Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES-2008-071 Approving Orange Co Transp Priority List for 2011-2017 Transp Improvement Prog1' ~5~ ~,oo$~v'~ 1 1D ~ ?-aoo~' ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ~ ~ A RESOLUTION ENDORSING ORANGE COUNTY'S PRIORITY TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS FOR THE DURHAM-CHAPEL HILL-CARRBORO METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION REGIONAL PRIORITY LIST FOR THE 2011 - 2017 TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM WHEREAS, the North Carolina Board of Transportation, every two years, prepares a Transportation Improvement Program that identifies transportation projects scheduled for State and Federal funding over the next seven years; and WHEREAS, the North Carolina Board of Transportation solicits input for identifying transportation projects of local and regional importance to be included in the FY 2011-2017 Transportation Improvement Program; and WHEREAS, Orange County gives priority to identified safety needs on existing roads and bridges, to other transportation projects that encourage alternatives to automobile travel, to projects that minimize adverse impacts on the natural environment and cultural sites, and to those projects that foster economic development in the designated Economic Development Districts; and WHEREAS, Orange County strongly encourages the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) to design all highway projects, where appropriate, to accommodate bicycle and pedestrian traffic to provide alternative means of transportation that may result in reduced automobile traffic and related air and water impacts; and WHEREAS, Orange County encourages the NCDOT to design all new or replacement bridges with sufficient clearance to allow wildlife to cross safely under them, and to allow pedestrian passage along any existing or planned trail-system connectors; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Orange County. Board of Commissioners that: The Board of County Commissioners endorses the attached list of priority transportation projects to be considered for inclusion in the FY 2011-2017 Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program. Upon motion of Commissioner ,seconded by Comm~issinner the foregoing resolution as adopted this the ~_ day of IYG~~.008 I, Donna Baker, Clerk to the Board of Commissioners for the County of Orange, North Carolina, DO HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing is a true copy of so much of the proceedings of said Board at a meeting held on October 7, 2008, as relates in any way to the adoption of the foregoing and that said proceedings are recorded in the minutes of said Board. WITNESS my hand and the seal of said County, this ~ ,,day of , 2008. Clerk to the Board of Commissioners ORANGE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION PRIORITY LIST 2011 - 2017 DURHAM-CHAPEL HILL-CARRBORO METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM TIP Project No. EB-4980, SR 1006 (Orange Grove Road) at Interstate 40: Construct a pedestrian bridge over I-40. Interstate 40 separates two schools, Grady Brown Elementary and Cedar Ridge High School, from residential areas north of the interstate. The schools are within walking and cycling distance from residential areas but bicyclists and pedestrians must share the roadway with motor vehicles crossing the narrow two-lane bridge that carries Orange Grove Road over Interstate 40. The bridge is too narrow to accommodate a pedestrian walkway. Lack of an adequate pedestrian crossing presents an unsafe environment for students to walk to the schools. The "Access Management and Awareness Project and Report for Orange Grove Road" recommends this project. Orange County has received a Safe Routes to School Action Plan Service Award to develop a plan to make walking and bicycling to Grady Brown Elementary School safer and more appealing. 2. Hillsborough Train Station:. Construct a train station in Hillsborough and request AMTRAK service to Orange County. The train station can also serve future commuter rail operations and anchor a multimodal transportation hub in Hillsborough. A revenue and ridership study conducted by the North Carolina Department of Transportation Rail Division and AMTRAK has indicated that there is enough potential ridership to make a stop in Hillsborough financially feasible. 3. TIP Proiect No.R-2825, SR 1009 (South Churton Street) Improvements: Develop congestion management, limited access, aesthetic and capacity improvements including bicycle and pedestrian improvements between US 70 Business and Interstate 40. The portion between Interstates 40 and 85 will conform to the design criteria of the Economic Development District Design Manual (4-lane divided section with bike and pedestrian improvements). The feasibility study completed by NCDOT in February 2002 recommends a 4-lane divided curb and gutter cross section, with 16-foot median, for the entire corridor from I-40 to the Eno River. Orange County stresses the need to study improvements within the current right-of-way for the segment north of Interstate 85. Improved capacity through widening is not the County's first choice because of significant constraints between Interstate 85 and US 70 Business and the proximity of the historic district north of the project limits. Orange County requests that, where conditions do not prevent the addition of frontage roads, the feasibility study include the addition of frontage roads with limited access from the corridor. 4. SR 1009 (Old NC 86) Bicycle Facilities: Construct bicycle facilities on Old NC 86 from Hillsborough Road in Carrboro to I-40 in Hillsborough. This route along Old NC 86, from Carrboro's Transition Area just north of Eubanks Road (SR 1727) to Rippy Lane (SR 1224), is priority 6 of the primary bicycle routes listed in the Orange County Bicycle Transportation Plan. This project would extend bicycle accommodations requested in TIP Project R-2825 (South Churton Street bicycle lanes from Interstate 40 to the Eno River) to Hillsborough Road in Carrboro and ORANGE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION PRIORITY LIST 2011 - 2017 DURHAM-CHAPEL HILL-CARRBORO METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM provide a connection between proposed bicycle facilities in Carrboro along Old Fayetteville Road, Homestead Road and Eubanks Road. 5. SR 1006 (Orange Grove Road) Extension• Extend Orange Grove Road from the east side of Churton Street (SR 1009) to US 70 business. The "EDD Transportation Work Group Recommendations" and the "Access Management and Awareness Project and Report for Orange Grove Road" recommend this project as an alternative access to the US 70 Business/NC 86 corridor to alleviate congestion on Churton Street. This project could also provide access to a potential site for Orange County's priority rail project, AMTRAK service and train station in Hillsborough, although the site for such rail station has not been determined. 6. Tip Proiect No. U-3436 SR 1148 (Eno Mountain Road) and SR 1192 (Mayo Street) at SR 1006 (Oranae Grove Road)• realign intersection and make safety improvements. This project is listed in the 2009 - 2015 TIP as an unfunded project. The Hillsborough Town Board and Orange County Commissioners have endorsed this project in two joint studies that included commissioners from both jurisdictions. The- "EDD Transportation Work Group Recommendations" and the "Access Management and Awareness Project and Report for Orange Grove Road" recommend this project for improved traffic flow and safety. 7. U-2805. SR 1777 (Homestead Road) Improvements: Improve Homestead Road from Old NC 86 (SR 1009) to NC 86 to include bicycle lanes and sidewalks in sections of the corridor where those facilities do not exist. There are three schools in the vicinity of Homestead Road: Chapel Hill High School, Smith Middle School and Seawell Elementary School. Many students live within walking distance and cycling distance to Chapel Hill High School and must walk or cycle along Homestead Road, and cross the road daily. Provision of sidewalks is of utmost importance for the safety of students and other pedestrians who use this corridor. Provision of bicycle facilities is, likewise, necessary for the safety of students and others 8. SR 1727 (Eubanks Road) Bicycle Lanes: Construct bicycle lanes on Eubanks Road from Old NC 86 (SR 1009) to NC 86. This project would provide a safer bicycle connection between major routes into Chapel Hill and Carrboro. The project would provide bicycle access to the new Morris Hill Elementary School off Eubanks Road. Increased traffic on Eubanks from the solid waste convenience center and Chapel Hill Public Works Facility and Transportation Facility on Millhouse Road off of Eubanks presents conflicts with bicycle transportation on the facility. This project is in the 2030 DCHC Long Range Transportation Plan, and is also, from Rogers Road to NC 86, in the Chapel Hill Bicycle and Pedestrian Action Plan. ORANGE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION PRIORITY LIST 2011 - 2017 DURHAM-CHAPEL HILL-CARRBORO METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM 9. SR 1008 (Mt. Carmel Church Road) bicycle lanes: Construct bicycle lanes on Mt. Carmel Church Road from US 15-501 to the OrangelChatham County line. This project is a segment of the Mountains to Seas Bicycle Route. Mt. Carmel Church Road, from Chapel Hill's extraterritorial planning jurisdiction (ETJ) to the OrangelChatham County line is priority 8 of the primary priority bicycle routes on the Orange County Bicycle Transportation Plan. Increased traffic on Mt. Carmel Church has worsened travel conditions in this corridor that has many blind curves, making this popular bicycle route unsafe for bicycling. 10. US 70 Bypass Widening: Widen US 70 Bypass, from the OrangelDurham County line to the I-85-US 70 Connector east of Efland, to a four-lane divided section with bike and pedestrian improvements. This project should be phased to address traffic counts and existing congestion. Orange County requests that this project be identified as a need and included in the 2011-20172 STIP. Two segments of this corridor are of particular interest. The first segment is the one through northern Hillsborough because of the economic development potential of this segment (as referenced in the US 70/Cornelious Street Corridor Strategic Plan) and proximity to C.W. Stanford Middle School and Orange High School. The second segment is the segment through the Eno Economic Developmerit District that includes the interchange of Interstate 85 and US 70, and should be contemporaneous with TIP Project I-0305, Interstate 85 widening from I-40 to the OrangelDurham County line. 11. NC 86 (North of Hillsborough) Improvements: Widen NC 86, from US 70 Bypass north of Hillsborough to Coleman Loop, SR 1332, (Coleman Loop also being the intersection area of the planned connector between NC 86 and NC 57), to four lanes with intersection improvements at US 70 Bypass to include extending the queuing lane for traffic turning east onto US 70 Bypass from northbound Churton StreetlNC 86. NC 86 is the major north-south route through Orange County and is designated in North Carolina's Long-Range Statewide Multimodal Transportation Plan as a Strategic Highway Corridor. NC 57 converges into US 86 just north of US 70 Bypass. The segment of NC 86 between NC 57 and US 70 is congested, rendering a high accident location at the intersection of US 70 Bypass at NC 86. 12. NC 86, Bicycle Facilities: Construct bicycle facilities (4-foot paved shoulders) from Chapel Hill (Whitfield Road, SR 1730, SR 1731) to Hillsborough {US 70 Business). This project will extend bicycle facilities on Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard (NC86) in Chapel Hi11 to US 70 Business in Hillsborough. NC 86 from Chapel Hill to Hillsborough is experiencing increasing numbers of bicyclists using this route and there are also two schools along this route, A.L. Stanback Middle School and New Hope Elementary School (just off NC 86 on New Hope Church Road, SR 1723}. This route is listed as priority I of the primary bicycle routes proposed in the Orange County Bicycle Transportation-Plan. This project is included in the Bicycle Program as an incidental need. Orange County requests that bicycle lanes- be constructed as an independent project, and, if necessary, programmed in phases.