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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 11-21-2000-9bORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: November 21, 2000 Action Agenda Item No. _ q - b SUBJECT: Transportation Improvement Program Comments DEPARTMENT: County Manager, Planning 8~ PUBLIC HEARING: (YlN) Nv Inspections ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: 1. 10/16/00 Planning Department John Link, ext. 2300 Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Gene Bell, ext. 2589 Program Document to Commissioner Karen Lincoln, ext. 2594 Gordon and Draft TIP Division 7 Highway Program for Orange County (under TELEPHONE NUMBERS: separate cover) Hillsborough 732-8181 2. TIP 2-yr. development schedule Chapel Hill 968-4501 3. DCHC MPO press release for public Durham 688-7331 comment period Mebane 336-227-2031 4. Draft letters and comments to MPO and BOT member PURPOSE: To provide the opportunity for BOCC members and the Board as a whole to make comments and take possible positions on future transportation plans in and around Orange County. BACKGROUND: At the October 17, 2000 BOCC regular meeting, Commissioner Alice Gordon distributed a package of information from the Planning Department on the Transportation Improvement Pragram in and around Orange County. It was noted that the Board and/or individual Baard members might want to provide feedback on these materials and the future transportation plans. After reviewing the attached information on this year's STIP and MTIP development process, the Board may submit comments regarding the proposed TIP in the following ways: a. By providing written comments to the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (DCHC MPO); b. By providing written comments to North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Division 7 and by way of presentation at the Draft TIP Comment Meetings, and c. By meeting with and/or providing written comments to Orange County's Board of Transportation Member. 2 The DCHC MPO has released the draft Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program (MTIP) fora 60-day comment period, and. will hold a public hearing for the MTIP in December. Division 7 will hold its public hearing for the TIP on November 28. FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no direct financial impact on the county budget with the Board discussing these transportation issues other than possible staff follow-up time to document and present any county positions to MPO and NCDOT officials. RECOMMENDATION(S). The Manager recommends that the Board discuss the information and provide any direction to staff as necessary. 3 FY 2002-2008 MTIP Development Schedule (two-year process) October 1999/ Local Jurisdictions Develop Draft Local Priority Lists November 1999 (Orange County BOCC discussed priority list on November 22, 1999 and endorsed priority list on December 7, 1999) November 1999/ MPO Staff Prepared Draft Regional Priority List December 1999 November 17, 1999 TCC Endorsed Regional Priority List to Forward to the TAC December 8, 1999 TAC Received Draft Regional Priority List; Released Draft for Public Comment; and Forwarded Draft to the State for Review January 12, 2000 TAC Held Public Hearing on Priority List and Approved. Regional Priority List January/February MPO Priority Sessions with NCDOT August 2000 Draft FY 2002-2008 STIP Released October 2000 Development of FY 2002-2008 MTIP November 8, 2000 Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) Released Draft . MTIP and Draft STIP (with recommended changes) for 60-day public comment period December 14, 2000 TAC holds public hearing on MTIP January 16, 2001 Public comment period on MTIP ends January 2001 Fallowing the public comment period, negotiations take place between the DCHC MPO and the state April 11, 2001 TAC adopts MTIP consistent with an approved STIP June 2001 NC Board of Transportation (NCBOT) approves FY 2002-2008 STIP (NCBOT may approve the STIP at an earlier date, June is the last month to approve the STIP before FY 2002-2008 begins). 4 DCHC Metropolitan Planning Organization ANNOUNCING A Public Comment Period for the Draft FY 2002-200$ Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program (MTIP) The Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (DCHC MPO) has released the Draft FY 2002-2008 Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program (MTIP) for public review and comment. The MTIP is the seven year funding and scheduling document for transportation improvement projects (highway, bicycle, pedestrian, and transit capital and operating assistance) using State and federal funds. Copies of the Draft MTIP are available for review at the City of Durham Transportation Division, the Durham City-County Flanning Department, the Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Hillsborough, Chatham County, and Orange County Planning Departments, as - well as at the Durham, Orange, and Chatham County Public Libraries. The public comment period will end on Tuesday, January ld, ~_ 2001. A public hearing is scheduled for, Thursday, December 14 2000 at 6:30 pm in the Durham City Council Chambers. Written comments may be mailed to the City of Durham Transportation Division, 101 City Hall Plaza, Durham, NC 27701 Attn: Phil Conrad or e-mailed to: pconradCae.ci.durham.nc~us. For further information, please contact Phil Conrad or Tim Saunders @ 560- 4366. * * Persons with disabilities will be accommodated. Provisions will be made if notified 48 hours in advance of the meeting. ** 5 December 14, 2000 Mayor Rosemary Walldort, Chair Transportation Advisory Committee Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro MPO Durham DOT 101 City Hall Plaza Durham, NC 27701 Dear Mayor Waldort: Enclosed with this letter you will find Orange County's comments regarding the D ft 2002-2 08 Durham- a el Hill- rrboro Me olitan Trans lion Im~rovemen#, Program. 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 6 COMMENTS REGARDING THE DRAFT 2002-2008 DURHAM-CHAPEL HILL-CARRBORO METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (MTIP) SUBMITTED BY ORANGE COUNTY Orange County gives 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. 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. Orange County submits the following comments on selected projects in the Draft 2002-2008 DCHC Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program. DRAFT 2002-2008 MTIP PROJECTS IN ORANGE COUNTY 1. U-2805: Homestead Road Widenin4 - Orange County requests the further advancement of Homestead Road in the, TIP schedule for the following reasons: a) Tip Project U-2302 (Airport Road widening), which was completed this year, approximately doubled the capacity of Airport Road providing increased access to the land served by Homestead Road; and b) there will be a period of several years between completion of improvements to Airport Road and construction of improvements to Homestead Road, and during that time, accident exposure will be increased because Homestead Road was not improved at the same time as Airport Road. It is important that improvements to Homestead Road not be delayed from the scheduled construction date in 2004. We were disappointed that the construction- d~fe bias-previously slipped trom mid 20p1 to 2U(14, and now has slipped again from 2004 to 2005. 2. NC 86. Construct bicycle lanes: from Chapel Hill (Whitfield Road) to Hillsborough (US 70). Scheduled improvements to Airport Road (NC86) 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. This route is listed as priority I of the primary bicycle routes proposed in the Orange County Bicycle Transportation Plan adopted April 6, 1999. Orange County requests that bicycle lanes be constructed. This project is included In the Draft 2002-2008 STIP in the Bicycle and Pedestrian Program as an incidental bicycle need. Orange County would also like it to be considered as an independent bicycle project in the future. 7 3. US 70 Bypass Widening: from the Durham County line. to the. US 70 - I-85 Connector, widen US 70 Bypass to a four-lane divided section with bike and pedestrian improvements. This project should be phased to address safety issues, traffic counts and existing congestion. Even though this project did not score in the top 25 priority projects requested by the MPO, it was the number 3 top priority for both Hillsborough and Orange County. Orange County requests that this project be identified as a need and included in the 2002-2008 STIP. 4. 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 -Orange County requests that I-3306 Section A and I-3306 Section B be divided into two separate projects and programmed separately in the TIP. Project design for this facility is in progress. Orange County requests that the development of the Major Investment Study and Environmental Impact Statement for this project include insurance that the project will not have detrimental land use impacts to the Orange County Comprehensive Plan. Orange County is opposed to any widening of 1-40 through Orange County unless there is a commitment by NCDOT to provide HOV and/or dedicated bus lanes. 5. I-305: widenin of I-85 to six lanes and reconstruction of interchan es from I-40 at Hillsborou h to Durham Coun Line -Even though this project remains an "UNFUNDED PROJECT', 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. Erasion Control Measures -Orange County requests that permanent erosion control measures be included in the project. a. vy7idiife Vorricior under i-t~5 -orange Lounty requests that its staff be-allowect~to participate during the planning stage to bring to the attention of the NCDOT Staff Biologist concerns surrounding the area where I-85 passes over Rhodes Creek (the interchange of I-85 and US 70). Construction of a wildlife corridor along Rhodes Creek 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." c. Intersection of Pleasant Green Road SR 1567 ~ Mt Herman Church Road SR 1713) - NCDOT Division 7 Traffic Engineer has 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. 8 d. US 70 from NC 751 to Universi 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 NC 10 (SR 1715) which is currently operating at level of service "F". e. 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 1-305. Orange County requests that the road design includes 12' wide travel lanes and 4' wide bicycle lanes for a total paved width of 32'. f. Old NC 1D 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 the road design includes 12' wide travel lanes and 4' wide bicycle lanes for a total paved width of 32'. OTHER DRAFT 2002-2008 MTIP PROJECTS 6. R-2fi30 DURHAM NORTHWEST LOOP NORTHERN DURHAM PARKWAY :new multi-lane route from I-85 in Orange CauntY,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 on a location outside of Orange County. 7_ I-2204: widenin of IUD to ei ht lanes from NC 147 Exit 279 in Research Trian le Park to .Bradshaw Freeway at Wade Avenue (Exit 2892 -Orange County is fully committed to support HOV lanes for I-4D and requests that HOV lanes be fully investigated and considered by NCDOT prior to any future improvements to that . corridor. 9 November 28, 2000 Mr. J. Douglas Galyon Division 7 Member North Carolina Board of Transportation 1 South Wilmington Street Raleigh,~~NC 27611 Dear Mr. Galyon: Enclosed with this letter you will find Orange County's comments regarding the D~_2002-2008 N Carolina Trans lion Im rov ent Program, The first set of comments, entitled "Comments Regarding the Draft 2002-2008 Durham-Chapel Hill-Can~boro Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program (MTIP)"; concerns projects in Orange County within the Durham-Chapel Hiil-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Area. The second set of comments relates to projects in Orange County outside the metropolitan planning area and is entitled "Comments Regarding the Draft 2002-2008 North Carolina Transportation Improvement Program". 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 th the Board of County Commissioners at (919) 732-8181, extension 2130. ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Sincerely: Moses Carey, Jr,, Chair 10 COMMENTS REGARDING THE DRAT 2002-2008 NORTH CAROLINA TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM SUBMITTED BY ORANGE COUNTY Orange County appreciates the opportunity to participate in the North Catalina 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 efFcient multi-modal system throughout the County. Orange County submits the following comments on selected projects, in the Draft 2002- 2008 NC Transportation Improvement Program. These are provided as two distinct sets of comments as follows: Comments Regarding the Draft 2002-2008 North Carolina Trans ortatian Im rovement Pro .ram far Orange County Projects Within the Durham- Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Area; and Comments Regarding the Draft 2002-2008 North Carolina Transportation ,I,mprovement„Program for Orange County Projects Outside the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Area: 11 COMMENTS REGARDING THE DRAFT 2002-2008 NORTH CAROLINA TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FOR ORANGE COUNTY PROJECTS WITHIN THE DURHAM-CHAPEL HILL-CARRBORO METROPOLITAN PLANNING AREA 1. U-2$05: Homestead Road Widenin - Orange County requests the further advancement of Homestead Road in the TIP schedule for the following reasons: a) Tip Project U-2302 (Airport Road widening), which was completed this year, approximately doubled the capacity of Airport Road providing increased access to the land served by Homestead Road; and b) there will be a period of several years between completion of improvements to Airport Road and construction of improvements to Homestead Road, and during that time, accident exposure will be increased because Homestead Road was not improved at the same time as Airport Road. It is important that improvements to Homestead Road not be delayed from the scheduled construction date in 2004. We were disappointed that the construction date has previously slipped from mid-2001 to 2004, and now has slipped again from 2004 to 2005. 2. NC 86. Construct bic cle lanes: from Chapel Hill (Whitfield Road) to Hillsborough (US 70). Scheduled improvements tv Airport Road (NC86) 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. This route is listed as priority I of the primary bicycle routes proposed in the Orange County Bicycle Transportation Plan adopted April 6, 1999. Orange County requests that bicycle lanes be constructed. This project is included In the Draft 2002-2008 STIP in the Bicycle and Pedestrian Program as an incidental bicycle need. Orange County would also like it to be considered as an independent bicycle project in the future. . 3. US 70 B ass Widenin :from the Durham County line to the US 7D -- I-85 Connector, widen US 70 Bypass to a four-lane divided section with bike and pedestrian improvements. This project should be phased to address safety issues, trafFc counts and existing congestion. Even though this project did not score in the top 25 priority projects requested by the MPO, it was the number 3 top priority for both Hillsborough and Orange County. Orange County requests that this project be identified as a need and included in the 2002-2008 STIP. 4. I-3306 Section A: widenin of I~0 to six lanes from I-85 in Oran a Coun to NC 147 Buck Dean Freewa in Durham Coun -Orange County requests that I-3306 Section A and I-3306 Section B be divided into two separate projects and programmed separately in the TIP. Project design for this facility is in progress- Orange County requests that the development of the Major Investment Study and Environmental Impact Statement for this project include insurance that the project will not have detrimental land use 12 impacts to the Orange County Comprehensive Plan. Orange County is opposed to any widening of I-4.Q through Orange County unless there is a commitment by NCDOT to provide HOV and/or dedicated bus lanes. 5. I-305: widening of 1-85 to six lanes, and reconstruction ,of interchanges from I-40 at Hillsborough to Durham County Line -Even though this project remains an "UNFUNDED PROJECT', 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. Wildlife Corridor Under I-85 -Orange County requests that its staff be allowed to participate during the planning stage to bring to the attention of the NCDOT Staff Biologist concerns surrounding the area where I-85 passes over Rhodes Creek (the interchange of (-$5 and US 70). Construction of a wildlife corridor along Rhodes Creek 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." c. Intersection of Pleasant Green Raad (SR 1567).& Mt Herman Church Road (SR 1713) - NCDOT Division 7 Traffic Engineer has 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. d. 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 sulfa"nie transition from/to I-85. ~-n example of the need for this project is- the intersection of US 70 with Old NC 10 (SR 1715) which is currently operating at level of service "F". e. Mt Herman Church Raad (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 the road design includes 12' wide travel lanes and 4' wide bicycle lanes for a total paved width of 32'. f. 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 the road design includes 12' wide travel lanes and 4' wide bicycle lanes for a total paved width of 32'. 13 COMMENTS REGARDING THE DRAFT 2002-20D8 NORTH CAROLINA TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FOR 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 far existing transportation facilities. Infrastructure Improvements, - In previous years Orange County has made TIP requests related to project I-304. Because I-304 has been completed without these requested projects, Orange County is now asking that the following infrastructure improvements be made to the I- 85/Buckhom Road Economic Development District: a) Ca ac' Im rovements -Widen Buckhom Road (SR 1114) from US 70 to West Ten Rd. (SR 1144) to 24 feet (two 12' travel lanes) and improve the Intersection of Buckhom Road and US 70 to include turn lanes and improved turning radii. b) Rail Road Crossin Im rovements -Improve the Southern Railway /Buckhom Road (SR 1114) railroad crossing. 2) Transit Im rovements - It is increasingly evident, through the Triangle Fixed Guideway Study and other research, that Orange County should begin Transit Planning to coordinate local transit planning with the Triangle f=ixed Guideway Study recommendations. In order to support transit in Orange County, the following improvements have been requested: a) Twenty_ Year Transit Development Plan for Oranae County -Funding is requested to develop a long range transit plan that would integrate local transit systems with the planned long range transit improvements of the Triangle Region (i.e., Triangle Transit Authority's Triangle Fined Guideway System) and the state ~(i.e.-, Governor Hunt's Transit 2001 Plan); Orange County staff is working with transit providers to determine which providers will provide what types of services in Orange County and how to best handle this issue. b) Park and Ride Lot in the Buckhom Economic Development District -Orange County requests that a park and ride facility (from the adopted Orange County Economic Development District Design Manual) be constructed as a demonstration project with Transit 2001 Funds. This project is clearly justified as it meets the warrants for a park and ride lot far two growing regions in North Carolina, the Triad and Triangle. Orange County staff is working with transit providers to determine which providers will provide what types of services in Orange County and how to best handle this issue.