DRAFT Comprehensive Transportation Plan Update: February 23, 2018 version

TRANSPORTATION AND LAND USE

The transportation system influences development patterns by dictating the fastest, most convenient, and safest routes of travel. Available

travel modes also influence development patterns. People who desire daily services accessible by foot, bike, or public transit choose to live

in different locations than people who prefer to drive to these destinations. As transportation corridors are improved and expanded, new

development often follows. This push-pull relationship typically results in concentrated growth along major thoroughfares as residents seek

to take advantage of the most convenient transportation facilities. When blended with a supportive policy and investment strategy, the

transportation network can serve as an effective tool for guiding Town development.

CORRIDOR CHARACTERISTICS

As the Town’s economy expands and people continue to relocate here, the frequency and length of trips on existing roads will increase. This

increase will make current delays worse and create new delays where none exist today. Understanding the system’s existing characteristics

allows us to better anticipate future areas of concern. Once these areas are identified, establishing a set of transportation recommendations

requires consideration of how the Town’s roads are classified and an understanding of how to balance the needs of multiple users along a

given corridor.

Street Hierarchy An effective roadway network must manage two competing demands:

 Providing access to specific destinations

 Offering mobility between major employment and activity centers

These two demands are inherently adversarial (e.g. increasing access typically limits mobility along the same corridor). Therefore, it is helpful

to instill diversity into the network by providing easy access on some roads and protecting the mobility on others. Balancing access and

mobility creates roadways that respond to the unique context and user groups along specific corridors. A functional classification system

categorizes roadways based on characteristics such as speeds, vehicular capacities, and relationships with adjacent land uses. Federal

funding programs use traditional roadway functional classification to help determine eligibility. For this reason, among others, functional

classification will always be necessary and should be consistently updated. Understanding a street’s place within the hierarchy of streets

offers insight to help balance competing interests between design features, travel modes, and available right-of-way. The Town of

Morrisville’s street hierarchy is made up of five classes:

Freeways



Major Thoroughfares



Minor Thoroughfares



Collector Streets



Local Streets



The following graphics and tables provide more detail about the street hierarchy. Figure 3-2 displays street hierarchy for roadways within

the Town of Morrisville. The future street hierarchy reflects proposed changes to the transportation network discussed in this chapter.

FREEWAYS

Controlled access



 Multi-lane roadways for higher speeds and longer distance travel  Carry traffic through the Triangle region

NCDOT Functional Classification

Freeway & Interstate

Local Examples

I-40 & NC 540

Number of Lanes

4+ travel lanes

Partial or full access control, exclusive to motorized vehicular travel

Other Considerations

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