June 2004
Sugar Creek Road Widening
Nevin Road Extension
Open House for Sugar Creek Road Project Held April 15th
The City of Charlotte, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), and the project
consultant, Parsons Brinckerhoff Quade & Douglas, Inc., held a drop-in open house on April 15, 2004 at
Derita Presbyterian Church for the Sugar Creek Road Widening project. Over 50 residents obtained
information on traffic volume analyses for Sugar Creek Road, the North Corridor commuter rail project, and
NCDOT’s Mallard Creek Road Relocation project.
Meeting attendees also completed surveys to provide their opinions on the design features being
considered for Sugar Creek Road Widening. Community residents, that did not have an opportunity to fill
out a survey on this project, may contact Mary Hopper at (704) 373-0190. The survey results were
compiled and possible project design features were ranked as follows:
Most Important
Important
Least Important
• Additional Through Lanes
• Street Trees
• Saving Existing Buildings
• Left Turn Lanes
• Landscaped Median
• Bicycle Lanes
• Street Lights
• Planting Strips
• Amenity Zones
• Pedestrian Lighting in Derita
• Curb Extensions
• On-Street Parking in Derita
• Enhanced Pedestrian Crossing
• 5’ Concrete Sidewalks
Questions From the Public
Project Location Map
Could a left turn signal for eastbound traffic on Mineral
Springs Road be provided at its intersection with Graham
Street?
At this time, a left turn arrow will not be installed for eastbound
traffic turning onto Mineral Springs Road. Minimum warrants must
be satisfied in order to add the left turn arrow. The two main
warrants that are evaluated by the Charlotte Department of
Transportation (CDOT) are traffic volumes and accidents. The
traffic volume warrant considers the number of vehicles turning left.
The accident warrant considers the number of accidents in a threeyear period. These warrants are also evaluated in conjunction with
the existing signal operations at the intersection. Additional phases
that are added to a signal can have negative effects on other
approaches (by taking time away from other approaches).
The eastbound left turn at the Mineral Springs/Graham St/Sugar
Creek intersection does not meet the minimum warrants for a left
turn arrow.
Where will the station be located in Derita for the North
Corridor commuter rail line.
CATS has just begun the Draft Environmental Impact Statement
phase in the North Corridor Commuter Rail Project. Station area
design work will be done and the exact station location will be
determined in the first 6-9 months of the study. There will be a
Station Area Public Involvement Meeting, where the community will
have a chance to work with CATS to determine the final location
for the Derita Station. Please contact Brian Nadolny at (704) 3363752 for more information.
Could a red light running camera be installed at the Sugar Creek Road/Graham Street intersection?
A red light camera is not recommended for installation at this intersection. A red light camera would not adequately
address the issue of cars blocking the intersection. Red light cameras are only activated if a car enters the
intersection after the signal has turned red. Based on observations, most cars are entering this particular intersection
when the signal is green or yellow and then blocking the intersection. The cameras will not actuate if a car enters the
intersection before the light turns red, but cannot proceed entirely through the intersection. At this time,
enforcement is the primary method to reducing number of cars blocking the intersection.
Is the Mallard Creek Road Relocation project in jeopardy because of the City’s air quality status?
Federal funds for the Mallard Creek project would be frozen only if the City does not submit a plan that meets
Federal requirements by next year’s deadline. The Federal funds would remain frozen until the City submits a long
range plan update that complies with air quality guidelines. CDOT is preparing an update to its Long-Range
Transportation Plan that will conform to Federal air quality standards by April 15, 2005.
600 East Fourth Street
Charlotte, North Carolina 28202
Phone: 704.353.1795
Fax: 704.336.4554
Email: kdesai@ci.charlotte.nc.us
Project Schedules
PROJECT CONTACTS:
West Sugar Creek Road Widening
Nevin Road Extension
Traffic Analysis ................ Underway
Traffic Analysis................. Complete
Alternatives Analysis........ Underway
Alternatives Analysis ........ Complete
Second Public Meeting ....................
.........................................Complete
Second Public Meeting..... Complete
Planning Report Submittal ...............
........................................ Underway
Preliminary & Final Design, Real
Estate Acquisition and Construction
(not currently funded).......................
........................... To Be Determined
Planning Report Submittal ...............
....................................... Underway
Preliminary Design Phase ...............
................................. Summer 2004
Final Design, Real Estate Acquisition
and Construction (not currently
funded)................To Be Determined
Kruti Desai, Project Manager
City of Charlotte, Engineering &
Property Management
704-353-1795
kdesai@ci.charlotte.nc.us
West Sugar Creek Road
Lynn Purnell, Project Manager
Parsons Brinckerhoff
704-342-5401
purnell@pbworld.com
Nevin Road
Jim Beck, Project Manager
DRMP, Inc.
704-332-2289
jbeck@drmp.com
Additional Info on Project Website
Completed Items on Sugar Creek
and Mallard Creek Roads
For
more
project
information
visit
www.charmeck.org, click on “Construction and
Land Use” under the “Living” menu. Click on the
“Transportation Construction Projects” link and
then the “Sugar Creek Road Widening” or “Nevin
Road Extension” link.
Additional information
including complete meeting minutes is available.
• City staff held several meetings with CMPD to
address traffic related issues. As a result of those
meetings, CDOT implemented a left turn restriction at
Maple Street from 4 - 6:00 pm.
• Installed "Do Not Block Intersection" signs at the
Graham Street/Sugar Creek Road intersection.
• Re-painted worn pavement markings.
Mallard Creek Road Relocation Project Update
At the April 15th Open House, Eric Midkiff and Bethany Hunt of NCDOT reviewed the State’s plans for
a new four-lane connector beginning at Sugar Creek Road and re-joining the existing road near
Garrison Avenue. This new road is expected to carry 18,000 vehicles per day (vpd) around Derita
when it opens and over 29,000 vpd by 2025. NCDOT will begin purchasing right-of-way for the
Mallard Creek Road Relocation in late 2005 with construction starting in Spring 2007. For more
information on this project, contact Mr. Midkiff at (919) 733-7844, extension 232 or
emidkiff@dot.state.nc.us.
Nevin Road Public Workshop Held on January 15
On January 15th, the City of Charlotte and the Nevin Road project consultant, DRMP, Inc., held an
open house at Derita Presbyterian Church. Twenty-two citizens took advantage of the open house to
review preliminary conceptual plans, offer input on the project, raise specific questions, and discuss
concerns with the staff. They suggested design modifications, requested signals and had specific
questions about their property. In comment sheets, attendees found the staff “knowledgeable” and
the displays “helpful, ”and expressed eagerness to see the proposed road projects for the Derita area
constructed. Nevin Road may be included in a future bond referendum.