Due Diligence

The Alternative Analysis (AA) for three corridors: Durham-Orange, Durham-Wake, and Wake were published July 2011 in three separate documents, each of which includes a series of volumes.

What is an Alternatives Analysis?

• Examines all reasonable transportation alternatives within the selected corridors

• Conducts a fair and impartial evaluation

• Follows Federal guidelines

• Recommends a locally preferred alternative (LPA)
    + Alignment
    + Vehicle Technology
    + Station Locations

What Was Studied?  

• A No-Build Alternative (Status Quo)
    + Assumes no changes from the current system
    + Adheres to Federal requirements
    + Used to compare against other alternatives

• A “Non-Guideway” Alternative or Transportation System Management (TSM) Alternative
    + The best that can be done without building new transit infrastructure
    + Can include High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes, ramp metering, improved bus service, express toll lanes

• Fixed Guideway Alternatives
    + Transit that is on a “fixed” route that will not change (versus conventional bus routes)

• Light Rail (on new tracks)

• Commuter Rail (on existing freight tracks)

• Bus Rapid Transit (in separate, dedicated lanes)

How does the Alternatives Analysis Fit into the Overall Transit Vision?      

Contents  

Volume 1: Detailed Definition of Alternative Technical Report presents the results of the Detailed Evaluations of Alternatives and provides a recommendation for the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) for each corridor for the preferred technology, alignment and station locations.

Volume 2: Conceptual Plans and Profiles are alignment plans and profiles of the proposed transit corridors.  The plan set includes drawing index, location maps, key maps, typical cross sections, Light Rail Transit plans and profiles, Bus Rapid Transit plans, and layouts of potential alternative Rail Operations and Maintenance Facilities.

Volume 3: Capital Cost Estimates, Operations and Maintenance Cost Estimates, Travel Times and Distance Calculations, Ridership Summaries and Station to Station Ridership Forecasts.  The Capital Costs includes detail on unit costs and quantities.  The O & M cost estimates include detail on staffing levels and costs for administration, operations and maintenance of the proposed system.  Travel times are based on vehicle performance data.  Ridership is based on the Transit Regional model.

Volume 4: Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Assessment Report  provides additional information that informs the AA process and assesses the existing conditions influencing TOD development potential within each Station Area along the various corridors.

Volume 5: Traffic Analysis Technical Report provides an evaluation of the intersections along the proposed corridor based on the different alignment options.  Traffic counts, traffic projections, traffic capacity analysis, and trip distributions are presented.   The traffic analysis includes an evaluation of conceptual mitigation measures for certain intersections to lessen or eliminate traffic impacts.

Download

Durham-Orange Corridor

Durham-Wake Corridor

Wake Corridor

Order a DVD

You can also order a printed copy or a DVD of all volumes for all three corridors by clicking here.  Note:  You will need to create a simple New User ID and password to place your order.   

Libraries

Printed copies and DVDs are also available at local libraries listed below.  

Durham County
        Main Library, 500 E. Roxboro St., Durham
        East Regional Library, 211 Lick Creek Ln., Durham
        North Regional Library, 221 Milton Rd., Durham
        South Regional Library, 4505 S. Alston Rd., Durham
        Southwest Regional Library, 3605 Shannon Rd., Durham
Orange County 
        Main Library, 137 W. Margaret Ln., Hillsborough
        Carrboro Library, 900 Old Fayetteville Rd., Chapel Hill
        Carrboro Cybrary, 100 N. Greensboro St., Carrboro
        Chapel Hill Public Library, 100 Library Dr., Chapel Hill
Wake County
        Cameron Village Regional Library, 1930 Clark Ave., Raleigh
        East Regional Library, 946 Steeple Square Ct., Knightdale
        Eva Perry Regional Library, 2100 Shepherd’s Vineyard Dr., Apex
        North Regional Library, 7009 Harps Mill Rd., Raleigh
        Southeast Regional Library, 908 Seventh Ave., Garner
        West Regional Library, 4000 Lewis Stephens Dr., Cary