Title
Triangle Bikeway East Design Project Alternatives Analysis
Cara Russell, MPO Staff
Body
The Triangle West TPO & Capital Area MPO Boards jointly adopted a Triangle Bikeway Feasibility Study in the Spring of 2022 that concluded with a recommended route for a major bikeway facility connection from Chapel Hill to Raleigh. The Preliminary Design for the eastern portion of the project (connecting Research Triangle Park to Raleigh) is currently underway. This portion consists of 14 miles between Research Triangle Park/TW Alexander Drive to the NC Museum of Art greenway bridge at 1-440/Wade Avenue.
Wake County and the Research Triangle Foundation have partnered to fund the design of the eastern portion of the recommended larger facility and CAMPO was requested to manage the design phase of the project. This effort is a partnership between Wake County, Research Triangle Foundation, CAMPO, NCDOT and municipal area partners. The goal of the project is to position the bikeway for future construction funding opportunities and advance design further to evaluate implementation. McAdams was awarded the contract for the design project in late 2024 and Kimley Horn was awarded a contract for General Engineering Services in Spring of 2025 to assist CAMPO in the management of the project.
The design project is reaching the first of many regional decision milestones in the completion of the alternatives analysis.
Concept Plans for alternative alignments were developed in 3 key areas: RTP, Lake Crabtree area, and Wade Avenue Area. Stakeholder Input was conducted from December 2025 - January 2025 which included stakeholders such as State Parks, NC Art Museum, RDU, Centennial Authority and Transit Agencies. Public Engagement on considerations and priorities on these alignment alternatives was conducted January 2025 - February 2026. The full engagement report is posted on the project website. www.publicinput.com/tribikeeast <http://www.publicinput.com/tribikeeast>
Following this period of input, a technical recommendation memo for the alignment routing was developed and is included in the attachments. The technical recommendation was developed in coordination with technical staff from partner organizations (Wake County, Research Triangle Park (RTP), Durham County, City of Durham, Cary, Morrisville, Raleigh, TWTPO, NCDOT) and considered the stakeholder input and public engagement report above to maximize connections to destinations, consider user experience, and provide access to the larger regional transportation network.
Once endorsed, the alignment will be further refined to complete preliminary design (30% plans).
Next Steps
The Technical and Leadership Committees are continuing to meet on a regular schedule to agree upon decision frameworks and options for the project in the months ahead after preliminary design is anticipated to be complete (Early 2027).
Requested Action: Action Endorse the technical recommendation alignment for the Triangle Bikeway East Design Project to carry forward to 30% design completion