If you live or work in Chapel Hill or Durham you’ve probably experienced the heavy traffic on 15-501 connecting the two municipalities.

According to a regional travel demand model used by the NC Department of Transportation to forecast future traffic volumes, the US 15-501 corridor between Ephesus Church Road in Chapel Hill to University Drive in Durham is over or approaching capacity.

Residents of Chapel Hill and Durham can attend a ‘Reimagining 15-501’ public workshop meeting regarding making changes to 15-501 to accommodate all types of commuters. The workshop is on Tuesday, June 26, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Church of the Good Shepherd, 3741 Garrett Road in Durham, with a formal presentation and visioning exercise taking place from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Chapel Hill Mayor Pam Hemminger said the purpose of the workshop is to gather input on multi-modal transportation options.

“We’d love for people to show up and give their input to this, and this will be on our web-page so please check if you’re interested, and please go and give your input. We like everything multi-modal,” said Hemminger.

Among the multi-modal plans for giving 15-501 a better connected road network to alleviate traffic, are implementation of the Durham-Orange Light Rail Transit with station locations and The Old Durham Road/ Old Chapel Hill Road project which will add sidewalks, bus stop improvements and an on-road striped bike lane on both sides.

The workshop is part of the Durham Chapel Hill Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization and NCDOT’s multi-modal transportation study of the 15-501 corridor from Chapel Hill to Durham to update the 1994 master plan that guides development and transportation improvements.

For more information check out their website.

Photo via reimagining15501.com