Hendersonville adopts methodology for 10-year transportation plan, leaves Drake's Creek options open

The Board of Mayor and Aldermen of Hendersonville on Jan. 28 adopted a resolution establishing objectives and a weighted ranking methodology to guide a 10-year Transportation Capital Improvement Plan, voting unanimously to approve the resolution after extended discussion.

Alderman Robertson opened the debate by calling the vote "a landmark day" and describing the plan as a data-driven, proactive approach to address long-standing traffic and safety problems created by the city's growth. Robertson said the methodology will give staff objective criteria to evaluate projects and make budget recommendations to the board.

The plan itself sets six criteria and weightings to score and rank candidate projects; the board approved the methodology rather than a fixed, immutable project list. Several aldermen pressed for clarity about specific projects listed as candidates. Alderman Bergdorf and Alderman Skidmore asked about the Drakes Creek at Anderson item, which remains in the plan as "Drakes Creek at Anderson Improvements" with a roundabout listed as one possible alternative rather than the only option. City staff said they will evaluate multiple alternatives, commission traffic studies and review consultant proposals before specific project selection or budget commitment.

City Chief Operating Officer Jesse Eckenroll and staff said the resolution authorizes staff to apply the adopted methodology to update project rankings when costs or data change, but final project approvals and funding will come through the annual budget process. Staff emphasized that no contract for a traffic study on the Drakes Creek/Anderson area had been signed and that consultants responding to the city's request-for-proposals would be asked to evaluate a range of options, including alternatives previously proposed by aldermen.

Board members who opposed earlier individual remedies said retaining the intersection as an item for study was intended to preserve options for safety and circulation improvements, not to commit to a specific design. Alderman Skidmore and others said they supported the plan's long-term, systematic approach to congestion but warned that priorities and funding will change as growth and costs evolve.

The board voted to adopt the methodology by unanimous voice vote. The resolution moves the plan from draft to final form so staff can use the adopted scoring method to produce ranked project lists for future budget years; the resolution itself does not appropriate construction funds.

The plan includes other candidate projects citywide; staff said rankings will change if estimated costs or data inputs change, and that the board will review priorities when it considers budgets.