2019, tied with Raleigh.

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Existing Conditions Map

Triangle municipalities have extensive greenway networks with over 250 miles of greenway in the region. The Town of Chapel Hill has approximately 18 miles of paved or natural surface greenways, and the City of Durham has over 30 miles of greenways. Research Triangle Park has over 20 miles of paved pedestrian trails, and the Town of Morrisville has a growing greenway network with 9 miles. The Town of Cary and the City of Raleigh have robust greenway networks with over 80 miles and 100 miles of greenway, respectively.

The East Coast Greenway, a biking and walking path from Maine to Florida, routes through the region and connects the cities of Durham and Raleigh, the Town of Cary, and Umstead State Park via the American Tobacco Trail, White Oak Creek Greenway, Black Creek Greenway, and Reedy Creek Trail. The East Coast Greenway serves as the spine of the regional trail network, but improved connections between

Durham and Chapel Hill and a more direct route between Durham, Raleigh, and RTP are needed to serve as active transportation corridors.

While regional bike connectivity is limited, the bicycle networks of Triangle municipalities are growing and provide the framework to build a more connected active transportation system for the region. In Durham, bike lanes along Cornwallis Rd improve connections between Research Triangle Park and Downtown, via the American Tobacco Trail. Similarly, existing bike lanes adjacent to the study area will provide connections to major destinations in Chapel Hill, Durham, and Raleigh and to the employment centers in Research Triangle Park. These bike facilities will expand the reach of and access to the Triangle Bikeway.

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Major Employers Map

Major trip destinations, such as employment centers, are important to identify when evaluating transit, biking, and walking transportation. The largest employers along the Triangle Bikeway corridor are research institutions, technology companies, hospitality companies, and medical facilities. These 68 major employers represent 75,000 employees in the study area.

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Pedestrian Crash Analysis Map

This map shows pedestrian-motor vehicle crashes along the Triangle Bikeway corridor within a 3-mile radius from the potential trail alignment. From 2007 to 2019, there were 945 crashes, 65 of which were serious injuries and 25 were fatal.

Most crashes occurred along major arterials in the study area. High-crash corridors include: NC-54. Raleigh Rd, Manning Dr, Fayetteville Rd, NC-55, I-40, Harrison Ave, Blue Ridge Rd, Lake Boone Trail, Hillsborough St, Western Blvd, and Avent Ferry Rd.

Compared to crash rates of municipalities along the project corridor, the Triangle Bikeway study area has the third highest pedestrian crash rate per 10,000 residents in 2019.

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Planned Facilities Map

The Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO), Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (DCHC MPO), and their partnering communities have prioritized multi-modal connectivity throughout the Triangle region in planning efforts over the past decade. This map illustrates bicycle and pedestrian recommendations from previous plans and studies that are relevant to the Triangle Bikeway Study.

The Triangle Bikeway is project of regional significance and proposed in locally adopted plans. The segments along NC-54 from US 15-501 to NC-751 and along I-40 from NC-54 to Page Rd are included in the DCHC MPO Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP), and the segment along I-40 from I-540 to Trenton Rd is included in the CAMPO Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) 2040. The segment from the NC-54 and US 15-501 interchange along NC-54 in Chapel Hill to Harrison Ave along I-40 in Cary is also a key corridor proposed in the NCDOT Great Trails State Plan.

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NCDOT STIP Projects Map

Projects identified in the 2020-2029 State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) inform recommendations of this study. Proposed and committed projects within the study area provide opportunities for coordination between NCDOT and municipalities to incorporate bicycle and pedestrian facilities into roadway improvements. With the adoption of the Complete Streets Policy Update in August 2019, NCDOT is committed to taking a multi-modal approach to project development. The policy specifies that bicycle, pedestrian, and transit facilities proposed in an adopted plan will be incorporated into NCDOT roadway projects at no cost to the local jurisdiction. The Complete Streets Policy establishes an avenue to develop segments of the Triangle Bike­way in the projects listed below.

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Triangle Bikeway Corridor Map

This study explores the opportunity to create a bicycle and pedestrian commuter alternative to I-40 along a direct and mostly parallel path. This project includes an implementation study for the eastern segment between Raleigh and Research Triangle Park and a feasibility study for the western segment between Research Triangle Park and Chapel Hill. The implementation study includes a 30 percent functional design for the segment from Trenton Rd in Raleigh to Park Point in Research Triangle Park, and the feasibility study includes an analysis of the segment from Park Point in Research Triangle Park to the US-15/501 and NC-54 interchange in Chapel Hill.

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Existing Transit Map

The Triangle Bikeway study area is served by the regional transit authority, GoTrian­gle; four local transit agencies: Chapel Hill Transit, GoDurham, GoCary, and GoRaleigh; and North Carolina State University’s WolfLine transit system.

GoTriangle routes in the study area are anchored by the Regional Transit Center, which is located along the proposed Triangle Bikeway corridor on Slater Rd in Durham's Imperial Center and is adjacent to Research Triangle Park. The following GoTriangle routes serve the Triangle Bikeway corridor: CRX — Chapel Hill-Raleigh Express, DRX — Durham-Raleigh Express, 100 — Raleigh/RDU Airport/Regional Transit Center, 310 — Cary/Wake Tech RTP/Regional Transit Center, 700 — Durham/Regional Transit Center, 800S — Southpoint/Chapel Hill, and 805 — Chapel Hill/Woodcroft/Regional Transit Center.

Chapel Hill Transit serves the Triangle Bikeway corridor with routes A — MLK Jr Blvd/ Northside, N — Estes Park/UNC Hospitals/Family Medicine, and FCX — Friday Center Express. GoDurham serve the Triangle Bikeway Corridor with routes 5 — Fayetteville St/NCCU/Southpoint, 12 — E Main St/NCCU/Southpoint, and 20 — Woodcroft/South Square/Duke VA Limited. GoCary serves the Triangle Bikeway corridor via route 3 — Harrison Ave and route 7 — Weston. GoRaleigh serves the Triangle Bikeway corridor with routes 4 — Rex Hospital, 26 — Edwards Mill, and 27 — Blue Ridge, and the Wolfline serves the Triangle Bikeway corridor via route 6 — Carter Finley.

Transit routes along the Triangle Bikeway corridor are also accessible via twelve park and ride lots in the study area. GoTriangle is served by Eubanks Road, Patterson Place, Regional Transit Center, Renaissance Village, Streets at Southpoint, Cary Train Station, Bent Tree Plaza, Carter Finley Stadium, and District Drive. Chapel Hill Transit is served by Southern Village. GoDurham is served by Parkway Plaza. and the Wolfline is served by Carter Finley and Spring Hill.

The Triangle Bikeway corridor, coupled with existing transit routes and park and ride facilities, will expand transit accessibility in the region by providing first and last mile connections for those traveling to and from home, work, and essential services.

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