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Home My WebLink AboutRES-2005-071 Comments to TAC or DCHC MPO on transportation priorities list for 2007-2013 improvement program~~-~ - Q 1 ao ~aoos ~--a. -,~~ -- ~> ~~ ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS A RESOLUTION TO SUBMIT COMMENTS TO THE TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE (TAC) OF THE DURHAM-CHAPEL HILL-CARRBORO (DCHC) METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION (MPO) CONCERNING ORANGE COUNTY'S TRANSPORTATION PRIORITIES FOR THE REGIONAL PRIORITY LIST FOR THE 2007 - 2013 TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM WHEREAS, the North Carolina Board of Transportation, every two years, prepares a Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) 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 2007-2013 Transportation Improvement Program; and WHEREAS, the TAC of the DCHC MPO has adopted, in compliance with federal requirements, a methodology for ranking TIP projects based on local and metropolitan goals addressing mobility, the natural environment, air quality and other factors; and WHEREAS, Orange County has submitted to the DCHC MPO a prioritized list of transportation projects representing transportation needs in the County, and .WHEREAS, the quantitative ranking methodology cannot adequately represent the local priority of all proposed projects for the 2007 - 2013 TIP; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Orange County Board of Commissioners that the DCHC MPO Regional Priority List for the FY 2007-2013 Transportation Improvement Program should reflect the priority of the projects requested by Orange County as follows: 1. Orange Grove Road (SR 1006) Pedestrian Bridge over I-40: Should be Division 7 Priority number 2 (Regional Priority 7 or 8); 2. U-2805, Homestead Road (SR 1777) Improvements: Should be one of the eighl projects having a Division 7 Priority ranking of 3 (Regional Priority number 9), and Orange County requests that the NCDOT include, as part of this project, a crosswalk to allow seniors safe access to the park on the north side of Homestead; 3. R-2825, South Churton Street (SR1009) Improvements: Should be one of the seven projects having a Division 7 Priority ranking of 20 (Regional Priority number 43), with final ranking higher than the Orange County projects 4 and 5 listed below; 4. Old NC 86 Bike Lanes: Should be one of seven projects having a Division 7 Priority ranking of 20 (Regional Priority ranking 43), with .final ranking higher than project 5 listed below; 5. NC 86 Bicycle Improvements: Should remain one of the seven projects having a Division 7 Priority ranking of 20 (Regional Priority ranking 43); 6. NC 86/NC 57/US 70 Improvements: Should be Division 7 Priority 27 (Regional Priority ranking 53); 7. US 70 Bypass Widening_ Should be one of the 11 projects having a Division 7 Priority ranking of 28 (Regional Priority ranking of 55); 8. Eno Mountain Road (SR 1148)/Mayo Street (SR 1192)/Orange Grove Road (SR1006) Intersection Realignment: Should be Division 7 Priority 43 (Regional Priority 85); 9. Orange Grove Road Extension to US 70 Business: Should be Division 7 Priority 44 (Regional Priority 86). BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Orange County recognizes I-85 as an important link in the local, regional, and national highway network. The reconstruction of interchanges for I-0305, a TIP project initiated by the NCDOT, is very important to the local area. Orange County requests that the NCDOT incorporate the following items in the TIP project I-0305: 1. Environmental Considerations This project would cross three tributaries of the Eno River (Cates Creek, Stony Creek and Rhodes Creek). Care should be exercised to minimize environmental and water quality degradation during construction and provide culverts with sufficient space for wildlife migration. Additionally, a study from 1992 identified a possible connection between the Duke Forest and Eno River State Park with a connection in this area (Mount Herman Church Road, SR 1713). The County and the Triangle Greenways Council have discussed this concept as part of the Triangle Greenprint project. Orange County requests reservation of a pedestrian crossing linking these two large open space and trail areas. 2. Design Features Planning and design for this project are in progress. Right-of-way acquisition is scheduled to start in FFY 2010 -FFY 2012, with construction starting in FFY 2012. Orange County requests that NCDOT consider the following design features for this project: a. Provide HOV lanes.. Orange County is opposed to any widening of I-85 through Orange County unless there is a commitment by NCDOT to provide HOV and/or dedicated bus lanes. b. Use native plants in landscaping at interchanges for this project. c. Include- noise walls or other means to reduce the effects of traffic noise on residential and other uses located along the corridor. d. Include any available wildlife mitigation measures, particularly at bridges. e. Incorporate bridge designs that allow wildlife to cross safely under the bridge and that allow pedestrian passage along any existing or planned trail-system connectors. 3. Infrastructure Improvements Orange County requests the following infrastructure improvements as they relate to the I-85/US 70 Economic Development District. a. Erosion Control Measures -Orange County requests that permanent erosion control measures be included in the project. b. Landscaping of Interchanges - Orange County requests that NCDOT landscape all reconstructed interchanges in an aesthetic manner. c. Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities -Orange County requests that its staff be allowed to participate in the determination of where and what type of facilities are to be included in this project. Among the features requested for inclusion are sidewalks and bike lanes (see the Regional Bicycle Plan for Durham and Orange Counties) along roads where interchange improvements are required and .adequate guardrails on overpasses. d. Wildlife Corridor Under I-85 (in the vicinity of US70 Interchange) -Orange County requests that its staff be allowed to participate during the planning stage and that this issue be brought to the attention of the NCDOT Staff Biologist. Constructing this wildlife corridor is one of the recommendations presented in the "The New Hope Corridor Open Space Master Plan: Proposals for Linking Duke Forest and Eno River State Park." Orange County also requests that NCDOT consult county staff in designing the interchange at US 70 to provide a pedestrian trail under I-85 (along Mt. Herman Church Road, SR 1713) linking New Hope Creek and the Eno River (New Hope Rustic Woodland Trail proposed as an element of the Lands Legacy Program). e. Intersection of Pleasant Green Road (SR 1567) & Mt Herman Church Road (SR 1713 - NCDOT Division 7 Traffic Engineers have recommended that this intersection be included as a part of I-0305 because of its proximity to the I- 85/US 70 interchange. The entire intersection should be realigned so that Pleasant Green Road intersects US 70 at a 90-degree angle. f. US 70 Interchange: Orange County requests that reconstruction of the interchange at US 70 be designed to accommodate future widening of US 70, and that a reasonable section of US 70 near the interchange be upgraded to provide for a suitable transition from/to I-85. g. Mt Herman Church Road (SR 1713) -.Preliminary plans by the Planning & Environmental Branch, Division of Highways of NCDOT indicate that this road may be relocated as part of I-305. Orange County requests #hat this road be designed with 12-foot wide travel lanes and 4-foot wide bicycle lanes for a total paved width of 32 feet. h. Old NC 10 ASR 1710) -Preliminary plans by the Planning & Environmental Branch,'Division of Highways of NCDOT indicate that this road may also be relocated as part of I-305. Orange County requests that this road be designed with 12-foot wide travel lanes and 4-foot wide bicycle lanes for a total paved width of 32 feet. 4. Additional Infrastructure Improvements Orange County also requests the following infrastructure improvements regarding two structures: a. NC 86 -The two-lane NC 86 overpass of I-85 is inadequate for increased traffic volumes resulting from development in the adjacent Economic Development District. Orange County requests that the NC 86 overpass be widened, and include bicycle and pedestrian facilities. b. Cates Creek -Orange County requests that the interstate be designed to allow safe passage of wildlife and pedestrians along Cates Creek under (- Upon motion of Commissioner , seco ed b ! Com issioner ,the foregoing resolution was adopted this the0 ` may of 2 05 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 March 15, 2005, as relates in any way to the adoption of the foregoing and that said proceedings are recorded in the inutes of said Board. ~ WITNESS my hand and the seal of said County, this ~ y of ~ 005. ®tpq~~ ~oob~ ~ `~ Clerk to the Board of Commissioners Q:'1~:~~:~~''~~ ~~~~~~~