Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transportation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Staff recommends study of Manchester Pike corridor after projection of thousands of new daily trips
Summary
City staff briefed council and the planning commission on multiple entitled and conceptual industrial and residential projects along Manchester Pike, reporting aggregated projections of thousands of truck and passenger car trips and proposing a corridor study and possible bypass to manage traffic and protect local streets.
Planning and public infrastructure staff presented an overview of development pressure along the Manchester Pike corridor and proposed a study to guide approvals and infrastructure investment.
Staff listed about ten entitled or conceptual projects within the study area (including a county‑approved business park and multiple conceptual industrial sites) and summarized traffic impact studies and concept estimates for each. Staff reported aggregated estimates of roughly 6,000 truck trips (about 4,000 already entitled) and about 27,000 passenger car trips (with roughly 15,000 entitled) across the suite of projects they reviewed. Staff warned that Manchester Pike currently carries about 11,000–12,000 vehicles in parts of the corridor per TDOT count stations and is not on TDOT's 10‑year plan for widening; staff said TDOT begins analysis for a three‑lane cross‑section around 15,000 trips and design considerations arise near 20,000 trips.
Matt Fasic, representing public infrastructure, summarized TDOT count station data and explained how recurring annual counts inform thresholds for three‑lane and seven‑lane considerations. Staff proposed developing a transportation study (similar to a prior Stones Battle Drive effort) that could identify needed bypasses, economic scenarios, cost responsibilities and project phasing; staff said a city‑developer partnership could help deliver network improvements and cautioned that sewer capacity limits also constrain residential options in parts of the corridor.
Council members asked whether TDOT would necessarily fund widening if thresholds are met and emphasized urgency: Manchester Pike is not currently on TDOT's 10‑year plan and right‑of‑way and funding obstacles could delay improvements for years. Staff said it would return with a proposed scope and funding request for a corridor study and suggested higher scrutiny of approvals in the area while the study is prepared.
No formal approvals or funding requests were taken at the workshop; staff said a study proposal and related materials would be provided to the council for consideration.
