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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 02-02-2010 - 6dORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: February 2, 2010 Action Agenda Item No. (o - ~, _SUBJECT: Orange Count Comprehensive Transportation Plan Update -Options DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: 1. Triangle Strategic Highway Corridors Karen Lincoln, 245-2594 2. Survey Results for Question 12 Craig Benedict, 245-2592 PURPOSE: To consider continuing or discontinuing development of the Comprehensive Transportation Plan. BACKGROUND: Orange County, in June 2009, approved a resolution endorsing a comprehensive transportation planning study for Orange County to be completed through coordination among the Orange Unified Transportation Board, the Triangle Area Rural Planning Organization and the North Carolina Department of Transportation. In September 2009, Transportation Planning staff with the North Carolina Department of Transportation gave an overview of the Comprehensive Transportation Plan process, in which the North Carolina Strategic Highway Corridors Vision Plan was introduced to the Board. Department of Transportation staff noted that NC 86 to US 70 Bypass West to the I-85/US 70 connector to 1- 84/1-40 in Orange County was identified as a North Carolina Strategic Highway Corridor (Attachment 1), with a future design of four lanes with a median. Orange County's Comprehensive Transportation Plan must be consistent with the Strategic Highway Corridors Vision Plan and show NC 86, or another existing or proposed corridor, through northern Orange County as having a future design of four lanes divided by a median in order to be approved by the Board of Transportation and recognized by the North Carolina Department of Transportation. Some commissioners questioned the process the NC Department of Transportation used to develop the Strategic Highway Corridor Vision Plan and the lack of opportunity for Orange County to have input into designating NC 86 north of Hillsborough as a future four-lane divided facility, and noted the County's preference for such improvements to US 70. At the September 2009 meeting, the Board approved release of a survey for public input, with amendments suggested by commissioners, to use in plan development, and directed staff to provide the BOCC with more information/background regarding the proposal for designating NC 86 as a Strategic Highway Corridor (Attachment 2). The survey has been completed and North Carolina Transportation Planning staff is ready to begin the study for the deficiency analysis of the transportation network for future travel 2 demand. The North Carolina Department of Transportation has concerns that Orange Countv will not ado t a trans ortation Ian that shows NC 86 as a future four-lane divided facilit . Before committina staff resources to continue work on Orange County's Transportation Plan North Carolina Transportation planning staff has suggested the following four options for the Countv to consider: 1. Pursue removal of NC 86 or any corridor through northern Orange County from the North Carolina Strategic Highway Corridor Vision Plan; 2. Show the existing NC 86 corridor or a proposed alignment for NC 86 as an expressway; 3. Show NC 86 as an expressway on Comprehensive Transportation Plan highway map with a phased implementation strategy in the technical report; or 4. Pursue a downgrade of facility type for NC 86 (from an expressway to a boulevard). Explanation of Options and Implications Option1 -Pursue removal of NC 86 from Strategic Highway Corridor Vision Plan. The Department of Transportation has a process to modify the Strategic Highway Corridors Vision Plan. Revision requests may fall in one of the following categories: • Addition of a new Strategic Highway Corridor (Corridor); • Modification of an existing Corridor; • Partial or full deletion of an existing Corridor; or • Changes to a proposed facility type. The process to revise the Strategic Highway Corridor Vision Plan takes over six months and development of the County's Comprehensive Transportation Plan would not continue until the request had been resolved. There is no guarantee that the North Carolina Board of Transportation will approve the revision. Option 2 -Show NC 86 as a future expressway. Work on Orange County's Comprehensive Transportation Plan would continue but the County would have no dialogue concerning facility type. Option 3 -Show NC 86 as a future expressway with a phased improvement plan in the technical report. Work on Orange County's Comprehensive Transportation Plan would continue as planned. Survey question twelve offered seven options for designating anorth- south corridor from Caswell County to US 70 Bypass as a four-lane divided expressway. Respondents could select more than one option. Of the 387 survey responses, approximately 63% chose to use the existing NC 86 corridor (with a narrow margin preferring a new western bypass of Hillsborough). Over twenty-one percent (21.4%) chose "Do not improve NC 86 to an expressway". A change in facility type (Option 4), if desired, could be pursued after adoption of the Comprehensive Transportation Plan. Option 4 - Pursue a downgrade of facility type for NC 86. The Department of Transportation has a process to modify the Strategic Highway Corridors Vision Plan to change a proposed facility type. NC 86 is classified as an arterial road. The Strategic Highway Corridor Facility Types also includes a Boulevard (minimum two-lane with median) design for an arterial road. Work on Orange County's Comprehensive Transportation Plan would not continue until the facility design for NC 86 had been resolved. The North Carolina Board of Transportation must approve the request for a change of facility type. 3 FINANCIAL IMPACT: The Comprehensive Transportation Plan will require planning staff resources, but can be completed with existing staff. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends the Board: 1. Receive the presentation; and 2. Endorse Option 3 to continue development of the Comprehensive Transportation Plan with a phased plan for improvements to NC 86. Graham ,. Proposed Intrstte Rout. This Roat Nee NOT bun ORktNy Approved by TM Federal lMylwvay Adminttntlon and TM Proposal In6erstat Number hu Nor been oRktly Approved W MSNTO at Mt time. 2. 13W ro be SIpnW u Ii~O upon ContplNion ro I./0 near Garrrer, Oenolinp An Intntat Loop Mat Connect ro an Intretat FaeilNy at Each End. DURHAM' CHAPEL H~L '° t i ~: `. -~~ is ~~ ~`' ..- ` ~< ~,, Saniprd , Strategic Vision Plan Highway Triangle Area - Adopted by Ths North Carolina t3oard of Transportation Plan Date: September 2, 2004 1' CARY RALEKsH sew N w~~e S tirr~ __ ~~ 00.51 t 3 ~ 5 m.um.a M m. ram cwu oN a rnneoau~on r~.moon.w~ mew sm~a e.» u.o or wm n. xaor ' SmRhiield ~ to Legend F USlOlher Rout ~ ExtUnp ~ E:tUnY ~ BtKa Port ~ Neede Upgrade rMaer Rewnwmmded ~ Needs Upgrade ~,„ Weorrrmended * MaJor AirpoR ®Inurmodal Connector Expeaswatra Thorouahhres ©Coot tiuara tigtfon ~ Eaistinp ~ EabMp Myor MilNary Baas . ~y Upgrade .~. ~~ ~~ UrMn Ana rwwe Recommended ~--- ReeommendW Watr Fealuru fl c a I I ~ K The Strategic Highway Corridor's inlUatJve of NCDOT states that the long-range vision (In 25.30 years) for the NC 86 corridor In Orange County (from Hlllstwrough to the North) Is an Expressway, The goal of Strategic Hlghway Corridors Is to maintain mobility and connectivity Yhrouphout North Carolina on core highway corridors, and NC 86 serves as a primary connector from Danville, VA to the Triangle area. An Expressway Is a median divided fadllty, usually with 4 lanes, The speed limit is 45-6D mph with no traffic signals. Connections are made at interchanges, public roads, end rfpht-in/rlght•out driveways. Which of the following would you suggest for anorth-south corridor to achieve this goal? (Please check any you would Support.) (Please refer to the map below for the current alignment of the NC 86 corridor from Hillstrorough to the North [dashed Ilne] In Orange County, and refer to the Image below for an 'Expressway examples. Visit www.ncdot.ore/doh/prefeonstruct/tpb/SHC/ for more Informatlon on StrBteglc Hlghway Corridors,) TOTAL RESPONSES CEDAR GROVE TOWNSHIP LITTLE RIPER TOVNSHIP CHEEKS TOWNSHIP Answerbptions Response Response Response Response Response Response Response Response :Percent Count Percent _ CounE Percent Count Percent Count--. Keep/use existing NC 86 corridor 29.2"~~, l lo ?3:1% 6 45.S~o 5 47;4% 9 Re-route the north•south corridor to other roads (specify roads bebw) 3.59'0 _ 14 0:0% 0 O;O~o 0 0,0°io "' 0 Construct a completey new north-south torridor 10:1% 40 T 19.2% 5 0.0°/n 0 '15.8% 3 Keep/use existing NC 86 corridor with a new western bypass of Hillsborough 40.3°k ! 160 38,5% IO 63,6% 7 21,1ho 4 Keep/use existing NC 86 corridor with a new eastern bypass of Hillsborough 3?;7% 130 19.2% S ..45.5% 5 26:3%' S Do not improve NC 86 to an expressway to provide north-south access _ 21.4% 85 ~ 34.6% 9 Y8;2% 2 15.8% 3 pthor fc r bebwl 2.0% 8 3.8% 1 0.0% 0 0,0%° 0 PrPase e43luiate on above cho~~ces•. 96 3 5 19 answered uesdon 347 11 19 skr f/estf n i ----_ __ 54 1 0 3 HILLSBOROUGH TOWNSHIP' ENO TOWNSHIP' BINGHAM TOWNSHIP CHAPEL HILL TOWNSHIP Answer Options Response PertenC Response 'Count Response Percent Response Count Response Percent Response Count Response Percent Response Count Kee use existin NC 86 corridor 34.2% 27 27.8% 5 31.3% 5 26,9% 7 Re-route the north-south corridor to other roads s I roads bebw 6'r3°h 5 '' 0.0% 0 6.3% 1 I 3.8% 1 Construct a corn fete new north-south corridor 6:9°!0 7 ' 0,0% 0 0,0°/0 0 0.0% 0 Kee use existin NC 86 corridor with a new western b ss of Hillsborou h 39.2% 31 55'.6% 10 50.0% 8 46.2% 12 Kee use existin NC 86 corridor with a new eastern b ss of Hlllsborou h 3912% 31 SS.fi% 10 "12.5°Jo 2 34;6% 9 bo not im rove NC 86 to an ex resswa to rovide north-south access ' 15:2°!° 12 11;1% ' 2 18.8% 3 r 19.2% 5 Others cl bebw 1.3% 1 -0';0% 0 6:3% 1 0,0°Jo 0 Pk ase elaborate on above choices 19 5 5 3 ` enswensd 'ue9Non 79 18 16 26 `----- 'ak1 uesdon 5 3 3 S mwN`r1P Htil.SphRnurH rm nF DURHAM 'CIT'YOF MEBANE TfJWN;01= CHAPEL HILL Answer Options Response .:Percent Response Goun[ Respan5e' Percent Response :Count Response Percent Response `;Count Response :Percent Respohse Couht Kee Juse exish NC 86 corridor 24:6% 14 38.5°!o S 16;7% 1 22.4% 11 Re-route the north south corridor to other roads s I roads hebw 1,8% 1 '7,7°!0 1 l):D°!o 0 4:1% 2 Construct a corn fete new north south condor 12.3°!0 7 7:7% ' 1 50.0% 3 12.2°l0 6 Ke use existin NC B6 corridor with a new western b ass of Hillsborou h 54,4°h 31 38.5% 5 33,3% 2 26.5% ' 13 Kee use existin NC 86 corridor with a new eastern b ss of Hillsborou h 28.1% 16 15:4% Z 33.3% 2 24.5°!0 12 Do not im rove NC 86 to an ex resswa to rovide north-south access =29,8% 17 J:7% 1 0;0% 0 30.6% 15 ''' Others ci bebw `OA% 0 -A.O°1o 0 d.0% 0 10.2% 5 pka~se elatx~rate on above choices_ 14 3 0 1a .answered uesdo~r 57 13 6 49 sk/ d uesY/on 7 4 3 29 CJ7