HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES-2011-026 Resolution Providing Comments to NC Dept. of Transportation Regarding Draft 2011–2020 State Transportation Improvement Program~. ap/(--p 2G
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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
A RESOLUTION PROVIDING COMMENTS TO THE
NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
REGARDING THE
DRAFT 2012 - 2018 STATE TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
DIVISION 7 PROJECTS IN ORANGE COUNTY
WHEREAS, Orange County welcomes the opportunity to participate in development of
the North Carolina Transportation Improvement Program; and
WHEREAS, Orange County gives priority to identified safety needs in the vicinity of
schools, 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 has submitted a Priority List of transportation projects for
inclusion in the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP); and
WHEREAS, the North Carolina Department of Transportation has revised its process
for developing the State TIP to be more transparent, and has released the 2011-2020 Work
Program containing a Draft 2012 - 2018 STIP for public comment; and
WHEREAS, Orange County, as a member of the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro
(DCHC) Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) has submitted comments to the
Transportation Advisory Committee of the DCHC MPO regarding transportation projects
within the Metropolitan Area Boundary (MAB); and
WHEREAS, the North Carolina Board of Transportation is the sole approving authority
for the STIP for areas of the State outside Metropolitan Area Boundaries; and
WHEREAS, a large portion of Orange County lies outside the DCHC MPO MAB;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Orange County Board of
Commissioners that Orange County submits the following comments regarding transportation
projects in the County, as recommended by the Orange County Unified Transportation Board,
for consideration by the North Carolina Department of Transportation in development of the
Final 2012- 2018 State Transportation Improvement Program:
1. Orange County supports greater funding for alternative modes for transportation.
2. TIP Project E-4980, pedestrian bridge on Orange Grove Road over I-40: Orange County
urges DOT to fund the construction of the pedestrian bridge in the 2011-2020
Transportation Improvement Plan. This pedestrian bridge is the central element in the
Safe Routes to School plan for Grady A. Brown Elementary School and for Cedar Ridge
High School. Without the bridge, the SRTS plan cannot move forward.
We also recommend that the project be modified to include a short stretch of sidewalk on
the north side of the bridge extending from the bridge to Timbers Avenue. This stretch is
only 0.14 mile long, but when it is in place, it will provide connectivity from the bridge to
three high-density neighborhoods: Patriot's Point, Colonial Estates, and the Timbers. To
improve the pedestrian access to the south of the bridge, the Orange County School
System has committed to constructing a safe and comfortable path from the pedestrian
bridge to the Cedar Ridge entrance. In phase II of the SRTS project implementation, we
plan to apply for funding to construct a crosswalk from the Cedar Ridge campus to Grady
Brown, thereby completing the connectivity.
This project will benefit many students and families. The Orange County school system
estimates that over 126 high school students live within one mile of Cedar Ridge (2010
estimation). Most of these students live in the high-density Timbers, Patriot's Pointe, and
Colonial Estates neighborhoods. The school system estimates that 136 Grady Brown
Elementary students live in the same area. Safe walking routes will allow students (and
families) to walk to school and to school-based activities such as sporting events and the
completed routes will help the school system save transportation dollars through the
reduction in hazard busing.
The pedestrian overpass is the central and essential component for safe routes to these
schools. We urge you to move forward with this project.
3. EB-5108, Dairyland Road (SR 1112), Union Chapel Grove Road (SR 1111) to Orange
Grove Road (SR 1006), add wide paved shoulders
Orange County requests NCDOT to proceed without delay with the feasibility study
scheduled in the 2009-2011 TIP. This area experiences high levels of bicycle traffic from
Carrboro and Chapel Hill to rural routes. This route is a portion of the number 3 priority
listed in Orange County's Priority List for the 2009-2015 TIP for projects outside the MAB.
The entire project would connect the urbanized areas of Carrboro and Chapel Hill to
Efland and Mebane via Dairyland Road, Orange Grove Road, and Buckhorn Road. The
portion from Union Grove Church Road to Orange Grove Road is part of a loop that, along
with Old NC 86, has been designated as a North Carolina Scenic Corridor. NCDOT,
through the Moving Ahead Program and the Resurfacing Program has provided 2-ft.
paved shoulders on Orange Grove Road, improving conditions for cyclists from Dairyland
Road to NC 54. Orange County requested this project as a rural project, as most of the
route was outside The DCHC MPO planning area. Recently the state approved an
expansion of the Metropolitan Area Boundary, which now includes most of this route.
4. B-5348, Old Greensboro Road (SR 1005), replace bridge number 85 over Phil's Creek:
Orange County recommends accelerating this project. The Draft STIP proposes
replacement of this bridge in 2019. NCDOT has programmed his portion of Old
Greensboro Road to be resurfaced in 2011 and Orange County has requested 2' paved
shoulders be included in the repaving project. The bridge will not handle being repaved
and has been patched repeatedly to repair recurring potholes. Old Greensboro Road is
identified in the Orange County Bicycle Plan and the DCHC Long Range Transportation
Plan as a priority bicycle route, and is part of the NCDOT Mountains to Sea Bicycle Route
(Route 2).
5. Project I-0305, widen I-85 to six lanes and reconstruct interchanges and structures:
Orange County requests that NCDOT consider comments submitted for previous TIP
updates by Orange County regarding the I-85 widening project. Orange County requests
the following based on previous County comments:
• Provide, in consultation with county staff, sidewalks and bike lanes along
roads where interchange improvements are required, and to include adequate
guardrails on overpasses;
• Provide 12' wide travel lanes and 4' wide bicycle lanes for a total paved width
of 32' for any roads that may be relocated as part of the project (NCDOT
Division of Highways Planning and Environmental Branch has previously
indicated that Herman Church Road, SR 1713, and Old NC 10, SR 1710, may
be relocated as part of I-305);
• Widen the overpass on NC 86 to accommodate increased traffic volumes
resulting from recent development in the adjacent Economic Development
District;
• As part of the project, widen NC 86 from US 70 A to Old NC 10, SR 1710,
including bicycle lanes and sidewalks; and
• Consult with county staff regarding design of the US 70 interchange to:
- To bring to the attention of the NCDOT Staff Biologist, the proposed
construction of a wildlife corridor under I-85 in the vicinity of US70
Interchange, as recommended in the "The New Hope Corridor Open
Space Master Plan: Proposals for Linking Duke Forest and Eno River
State Park"; and
- To provide a pedestrian trail under I-85 linking New Hope Creek and the
Eno River (New Hope Rustic Woodland Trail proposed as an element of
the Lands Legacy Program).
6. Protects to alleviate congestion in downtown Hillsborough
Orange County requests that studies be programmed for projects to alleviate congestion
in downtown Hillsborough, now that the Elizabeth Brady Road Extension project has been
canceled. These projects include:
• R-2825, South Churton Street improvements from I-40 to the Eno River;
• U-3436, Realignment of the Eno Mountain and Mayo Street intersections with
Orange Grove Road;
• Anew project to extend Orange Grove Street to US 70 A; and
• Anew project to widen NC 86 from US 70 Bypass to NC 57 with intersection
improvements at US 70.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
7. Orange County recognizes the importance of the I-85 widening project to economic
development in the central portion of the County, and urges NCDOT to accelerate, if
possible, Project I-0305A, widening I-85 from I-40 to west of SR 1709 (Lawrence Road)
with reconstruction of the interchanges at Old NC 86 and at NC 86.
8. Additionally, the County supports acceleration and phasing of Project I-3306A, widening I-
40 from I-85 to the Durham County Line, with Phase A being both eastbound and
westbound segments from the Durham County Line to NC 86 and Phase C being the
remainder of the project from NC 86 to I-85.
9. The County also recognizes the importance to economic development of improvements to
Buckhorn Road, scheduled for reprioritization in 2012. Orange County urges the NCDOT
and the MPO to give due consideration to the need for those improvements in the 2014-
2020 STIP and MTIP.
Upon motion of Commissioner ,and seconded by Commissione r
the foregoing resolution w s adopted this the 15t" day of March, 2011.
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, 2011, 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 011.
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Clerk to the Board f Commissioners