HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 06-01-2010 - 4nORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: June 1, 2010
Action Agenda
Item No. -+ — n
SUBJECT: Orange County Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP) Process Plan
DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections PUBLIC HEARING: (Y /N) No
ATTACHMENT(S):
1. Orange Unified Transportation Board
Recommendation
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Karen Lincoln, 245 -2594
Craig Benedict, 245 -2592
PURPOSE: To direct the Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP) Steering Committee to
continue with data collection, data projections, alternative selection and analyses, and
development of the plan with public input to include NC 86 as a strategic highway corridor (SHC),
with a phased plan for improvements to a future expressway as an ultimate configuration.
BACKGROUND: The BOCC, on February 2, 2010, voted to continue development of the
Comprehensive Transportation Plan with a phased plan for improvements to NC 86 with no explicit
endorsement by the Board, pending further information. The BOCC received additional
information at a work session on May 13. The North Carolina Department of Transportation
( NCDOT), in order to continue data collection and development of the plan, requires Orange
County to agree to endorse a CTP consistent with the State Strategic Highway Corridor Vision
Plan showing an NC 86 corridor through Orange County connecting with 1- 85/1 -40 as a SHC with
ultimate design of four -lanes with a median. The Orange Unified Transportation Board
recommends developing the plan with NC 86 as a SHC, but voicing the County's uneasiness with
designating the four -lane divided cross - section for a highway through a rural area for a road for
which 1) there is no immediate plan to construct, 2) there is no study to support the four -lane
cross - section, and 3) for which there has been no local involvement. Staff is drafting a letter for
the BOCC's consideration for inclusion in comments submitted to NCDOT during the public
comment period for CTP adoption.
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 direct staff to work with the
Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP) Steering Committee to continue development of the
countywide multimodal plan with public input, and including NC 86 as a strategic highway corridor,
with a phased plan for improvements to a future expressway as an ultimate configuration.
Attachment 1
r.
Orange Unified Transportation Board April 21St Meeting Notes Related to CTP Recommendation
The transportation board, at its meeting on April 21, made the following conclusions:
• Traffic is increasing on NC 86.
• NC 86 meets criteria to be designated as a Strategic Highway Corridor.
• Traffic coming from the Danville Virginia area and Caswell County to access the many
attractions in the Chapel Hill /Durham area use NC 86 and will continue to use NC 86 in the
future, regardless of whether the road is improved or not.
• The strategic corridor plan provides a long -term vision that prescribes an ultimate design to
accommodate projected future traffic
• Improvements will be made as traffic on NC 86 warrants improvements
• The traffic is not approaching the need for the ultimate design
• There is insufficient right -of -way to construct the ultimate design
• There are no available funds to construct the ultimate design in the foreseeable future
• The Comprehensive Transportation Plan can be updated and amended
• If the County does not adopt a Comprehensive Transportation Plan, the County will be
forgoing planning for transit and bicycle and pedestrian needs.
• There is a legitimate concern that overbuilding NC 86 is not in the interest of maintaining
the rural character of the northern Orange County and the Colonial Heritage Scenic Byway.
• North Carolina Department of Transportation Planning Division has contacted Division 7
regarding a phased construction plan for NC 86 to implement the strategic highway
corridor's ultimate expressway design and Division 7 is unwilling to support a phased plan
for an unscheduled construction project.
• Orange County has two options:
1. Develop and adopt a Comprehensive Transportation Plan with NC 86 designated as a
strategic highway corridor with ultimate 4 -lane divided highway design; or
2. Interrupt development of the transportation plan while the County requests a revision of
facility type for the NC 86 strategic highway corridor, from expressway (4 -lanes with
median) to boulevard (2 -lanes with median).
The transportation board voted unanimously to recommend the Board of Commissioners explicitly:
• Endorse the principle of strategic highway corridors;
• Proceed with development of the Comprehensive Transportation Plan to include NC 86 as
a strategic highway corridor; and
• Make a statement to the North Carolina Department of Transportation stressing the Board
is troubled by the Department's use /requirement of a particular design for all highways
designated a strategic highway corridors, as every area is different and a "cookie cutter"
design may not the best way in every instance to achieve mobility to meet traffic needs;
and
• The Board is also concerned the Department dictates a design for the corridor without local
input and prior to any contextual and planning studies for the corridor improvements.