HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 10-02-1995 - IX-G t
z O R A N G E C 0 U N T Y 1
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: October 2, 1995
Action Agenda
Item
SUBJECT: REVISED ORANGE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION PRIORITIES LIST
DEPARTMENT: PLANNING PUBLIC HEARING Yes x No
ATTACHMENT(S) : INFORMATION CONTACT: Slade McCalip
Extension 2595
- EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF TIP LIST TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
- DRAFT COVER LETTER FOR LIST Hillsborough-732-8181
- DRAFT TIP ORANGE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION Durham -688-7331
PRIORITIES LIST Mebane -227-2031
- DRAFT NON-TIP PROJECTS REQUEST LIST Chapel Hill -967-9251
PURPOSE: To receive a report on the Draft TIP Orange County
Transportation Priorities List and endorse the attached
projects list. The Draft List will be used by NCDOT and
the DCHC in the development of the 1997-2003 State (STIP)
and Metropolitan (MTIP) Transportation Improvement
Programs.
BACKGROUND: In the development of the STIP, local elected officials
present their Local Transportation Priorities List at a
series of public hearings conducted by NCDOT in each of
the State' s highway divisions. The Division 7 public
hearing will be held in Graham on November 15 at 2:00 PM.
The MTIP is developed through a series of meetings held by
the DCHC TAC and TCC to develop regional transportation
priorities based upon the member jurisdiction' s Local
Transportation Priorities Lists.
This year's Orange County's Draft TIP Local Transportation
Priorities List has been developed by staff in close
cooperation with County Commissioner Alice Gordon, the
Board' s representative on the DCHC TAC. The Planning
Board endorsed the attached list at its August 21st
meeting.
The staff has prepared a separate list of Orange County
transportation projects which are not appropriate for
inclusion in the TIP, but which will be pursued through
the appropriate channels. This draft list is included for
the Board' s information.
RECOMMENDATION: The Administration recommends that the Commissioners; ( 1)
endorse the Orange County TIP Local Transportation
Priorities List and authorize the Chair to sign the Cover
Letter (with attachments) , as endorsed by the Planning
Board, to be used by NCDOT and the DCHC TAC in the
development of the 1997-2003 STIP and MTIP, and (2 )
receive the Non-TIP Orange County Transportation Projects
List as information.
i
2
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THE NOVEMBER 15, 1995
ORANGE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION PRIORITY LIST
FOR CONSIDERATION OF FUNDING IN THE NC TIP
The list is introduced by commending NCDOT Division 7 staff that have
been very responsive to requested intersection improvements. The
transportation needs list is divided into two sections; 1) projects
within the DCHC planning area, and 2) projects outside of the DCHC
planning area.
PROJECTS WITHIN THE DCHC PLANNING AREA:
I) U-2805: Homestead Road Widening - This project remains (3rd year)
Orange County's top priority for new road projects requested from
TIP funds (includes bicycle and pedestrian facilities) . We are
requesting construction of this project to be concurrent with that
of Airport Road.
II) I-305: widening of I-85 to six lanes and reconstruction of
interchanges from Orange Grove Road to Durham County Line - Two
types of requests; a) requests made last year that have not been
addressed (three) , and b) specific infrastructure improvements to
support the I-85/US 70 Economic Development District (five) .
III) I-3306 SECTION A: widening of I-40 to six lanes from I-85 in
Orange County to US 15-501 in Durham County - Orange County
requests that it be included in the Major Investment Study and
Environmental Impact Statement development to insure that a
feasibility study for HOV lanes is conducted and to minimize any
detrimental land use impacts to the Orange County Comprehensive
Plan.
IV) R-2630 DURHAM NORTHWEST LOOP (ENO DRIVE) : new multi-lane route
from I-85 in Orange County to I-85 in Durham County - Orange
County is strongly opposed to having this facility within Orange
County and is also very concerned about the environmental impacts
to the Eno River State Park. Orange County requests that this
facility be relocated outside of Orange County.
PROJECTS OUTSIDE THE DCHC PLANNING AREA:
I) I-304: widening of I-85 to eight lanes and reconstruction of
interchanges from NC 54 (in Alamance County) to Dimmocks Mill Road
- Two types of requests; a) requests made last year that have not
been addressed (one) , and b) specific infrastructure improvements
to support the I-85/Buckhorn Road Economic Development District
(three) .
II) Transit Improvements - Three requests; a) Twenty Year Transit
Development Plan for Orange County, b) Park and Ride Lot north of
Hillsborough on NC 86, and c) Bus Turn Outs on NC 86 at the
Northern Human Services Center.
III) Bicycle Improvements - Three requests; a) County-wide Bicycle
Route Map, b) Bicycle Safe Bridge Railings, and c) Bicycle Lanes
on NC 86 from Chapel Hill (Whitfield Road) to Hillsborough (US
70) .
t
3
November 15, 1995
Dr. Gorman Gilbert
DIVISION 7, At-Large Member
NC Board of Transportation
P.O. Box 25201
1 South Wilmington Street
Raleigh, NC 27611
Dear Dr. Gilbert:
Enclosed with this letter you will find this year' s "Orange
County Transportation Priority List for Consideration of Funding in
The North Carolina Transportation Improvement Program.
This letter is also intended to inform you of a school access
safety issue on Homestead Road similar to the Old Hillsborough
Road/Old Fayetteville Road issue that was identified by the Chapel
Hill-Carrboro Board of Education last year. At that time the Board
indicated that the planned improvements for Hillsborough Road and
Old Fayetteville Road were inadequate in both scope and timing to
offset the potential for accidents at their new school facility
along Old Fayetteville Road. This year, as a result of the Board
of Education' s action, the Old Fayetteville\Old Greensboro Roads
project was increased in scope (lengthened by 1.9 miles) and
construction was moved up a year.
In 1999 the widening of Airport Road will approximately double
the capacity of Airport Road and provide increased access to the
land served by Homestead Road. As a result of the improvements to
Airport Road and the development pressures in Chapel Hill, this
segment of road will experience a dramatic increase in traffic
almost immediately upon the completion of the improvements to
Airport Road.
In addition, Orange County is scheduled to build a new human
services center during this same time period, and is concerned
about the safety of its clients as they travel on Homestead Road
between the center and Airport Road. There are severe safety
problems associated with turning movements and sight distance along
this section of road.
t
4
Gorman Gilbert
Page 2
November 15, 1995
The improvements to Homestead Road are not scheduled to begin
until 2002; this means that there will be approximately three years
during which the students and teachers of Chapel Hill High School
and the clients of the new human services center will be exposed to
a much higher probability of an accident than if Homestead Road had
been improved at the same time as Airport Road.
Therefore, because of the high potential for accidents at the
entrances to Chapel Hill High School and along other sections of
Homestead Road, the Orange County Commissioners request, again,
that NCDOT make the construction of improvements to Homestead Road,
Project U-2805, concurrent (during 1997) with the improvements to
Airport Road.
Thank you for your time and consideration of Orange County' s
transportation needs. If you would like to discuss this matter in
detail, please contact Beverly Blythe, Clerk to the Board of County
Commissioners at (919) 732-8181, extension 2130.
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Sincerely:
Moses Carey, Jr. , Chair
S
DRAFT 28 SEP 95 DRAFT 28 SEP 95 DRAFT 28 SEP 95 DRAFT 28 SEP 95
ORANGE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION PRIORITY LIST
FOR CONSIDERATION OF FUNDING IN
THE NORTH CAROLINA TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
PRESENTED AT THE TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM PUBLIC
HEARING ON NOVEMBER 15, 1995
Orange County appreciates the opportunity to participate in the North
Carolina Transportation Improvement Program process. Like so many
jurisdictions across the state, we have transportation needs we feel
are necessary to provide our citizens with a safe and efficient multi-
modal system throughout the County.
We would also like to commend the North Carolina Department of
Transportation' s Division 7 staff, with special appreciation to the
Division Engineer, Mr. John Watkins and Division Traffic Engineer, Mr.
Vance Barham. Orange County would also like to recognize Mr. T. J.
Dyer, District Engineer, whose office has been responsive and has
interacted exceedingly well with Orange County staff. We are very
appreciative of their efforts and are looking forward to working with
them in the future.
Our transportation needs list is divided into two sections. The first
section deals with selected projects within the Durham-Chapel Hill-
Carrboro metropolitan planning area. The second section deals with
projects in the remaining portions of Orange County which lie outside
of the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro metropolitan planning area.
ORANGE COUNTY PROJECTS WITHIN
THE DURHAM-CHAPEL HILL-CARRBORO
METROPOLITAN PLANNING AREA
As a member of the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning
Organization, Orange County 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. However, there are selected projects in
Orange County which we would like to address now because they have been
the subject of discussions between the TAC and the Department of
Transportation or because there are other special concerns.
I) U-2805: Homestead Road Widening - This project remains Orange
County' s top priority for new road projects requested from TIP
funds. Orange County requests that the construction of this
project be concurrent with the improvements to Airport Road. This
requested project continues to include bicycle and pedestrian
facilities.
Homestead Road (SR 1777) continues to be a priority project
because it:
- is a connector facility between Carrboro and Chapel Hill,
- provides primary access to Chapel Hill High School,
1
6
DRAFT 28 SEP 95 DRAFT 28 SEP 95 DRAFT 28 SEP 95 DRAFT 28 SEP 95
- has safety problems associated with turning movements along
its total length,
- has sight distance problems at major intersections, and
- has forecasts of substantial increases in traffic.
In the year 1999 the completed widening of Airport Road will
approximately double the capacity of Airport Road and provide
increased access to the land served by Homestead Road. As a
result of the improvements to Airport Road and the
development pressures in Chapel Hill, this segment of road
will experience a dramatic increase in traffic almost
immediately upon the completion of the improvements to
Airport Road.
In addition, Orange County is scheduled to build a new human
services center during this same time period, and is
concerned about the safety of its clients as they travel on
Homestead Road between the center and Airport Road. There
are severe safety problems associated with turning movements
and sight distance along this section of road.
Since the improvements to Homestead Road are not scheduled to
begin until the year 2002, this means that there will be
approximately three years during which the students and
teachers of Chapel Hill High School and the clients of the
new human services center will be exposed to a much higher
probability of an accident than if Homestead Road had been
improved at the same time as Airport Road.
Therefore, Orange County strongly urges the North Carolina Board
of Transportation to continue to include this project in the 1997-
2003 TIP and to accelerate construction to the year 1997, because
of the high potential for accidents at the entrances to Chapel
Hill High School or along other sections of the road.
II) 1-305: widening of I-85 to six lanes and reconstruction of
interchanges from Orange Grove Road to Durham County Line - Even
though this project has been changed to an "IDENTIFIED FUTURE
NEED" Orange County requests that its staff be allowed to
participate in the planning of the facility. The County is
specifically interested in 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) 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
2
7
DRAFT 28 SEP 95 DRAFT 28 SEP 95 DRAFT 28 SEP 95 DRAFT 28 SEP 95
Durham and Orange Counties) and adequate guardrails on
overpasses (see project III-b on page 5) .
c) Wildlife Corridor Under I-85 - Orange County requests that
its staff be allowed to participate during this part of 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. "
d) Intersection of Pleasant Green Road (SR 1567) & Mt Herman
Church Road (SR 1713) - This intersection was studied by the
NCDOT Division 7 Traffic Engineers last year. They
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 needs to be realigned so that
Pleasant Green Road can intersect US 70 at a 90 degree angle.
e) 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. An example of the need for this
project is the intersection of US 70 with Old No.10 (SR 1715)
which is currently operating at level of service "F" .
f) 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 ' .
g) 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 also be designed with
12 ' wide travel lanes and 4 ' wide bicycle lanes for a total
paved width of 32 ' .
h) Park and Ride 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.
III) I-3306 SECTION A: widening of I-40 to six lanes from I-85 in
Orange County to US 15-501 in Durham County - Project planning for
this facility is scheduled to begin in 1998. Orange County
requests that it be included in the development of the Major
Investment Study and Environmental Impact Statement for this
project to insure that there are no detrimental land use impacts
to the Orange County Comprehensive Plan. The County is
3
8
DRAFT 28 SEP 95 DRAFT 28 SEP 95 DRAFT 28 SEP 95 DRAFT 28 SEP 95
particularly interested in the feasibility of adding high
occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes on I-40.
IV) R_2630 DURHAM NORTHWEST LOOP (ENO DRIVE) : new multi-lane route
from I-85 in Orange County to I-85 in Durham County - Orange
County is strongly opposed to having this facility within Orange
County and is also very concerned about the environmental impacts
to the Eno River State Park. Orange County requests that this
facility be relocated outside of Orange County.
ORANGE COUNTY PROJECTS OUTSIDE
THE DURHAM-CHAPEL HILL-CARRBORO
METROPOLITAN PLANNING AREA
Orange County would like to give priority to identified safety needs on
existing roads and bridges and to other transportation projects which
foster alternatives to automobile travel. The County also endorses
environmentally responsible construction of all transportation
projects. Finally, the County supports adequate maintenance for
existing transportation facilities.
I) I-304: widening of I-85 to eight lanes and reconstruction of
interchanges from NC 54 (in Alamance County) to Dimmocks Mill Road
- Orange County requests that the following infrastructure
improvements be made to the I-85/Buckhorn Road Economic
Development District:
a) NCDOT has installed temporary erosion control measures
according to NCDOT standards. NCDOT currently has no plans
for erosion control measures after completion of
construction. Orange County requests that permanent erosion
control measures be included in the 1997-2003 TIP as a line
item to ensure optimal protection of the Sevenmile Creek
watershed. The Upper Eno watershed, of which Sevenmile Creek
is a sub-basin, has been designated a WS-II watershed; thus
the County is committed to protect the water quality by
working with NCDOT to implement the strongest protection
measures available.
b) Widen Buckhorn Road to 24 feet (two 12 ' travel lanes) .
C) Improve the Southern Railway / Buckhorn Road (SR 1114)
railroad crossing.
d) Improve the Intersection of Buckhorn Road and US 70 to
include turn lanes and improved turning radii.
II) Transit Improvements - It is increasingly evident, through the
Triangle Fixed Guideway Study and other research, that Orange
County needs to begin Transit Planning to include a Twenty Year
Transit Development Plan for Orange County that would coordinate
4
9
1
DRAFT 28 SEP 95 DRAFT 28 SEP 95 DRAFT 28 SEP 95 DRAFT 28 SEP 95
local transit planning with the Triangle Fixed Guideway Study
recommendations. Orange County again requests that the NCDOT
Public Transportation and Rail Division develop a Twenty Year
Transit Development Plan for Orange County.
Orange County also requests the following specific transit related
improvements:
a) Park and Ride Lot north of the Town of Hillsborough on NC 86.
b) Bus Turn Outs on both sides of NC 86 at the Orange County
Northern Human Services Center.
III) Bicycle Improvements - Orange County is performing Suitability
Analyses on the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro MPO's Regional Bicycle
Plan and has identified the following needed bicycle improvements:
a) Orange County Bicycle Route Map - This map should be
comprehensive in nature and have all the rural Orange County
bicycle routes, include insets of the bicycle routes for the
Towns of Hillsborough, Carrboro, Chapel Hill and also the
University of North Carolina.
b) Bicycle Safe Bridge Railings - It is imperative that 54" high
bicycle railings be installed on each of the overpasses along
the adopted bicycle routes over I-85 and I-40. Bicyclists
are riding these routes in increasing numbers and the narrow
width of the bridges contributes to an already hazardous
condition.
c) Bicycle Lanes on NC 86 from Hillsborough to Chapel Hill -
Airport Road (NC 86) in Chapel Hill will extend bicycle
facilities 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 new schools along this route.
Thank you for your consideration of these requests.
Submitted this 15th day of November, 1995
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
by:
Moses Carey, Jr. , Chair
5
10
DRAFT 28 SEP 95 DRAFT 28 SEP 95 DRAFT 28 SEP 95 DRAFT 28 SEP 95 '
ORANGE COUNTY NON-TIP TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS LIST
FOR CONSIDERATION OF FUNDING BY NCDOT
INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS
1) NC 86 / NC 57 - Request that this intersection be signalized
and have left turn lanes constructed on all approaches.
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.
3) NC 86 and New Hope Church Road (SR 1723) - Request that left
turn lanes be constructed on NC 86.
4) I-85 / Old NC 86 (SR 1009) - Request that the I-85 Northbound
ramps at Churton Street be signalized ahead of the wideneding
of I-85, (now an Identified Future Need and postponed till
after 2002) .
5) NC 54 / Southern Drive (SR 2016) - Request that a left turn
lane be constructed on NC 54.
6) Smith Level Road (SR 1919) / BPW Club Road (SR 1967) -
Request that a traffic signal warrant analysis be conducted.
7) NC 86 / Coleman LP (SR 1332) - Request that a left turn lane
on NC 86 be constructed.
8) US 70 / Miller Road (SR 1555) - Request that left turn lanes
be constructed on US 70.
9) US 70 / Lawrence Road (SR 1561) - Request that left turn
lanes be constructed on US 70.
10) Carr Store Road (SR 1352) / Efland Cedar Grove Road (SR 1004)
- Request that rumble strips installed on both Efland Cedar
Grove Road approaches to intersection.
11) NC 57 / NC 157 (GUESS RD) - Request that both roads be
repaved and that rumble strips redone and more added.
12) US 70 /Old NC 10 (SR 1715) - Request that intersection be
studied for improvements.
RAILROAD AND BRIDGE IMPROVEMENTS
These projects have been deleted om this year' s list because of the
responses from NC DOT concerning the projects (see attached
letters) .
J
a%SEAT[
h
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
JAMES B. HUNT. JR. DIVISION OF HIGHWAYS R. SAMUEL HUNT Ill
GOVERNOR P.O.BOX 25201.RALEIGH,N.0 27611-5201 SECRETARY
Movember 21, L994
Mr. Slade S. McCalip, AICP
Transportation Planner II
Orange County Planning Department.
30EF Revere Road
Hillsborough, North Carolina 2727
Dear Mr. McCalip:
This is in regard to your letter of October 27, 1994
concerning the railroad crossings located on SR 1114,
SR 1120 and SR 1713.
As I indicated to you over the phone, each of these crossings
are equipped with railroad signals and gates and there is no
accident history at any of the crossings since signals and
gates were installed. Therefore, all of these locations are
very low on the priority list used to determine which
railroad crossings qualify for our Railroad-Highway Grade
Crossing Safety Program.
14e appreciate your interest in railroad-highway safety and
taking time to express your concerns. Please let us know if
you need additional information.
Yours truly,
D_ R. Adams
Railroad-Highway Grade
Crossing Safety Engineer
DRA
12 f
� � r
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF TPANSPORTATION
JAMES B. HUNT, JR. DIVISION OF HIGHWAYS R. SAMUEL HUNT II I
GOVERNOR October 31, 1994 SECRETARY
Mr. Slade S. McCalip r
Transportation Planner II ,
Orange County Planning Department
306F Revere Road
Hillsborough, NC 27278
Dear Mr. McCalip:
This is a follow-up to our telephone conversation today concerning Orange
County's TIP request which included a request that the DOT paint bridges that are clearly
rusting. I understand the concern relates to bridges which have never been painted.
We have been using"weathering steel" in the construction of bridges located in
inland environments for many years. Oxygen and moisture must be available for steel to
rust. This type of steel forms a dense oxide coating which does not allow oxygen to reach
the base material. The rusting stops when this coating develops since oxygen is not
available.
The first bridge using this type of material was built in 1974 over I85 in Cleveland
County. The performance has been excellent. The benefit is that no maintenance painting
is required which results in a significant reduction in long maintenance costs.
Attached is a list of bridges in Orange County which are constructed of weathering
steel. Please let me know if you have any questions or need additional information.
Sincerely,
Timmy D. Lee, P.E.
State Bridge Maintenance Engineer
JDL/lb
cc: Dr. Gorman Gilbert Mr. C. A Gardner, Jr., P.E. Mr. Al Avant
R
13
S
BRIDGES IN ORANGE COUNTY WITH WEATHERING STEEL 10-31-94
BRIDGE # FEATURE INTERSECTED FACILITY CARRIED LOCATION DIV
67048 SR1005 NC54 @ JCT. SR1005 07
67079 I-40 & I-85 SR1134 @ JCT I40 & I85 07
67258 I40 SR1734 0 . 7 MI .N.JCT SR1733 07
67259 I40 SR1732 0 . 3 MI . N. JCT. SR1733 07
67260 I40 SR1723 @ JCT. I40 07
67266 I40 NC86 @ JCT. I40 07
67268 I85 I40 WBL @ JCT. I85 07
67282 CREEK US15-501 0 . 2 MI .S .JCT.SR1750 07
67286 SR1919 NC54 WBL 1 . 9 MI . S . JCT. NC54 BUS 07
5