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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 11-21-2002-5JOINT MEETING ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS/ HILLSBOROUGH BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: November 21, 2002 Action Agen~- Item No. SUBJECT: Report from the Joint Orange Grove Road Transportation Group DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) ATTACHMENT(S): JOGRTG Recommendations (Full Report to be provided prior to the meeting) INFORMATION CONTACT: Craig Benedict, ext. 2592 Karen Lincoln, ext. 2594 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 968-4501 Durham 688-7331 Mebane (336)227-2031 PURPOSE: To receive a report from the Joint Orange Grove Road Transportation Group. BACKGROUND: The Orange County Board of Commissioners and Hillsborough Town Board, at a joint meeting in May of this year, established the Joint Orange Grove Road Transportation Group (JOGRTG) as part of a continuing planning cooperative effort. Existing and proposed development activity as well as existing public facilities such as schools in this corridor prompted a review of transportation issues and a discussion regarding the range of transportation planning initiatives that can lead to awell-planned, safer, multimodal transportation system. The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) was also a partner in the effort. The JOGRTG found that the crux of many solutions was based in access management. The Orange Grove Road Access Management Plan is the product of the group's work. The Access Management Plan will help manage growth in the area, as well as promote safety for motor vehicle, pedestrian and bicycle traffic. FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no direct financial impact associated with this item. RECOMMENDATION(S): The County Manger recommends that the Boards receive the report and consider authorizing staff to pursue the recommendations. a Recommendations The Joint Orange Grove Road Transportation Group recommends the following actions to alleviate unsafe conditions and to manage potential congestion from future development in the Orange Grove Road corridor. The recommendations address flue basic issues: 1. obtaining funding for improvements to enhance safety for all modes of traffic; 2. providing pedestrian facilities (sidewalks) in the corridor; 3. implementation of recommendations into local plans and regulations; 4. recommendations for future studies; and 5. distribute the report to community groups for comments. 1. Pursue funding to implement recommendations in this study. The Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), Spot Safety funds and Small Urban Funds are potential funding sources for roadway improvements. Small Urban Funds may be used for projects within 1-mile outside city limits. Both Small Urban and Spot Safety funding sources are subject to the discretion of the Division's Board of Transportation (BOT) member, and are generally requested for projects in the $50,000 to $200,000 range. The local jurisdiction(s) must request those funds from the BOT member. Transportation Improvement Program, in general, is used to fund projects that cost $300,000 or more. There are also some contingency funds that may be requested through the area's representatives to the State legislature. The local jurisdictions should pursue funding to advance the following improvements in the Orange Grove Road corridor. - Pursue funding to widen the bridge on Orange Grove Road over Interstate 40 to include bicycle and pedestrian facilities. North Carolina Department of Transportation estimates the cost to add bicycle and pedestrian facilities to the bridge is approximately $750,000. - Pursue funding and work with NCDOT to install a crosswalk with a flashing light to warn vehicles of the pedestrian crossing at the bus driveway entrance at Grady Brown Elementary School. - Pursue funding and work with NCDOT to investigate installing a traffic light at the intersection of Oakdale Drive and Orange Grove Road, and to provide right turn lanes on both Oakdale Drive and Orange Grove Road to assist traffic flow through the intersection. 2. Provide pedestrian facilities along Orange Grove Road. - Research actual right-of-way along Orange Grove Road throughout the corridor study area through land records and pursue feasibility of obtaining the recommended 80' right-of-way through dedication or acquiring easements. - Investigate installing sidewalks along the north side of Orange Grove Road in the corridor study area including determining the feasibility of construction with respect to changes in elevation along the road and with respect to cost. 5 - After technical report has been received by both the Hillsborough Town Board and the Orange County Board of Commissioners, if the data indicates that construction of a sidewalk on the north side of Orange Grove Road is not financially feasible, pursue widening Orange Grove Road to 12' lanes with, at a minimum, 4' paved shoulders and preferrably with 6' or 8' paved shoulders to allow for a shared bicycle/pedestrian facility. - Coordinate with the School Board to pursue installation of sidewalks along Orange Grove Road adjacent to the school property, along New Grady Brown School Road and from the proposed cross walk on New Grady Brown School Road to the Grady Brown School and to Cedar Ridge High School. 3. Implement recommendations into local plans and regulations. - Include recommendations in this study in the development of Multi-modal Transportation Plans for Orange County and the Town of Hillsborough. - Adopt recommended cross section for Orange Grove Road into Orange County and Town of Hillsborough zoning ordinances and subdivision regulations. - Amend each jurisdictions respective land use regulations to support and/or implement recommendations in this study including a provision that any development having ingress/egress off Orange Grove Road in the study area either construct its fair share of recommended improvements or provide payment in lieu of for such improvments. - Support TIP Project R2825, South Churton Street improvements, by continuing to assign a high priority to that project as a transportation need in the biennial update of the TIP. 4. The following items are recommended for Future Studies. - Work with the business community through the Economic Development Commission and the Orange County/Hillsborough Chamber of Commerce to implement the recommendations in the Feasibility Study for South Churton Street concerning Daniel Boone Village and to develop access management for other businesses in the South Churton Street corridor. - Pursue a future study for the Oakdale Drive corridor. 5. Distribute Orange Grove Road Study and Access Management Plan to community groups for comments.