HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 09-05-2017-12-7 - Memorandum - Update on Mebane Traffic Separation Study (TSS) INFORMATION ITEM 1
PLANNING & INSPECTIONS DEPARTMENT
Craig N. Benedict, AICP, Director
Administration 131 W. Margaret Lane
(919) 245-2575 Suite 201
(919) 644-3002 (FAX) E OU N^^^^^^ P. O. Box 8181
www.orangecountync.gov NOR'.t, .. CA 1111',()16 INA Hillsborough, NC 27278
MEMORANDUM
TO: Board of County Commissioners
Bonnie B. Hammersley, County Manager
FROM: Craig Benedict, Orange County Planning Director
DATE: August 28, 2017
SUBJECT: Update on Mebane Traffic Separation Study (TSS)
ATTACHMENTS: 1. Link to Final Draft Mebane, NC Traffic Separation Study (TSS)
http://cityofmebane.com/cms/One.aspx9portalld=2307558,
pagelld=9732254
2. Buckhorn Road TSS options
3. EDD area between Buckhorn Road and Mt. Willing Road
4. Orange County Future Land Use Map
5. Orange County Development Pod Map
The City of Mebane Council will be holding a public hearing for the Final Draft of the
Mebane, NC TSS at its September 11, 2017 meeting. A link to the TSS is provided
as Attachment 1. The TSS is a joint cooperative effort with the City of Mebane, Norfolk
Southern (NS), the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), and the North
Carolina Railroad (NCRR). The TSS determines the need for improvements and/or
elimination of public at-grade crossings to improve safety and mobility for motorists,
pedestrians, rail passengers, and train crews. The process involved components relating to
crash data, traffic data, capacity analysis, safety and mobility issues, and public
involvement. With the projected increase in freight and passenger rail traffic, there is a
need to focus attention to the safety of the Study corridor and the mobility of all forms of
traffic.
The TSS focuses on eight existing at-grade roadway-railroad crossings along five miles,
two of which, Buckhorn Road and Mattress Factory Road, are within Orange County's
Efland-Buckhorn-Mebane Economic Development District (EDD).
In mid-June, Planning Department staff provided the following comments on the three
Buckhorn Road rail-highway crossing options included in the earlier Draft TSS (Attachment
2). Those three options remain the same in the Final Draft TSS, and the preferred
improvements are expected to be identified through the upcoming public hearing process.
1. Staff has a strong preference for the connections with Industrial Drive and S.
Frazier Road depicted in Option 2. This alignment coordinates well with the
County's future road alignment concepts through this area, which is the focus of
many of the County's economic development efforts (see Attachment 3). An at-
grade connection to the east economic development area will be needed. This is
imperative since this area is isolated due to the rail line and the interstate.
2
2. A connection with S. Frazier Road will provide a more direct route around the
western side of Efland. Buckhorn Road is one of the main interchanges being
used by truckers to avoid the truck scales at the NCDOT weigh station on I-85/I-
40. This alignment will help with the problem of truckers using primary and
secondary streets in Efland to avoid the weigh station, and/or headed to Virginia.
3. The elevated rail crossing will help with school bus traffic in the area.
4. Option 2 intersects US 70 in locations that will promote future traffic lights which
will be necessary in the Buckhorn 1-85/1-40 area. Buckhorn Road will likely be a
four-lane divided roadway between US 70 and West Ten Road based on our
studies and adopted land use map (Attachment 4). The other alternatives do not
intersect US 70 in locations that will promote these future traffic lights.
5. There is substantial concern however about the proposed round-about depicted
at Buckhorn Road and Industrial Drive due to a limited distance of approximately
600 feet from the interchange ramps, the high volume of traffic forecasted and
the heavy truck traffic. An Orange County transportation consultant has recently
completed a technical study that indicates very high future 2025 traffic
projections on Buckhorn Road (north of 1-85/1-40, south of US 70) with a Level of
Service (LOS) of F. This analysis was based on a fairly detailed build-out
analysis for the area, performed with the designation and examination of
eighteen development pods. For reference, a Development Pod map is provided
with the approximate future square footage of development in those pods
impacting Buckhorn Road (Attachment 5). A cross intersection with turn lanes is
recommended by Orange County to address these issues. The intersection at
Industrial Drive will need to accommodate a high volume of traffic and trucks, and
quickly move them away from the interstate interchange.
No improvements were recommended by the TSS for Mattress Factory Road due to the
short distance between roads adjacent to the rail line.
If you have questions, please contact Abigaile Pittman, Transportation/Land Use Planner,
by phone at (919) 245-2567 or by e-mail at ab WWtm ne oran -ecouurt a c. -ov or Craig
Benedict, Orange County Planning Director, by phone at (919) 245-2575 or by e-mail
at cbenedict oran recount nc. 3ov.
Next Steps
Planning staff will attend the City of Mebane Council hearing on September 11 to provide
these comments on the Final Draft Mebane TSS, which pertain to the three options
provided for the Buckhorn Road rail-highway crossing. Staff will report back to the
Manager and the Commissioners regarding Mebane's actions at the public hearing.
Following adoption by the City of Mebane the TSS will be used for municipal planning and
NCDOT funding purposes.
2