HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 02-18-1997 - 10d 1.
ORANGE C O U N T Y
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: February 18 . 1997
Action Agend
Item # 10.2
SUBJECT: ORANGE COUNTY'S NON-TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (TIP)
REQUESTS
DEPARTMENT: PLANNING PUBLIC HEARING: Yes---Z—No
ATTACHMENT(S) : INFORMATION CONTACT:
Slade McCalip
- STATUS OF 1996 NON-TIP REQUESTS Extension 2595
- MEETING SUMMARY OF 1996 BOT MEETING
TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Hillsborough -732-8181
Durham -688-7331
Mebane -227-2031
Chapel Hill -967-9251
PURPOSE: To receive a report on the status of Orange County' s Non-
TIP requests and consider possible additions to the list .
BACKGROUND: Most of Orange County' s transportation improvement
requests are best addressed outside of the state ' s formal
TIP process which is oriented toward major, multi-year
projects costing $350, 000 or more . Beginning last year,
the Orange County Transportation Improvement Process
included a meeting between the BOCC' s Transportation
Representative and the N.C. Board of Transportation (BOT)
member for Orange County to discuss transportation
improvements . This meeting proved very productive and a
similar meeting is recommended for this year.
RECOMMENDATION: The Administration recommends that the Board identify
possible needs for inclusion in the Non-TIP list and then
request a meeting be scheduled with Orange County' s BOT
member to discuss the list.
2.
ORANGE COUNTY NON-TIP TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS LIST
REVIEWED BY THE ORANGE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ON OCTOBER 2 , 1995
Updated October 9, 1996
1) NC 86 / NC 57 - Requested on Oct . 2, 1995 that this
intersection be signalized and have left turn lanes
constructed on all approaches. Status as of Jan. 30, 1997:
Partially installed, still needs 2 signals and activation.
2) NC 86 and New Hope Church Road (SR 1723) - Requested on Oct .
2, 1995 that left turn lanes be constructed on NC 86. Status
as of Jan. 30, 1997 : Cost estimates prepared; exceed spot-
safety limits and lack of other funds, no change.
3) 1-85 / Old NC 86 (SR 1009) - Requested on Oct . 2, 1995 that
the 1-85 Northbound ramps at Churton Street be signalized
ahead of the widening of 1-85, (now an Identified Future Need
and postponed till after 2002) . Status as of Jan. 30, 1997:
No change.
4) NC 54 / Southern Drive (SR 2016) - Requested on Oct. 2, 1995
that a left turn lane be constructed on NC 54 . Status as of
Feb. 3, 1997: No change.
5) NC 86 / Coleman LP (SR 1332) - Requested on Oct. 2, 1995 that
a left turn lane on NC 86 be constructed. Status as of Jan.
30, 1997: Study done; lane desirable, but traffic volumes and
accident history don' t justify expenditure presently.
6) US 70 / Miller Road (SR 1555) - Requested on Oct . 2, 1997
that left turn lanes be constructed on US 70 . Status as of
Jan. 30, 1997: Lanes studied at same time signals installed;
cost considerable due to fill work required; no funding
currently.
7) US 70 / Lawrence Road (SR 1561) - Requested on Oct . 2, 1995
that left turn lanes be constructed on US 70 . Status as of
Jan. 30, 1997 : no change.
8) Carr Store Road (SR 1352) / Efland Cedar Grove Road (SR 1004)
- Requested on Oct . 2, 1995 that rumble strips installed on
both Efland Cedar Grove Road approaches to intersection.
Status as of Jan. 30, 1997: Flashing lights installed in-lieu
of rumble strips.
9) NC 57 / NC 157 (GUESS RD) - Requested Oct. , 2, 1995 that both
roads be repaved and that rumble strips redone and more
added.
Status as of Jan. 30, 1997: Rumble strips re-done and 45 MPH
advisory signs installed on NC 57; NC 57 re-paved.
3.
10) US 70 /old NC 10 (SR 1715) - Requested on Oct . 2 , 1995 that
intersection be studied for improvements. Status as of Jan.
30, 1997 : Study done; traffic volumes and accident history
indicate nothing unusual at this time; will continue to
monitor.
New requests (as of February 18, 1997) for consideration of the Board:
11) Rail Road Crossing at NC 86 (Blackwood Station) - Request
that the crossing be improved for bicycles.
12) Old NC 10/Carriage Trail (SR 1889) - Request that the
intersection be studied for adequate sight distance .
13) NC 57 at Solid Waste Conveinence Center - Request that the
passing zone be studied for possible conflict with traffic
ingress/egress at Solid Waste Convenience Center.
Previous requests completed as of February 18, 1997 :
2) NC 86 / US 70 Bypass - Request that the traffic signal be
upgraded from existing three phase to an eight phase
operation to provide for a protected left turn on each
approach. Status: Completed.
6) Smith Level Road (SR 1919) / BPW Club Road (SR 1967) -
Request that a traffic signal warrant analysis be conducted.
Status: Analysis done; signal recommended and funded;
installation to be in next few weeks.
4.
Memorandum
Date: 03/01/96
To: Gene Bell
CC: John Link
Marvin Collins
From: Sladkmkalip
Subject: Summary of Orange County's meeting with BOT and NCDOT on
February 29, 1996
The purpose of this meeting was to convey to the Board of Transportation(Dr. Gorman Gilbert)
and to NCDOT Staff(John Watkins, Vance Barham, and Tommy Dyer)Orange County's
transportation priorities for the remainder of this fiscal year(95-96),next fiscal year(96-97) and
for the State Transportation Improvement Program(97-2003). In attendance(besides us)were
Dr. Gordon, Bill Crowther, John Link and the aforementioned persons from NCDOT.
Items Discussed Included:
I TIP:
a)Homestead Road-Dr. Gordon and I asked that this project be moved ahead in the STIP
from construction in 2002 to 1997. Dr. Gilbert informed the group that there was no
money to include new projects in the STIP and that even moving projects up would be
very difficult,but he agreed"to look into it".
b) Widening of 1-85 (Alamance Co. to Dimmocks Mill)-I explained that this was a
request to make improvements to Buckhorn Road to facilitate economic development in
the Buckhom EDD. Dr. Gilbert informed us that there is a funding source available to
BOT members called Public Service and Access Funds. These funds can be requested
of a BOT member after there is a commitment by an industry to locate in an area(i.e.,
Mebane received these funds to improve access to the new battery plant that recently
relocated to Mebane).
c)Bicycle Map-Dr. Gilbert explained that all bicycle projects do not go through the usual
STIP process, but instead go to Curtis Yates of the Office of Pedestrian and Bicycle
Transportation and also to a Bicycle Committee. I informed Dr. Gilbert that I have
been in touch with the Office of Bicycle& Pedestrian Transportation and asked him to
endorse the this project through his office. It is my understanding that the Mapping of
Orange County's Bicycle Routes will be included in the new STIP due out in May of
this year. I asked Dr. Gilbert to let me know what year in the program that this project
will be included.
S.
Memorandum
d) Park& Ride Lot- I informed the group that this project was discussed at the staff
level with Carol Carter and Sanford Cross of the Public Transportation and Rail
Division of NCDOT. I informed Dr. Gilbert that Orange County has a parking lot at
the Northern Human Services Center where there is informal carpool parking
happening now and that the Orange Public Transportation(a demand response bus
system)makes a regularly scheduled stop at this location. I also informed him that
TTA has indicated that they would put Carpool\Vanpool signs at this location. Dr.
Gilbert said that he would also look into this project.
2) NON-TIP:
a)NC 86\NC 57 Intersection Improvements-John Link informed the NCDOT staff that
improvements to this intersection needed to be made at the same time the new Orange
County Vehicle Maintenance Facility opened for business, (by May 1, 1996). NCDOT
staff indicated that this project is funded and will occur this spring or summer.
b)NC 86\US 70 BYP Intersection Improvements-This intersection is Orange County's
number one priority because of the new truck travel restrictions that will be placed on
Churton Street at the completion of the improvements to the Efland Interchange at 1-85
(sometime this summer). NCDOT staff indicated that this project was approved,but is
awaiting funding with Spot Safety Funds. Additional Spot Safety Funds will be allocated
after July 1, 1996.
c)NC 86\New Hope Church RD Intersection Improvements-This intersection is Orange
County's number two priority because of the existing problems with turning movements
and school traffic. Another reason is the anticipated impact of the University Manor
Subdivision(approximately 250 households that are projected to be built-out by the year
2000). NCDOT staff indicated that their policy is that there must be some deficiency in
the operation of an intersection before they can make improvements. I requested that
they study this intersection for improvements. If improvements are warranted then this
project will be funded with Spot Safety Funds. John Watkins indicated that
improvements might cost as much as$ 100,000.
d)NC 86 from New Hope Church RD to Old NC 10- 1 had requested on October 18,
1995 that NCDOT study this segment of road to determine if the speed limits were
adequate. NCDOT was also informed that"the Orange County Board of Commissioners
has one member of the Board that is ready to lie down on road in front of the A.L.
Stanback School". NCDOT staff assured us that the results of their study would be
delivered to me next week(March 4-8).
e)NC 57\NC 157 Intersection Improvements- This request was made to the BOCC by
citizens in the vicinity of the intersection(Caldwell). They requested that more be done
to prevent motorists from"running"the stop signs on NC 157. They also requested that
something be done to reduce the speed of cars going through the intersection. NCDOT
responded that they are aware of the issue and that the only other options to the existing
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6.
Memorandum
rumble strips and warning signs would be to construct concrete islands in the intersection
to channelize vehicular movements or to contact the Highway Patrol and request that they
provide more enforcement in this area. I agreed to write a letter to the Highway Patrol
and make this request. NCDOT will continue to monitor the intersection and will also
review the accident history of this intersection for the past three years.
3) OTHER ISSUES:
Another intersection that may be impacted by the restriction of truck traffic from using
Churton Street would be Faucette Mill\US 70 BYP. We requested that NCDOT study
this intersection, especially after the improvements are made to NC 86\US 70 BYP and
the truck restriction is placed on Churton Street.
Dr. Gordon requested clarification on the process to request TIP and Non-TIP projects.
Dr. Gilbert responded that Orange County has a good process and that the best times to
meet with him to discuss TIP projects is in January after the MPO has adopted it's
Regional Priority List of projects. Dr. Gilbert also mentioned that he would meet with
Orange County as often as we wished.
Dr. Gordon requested clarification on the different funding sources available for road
improvements. Dr. Gilbert and NCDOT staff mentioned the following.
Small Urban Funds-this is to fund projects within 1 mile of a
municipality and cannot exceed$ 150,000 per project per year;
Spot Safety Funds-these funds are projected monthly and are for projects
of less than$ 75,000;
Discretionary Funds-these are allocated to the legislature for their use,
can be used for projects that cost under$ 100,000; and
State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP)-for funding projects
over$ 350,000.
NCDOT staff also mentioned that these funds can be used in combination with each other
to fund those projects that are over the individual funding limitations but are not STIP
type projects (i.e., between$ 150,000 and$ 350,000).
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