HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES-2003-069 MTIP Resolutions Endorsing Orange County Transportation Priority List for 2006-2012 TIP`o _ z~- ~,~~ 3
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS `sb
A RESOLUTION CONCERNING PROJECTS TO BE CONSIDERED FOR INCLUSION IN
THE 2006 - 2012 DURHAM-CHAPEL HILL-CARRBORO METROPOLITAN
TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
WHEREAS, the North Carolina Board of Transportation and the Durham-Chapel Hill-
Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), 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 and the MPO solicits input for
identifying transportation projects of local and regional importance to be included in the FY
2006-2012 Transportation Improvement Program; and
WHEREAS, Orange County, as a member of the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro
Metropolitan Planning Organization, will continue to work with the Transportation Advisory
Committee (DCHC TAC) to develop a complete list of project priorities for the portion of
Orange County that lies inside the urbanized area boundary; 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
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Orange County Board of
Commissioners that:
1. The Board of County Commissioners endorses the attached priority list of transportation
projects to be considered for inclusion in the FY 2006-2012 Transportation Improvement
Program; and
2. The Board of County Commissioners provides the attached comments concerning .local
transportation projects contained in the 2004-2010 DCHC Metropolitan Transportation
Improvement Program.
Upon motion of Commissioner ,seconded Commissioner
the foregoing resolution was adopted this the ~[_ day of~~~?-x-2003
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 21, 2003, as relates in any way to
the adoption of the foregoingr at said proceedings are recorded in the minutes of said
~r ~P~.e ~`~ ~
Board. a~ ~;.., c~F~ ~
WITNESS my hand an~ ~t~ - , i County, this~_ day of ,.2003.
4 ~ ~~ Ey
, ~1~~°`~
k z :r,~ ~ ,~-- ,~ ~
~`~ ~ ~ ~ Clerk o the Board of Commissioners
,;}tea
°~art
ORANGE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION PRIORITY LIST
FOR CONSIDERATION OF FUNDING IN
THE 2006 - 209.2 DURHAM-CHAPEL HILL-CARRBORO
METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZION
TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
1. SR 1006, Orange Grove Road, at Interstate 40: Construct a pedestrian bridge
over I-40. New Grady Brown Elementary and newly constructed Cedar Ridge
High School are located on New Grady Brown School Road which has
access from Orange Grove Road south of I-40. The schools are within
walking and cycling distance from residential areas north of I-40. Bicyclists
and pedestrian 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.
2. U-2805: Homestead Road (SR 1777) Improvements: Improve Homestead
Road from SR 1$34, High School Road, to NC 86. This project should
include bicycle and pedestrian facilities. 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 far the
safety of students and others.
This project should also include appropriate safety improvements to the
intersection of Homestead Road with High School Road and the intersection
of Homestead Road with Seawell School Road. Both of those intersections
are near public schools.
3. NC 86, Bicycle Lanes: Construct bicycle lanes (4-foot paved shoulders) from
Chapel Hill (Whitfield Road) to Hillsborough (US 70 Business). This project
will extend bicycle lanes on Airport Road (NC86) in Chapel Hill to US 70
Business in Hillsborough. Bicycle lanes have recently been completed along
NC 86 from UNC to Whitfield Road (SR 1731) in Orange County. 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. This route is
listed as priority I of the primary bicycle routes proposed in the Orange
County Bicycle Transportation Plan adopted April 6, 1999. This project is
listed in the 2002-2008 TIP, as an incidental bicycle need. Orange County
requests that bicycle lanes be constructed as an independent project, and, if
necessary, programmed in phases.
ORANGE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION PRIORITY LIST
2006 - 2012 DCHC MTIP
4. Old NC 86 (SR 1009~Bicycle Lanes: Construct bicycle lanes (4-foot paved
shoulders) from Carrboro (Eubanks Road) to Hillsborough (i-40). This
project, from the Carrboro Transition area (Hickory Forest Road) to Lafayette
Drive, is priority 6 of the primary bicycle routes listed in the Orange County
Bicycle Transportation Plan, and would extend bicycle accommodations
requested in TIP Project R-2825 to Carrboro, where its Transportation
Advisory Committee has also established bicycle routes on Old NC 86 as a
transportation priority connection between proposed bicycle facilities along
Old Fayetteville Road, Homestead Road and Eubanks Road.
The feasibility study for TIP Project R-2825, improvements to South Churton
Street, recommends afour-lane divided section for Old NC 86 (S. Churton
St.) from I-40 to Lafayette Drive. That study also anticipates accommodations
for bicycles (wide outside lanes) from I-40 to I-85. This project would connect
bicycle facilities proposed in the South Churton Street project to Carrboro.
Carrboro's Transportation Advisory Committee has recommended bicycle
lanes along Old NC 86 in two separate requests for Carrboro's Priority List for
the 2006-2012 TIP:
• from Old Fayetteville Road to Homestead Road; and
• from Homestead Road to Eubanks Road.
5. R-2825 Improvements to South Churton Street: Develop congestion
management, limited access, aesthetic and capacity 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 in February 2002
recommends a 4-lane divided, with 16-foot median, curb and gutter cross
section for the entire corridor from I-40 to 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:
6. US 70 Bypass Widening: Widen, from the Orange/Durham County Line to
the US 70 - I-85 Connector east of Efland, US 70 Bypass 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 2006-
2012 STIP.
2
ORANGE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION PRIORITY LIST
2006 - 2012 DCHC MTIP
7: NC 86 (North of Hillsborough) .Improvements: Widen NC 86, from US 70
Bypass north of Hillsborough to SR 1332, Coleman Loop (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. NC 86 is
the major north-south route through Orange County. 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. Development pressures in this area will
exacerbate traffic congestion and acciden# proliferation.
3
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
COMMENTS REGARDING THE
2004 -2010 DURHAM-CHAPEL HILL-CARRBORO
METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZION
TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
1. Comments on Proiect U-3808 Elizabeth Brady Road Extension
A. The Orange County Board of Commissioners is pleased that bicycle and
pedestrian facilities have been included in the Elizabeth Brady Road Extension
project connecting US 70 Business with US 70 Bypass. The Board requests that
the 2004- 2010 DCHC Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program use
the following alignment and cross section for the project.
1. An alignment that has the least impact on the Eno River, the natural
environment and cultural sites.
2. An alignment that does not cross the Eno River, but is aligned along the ridge
south of the river (if that alignment has the least impact on the natural
environment and cultural sites). This recommendation is in accordance with
the Economic Development District Transportation Work Group priority order
by preference of options to be studied for environmental analysis.
3. A road configuration of two lanes with right-of-way reserved for four lanes
(four lanes if necessary).
The Board further stresses that it does not endorse the alternative for this project
that proposes a western bypass of Hillsborough with an interchange at I-40/I-85
that would impact the critical area of the Upper Eno Watershed.
B. An Economic Development District (EDD) Transportation Work Group made up
of Orange County and Town of Hillsborough elected officials, planning staff,
developers and community groups was established to address transportation
issues regarding the Hillsborough area EDD. That group's recommendations
and comments regarding the planning and design of this project were submitted
on December 3, 2001, as part of Orange County's Transportation Priority List for
Consideration of Funding in the 2004 -2010 Transportation Improvement
Program.
2. Comments On Other Tip Projects Initiated By NCDOT
A. I-3306 Section A: widening of I-40 to six lanes from I-85 in Orange County to NC
147 (Buck Dean Freeway) in Durham County.
The Orange County portion of this project is currently listed in the TIP as an
unfunded project; however, this project is nearing completion (scheduled for
.2004) in Durham County. Project planning and design for this facility was
completed for both phases of the project and the environmental studies rendered
a Categorical Exclusion (CE) in 2000. The studies for the project in Orange
County should be reviewed prior to construction, especially with respect to the
recently completed study concerning high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes.
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
COMMENTS REGARDING THE 2004 -2010 DCHC MTIP
Orange County is opposed to any widening of I-40 through Orange County
unless there is a commitment by NCDOT to provide HOV and/or dedicated bus
lanes. Transportation modeling studies indicate that the existing four-lane section
from I-85 to NC 86 may be adequate to handle projected future traffic, but HOV
lanes, along with widening to a six-lane section for general traffic, will be needed
to help alleviate congestion from NC 86 to Wake County.
Orange County requests that, if funding cannot be secured through another
project, this project include widening the bridge on Orange Grove Road over I-40
to provide safe access for bicycle and pedestrian traffic over the interstate as
recommended in the (2002) Orange Grove Road Study executed by a joint
committee made up of Orange County and Town of Hillsborough Commissioners
and staff from Orange County and Hillsborough Planning Departments, Orange
County Economic Development Department, and NCDOT.
Orange County also requests that NCDOT provide aesthetic landscaping at
interchanges for this project.
B. I-305: widening of I-85 to six lanes and reconstruction of intercha
at Hillsborough to Durham County Line
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.
This project is programmed for planning in FFY 04, design in FFY 06 with
construction to start in FFY 10. Orange County requests the following
infrastructure improvements as they relate to the I-85/US 70 Economic
Development District.
1. Erosion Control Measures -Orange County requests that NCDOT provide
permanent erosion control measures throughout the project.
2. Landscaping of Interchanges -Orange County requests that NCDOT
landscape all reconstructed interchanges in an aesthetic manner.
3. Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities -Orange County requests that NCDOT
consult County staff 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.
4. Wildlife Corridor Under I-85 (in the vicinity of US70 Interchange) -Orange
County requests that NCDOT consult County staff during the planning stage,
and that this issue be brought to the attention of the NCDOT Staff Biologist.
2
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
COMMENTS REGARDING THE 2004 -2010 DCHC MTIP
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 linking New Hope Creek and the Eno River (New
Hope Rustic Woodland Trail proposed as an element of the Lands Legacy
Program).
5. 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-305 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.
6. US 70 from NC 751 to University Station- Road (SR 1712) -Due to the needs
of the Pleasant Green Road\US 70 intersection, Orange County requests that
US 70, from NC 751 to University Station Road, be upgraded to provide for a
suitable transition from/to I-85.
7. 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 that this road be
designed with 12' wide travel lanes and 4' wide bicycle lanes for a total paved
width of 32'.
8. Old NC 10 (SR 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' wide travel lanes and 4' wide bicycle lanes for a total paved
width of 32'. .
9. NC 86 - NCDOT has expressed concern that the width (2-lane) of the NC 86
overpass is inadequate for increased traffic volumes that would result from
proposed development in the adjacent Economic Development District.
Orange County requests that the NC 86 overpass be widened.
3