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~ n-Form a -j-i o-~ _-~ -enil <br />ORANGE COUNTY PLANNING 8< INSPECTIONS DEPARTMENT <br />Craig N. Benedict, AICP, Director <br />Comprehensive Planning <br />(919) 245-2589 <br />(919) 644-3002 (FAX) <br />www.co.orange.nc.us <br />306E Revere Road <br />P O Box 8181 <br />Hillsborough, <br />North Carolina, 27278 <br />Date: April 23, 2009 <br />To: Laura Blackmon, County Manager <br />CC: Willie Best, Assistant County Manager <br />Craig Benedict, Planning Director <br />From: Karen Lincoln, Transportation Planner <br />Subject: Update on 2035 Long Range Transportation Plan and Conformity <br />Analysis and Determination Report <br />The following is an update on the Conformity Analysis and Determination Report for the <br />Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro (DCHC) Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) 2035 <br />Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP). <br />Every four years the DCHC MPO updates the LRTP, as required by federal and state <br />legislation for areas designated by the Environmental Protection Agency as non-attainment <br />for ambient air quality standards. The plan must demonstrate that fiscally constrained <br />transportation planning activities are consistent with air quality goals to reduce or maintain <br />transportation related air pollutants to/within State-budgeted amounts for the Triangle Area. <br />The Board endorsed comments to the DCHC TAC regarding the Preferred Option of the <br />DCHC 2035 LRTP (Draft LRTP) in December 2009. The DCHC TAC, in February 2009, <br />approved the Draft 2035 LRTP (Preferred Option) for purposes of completing the air quality <br />conformity analysis. The TAC, at its meeting April 8, 2009, held public hearings on the <br />2035 Long Range Transportation Plan and the (Air Quality) Conformity Analysis and <br />Determination Report. The MPO will accept public comment through May 5. <br />The 2035 LRTP <br />Several highway projects have been removed from the 2035 time frame of the plan in order <br />to meet fiscal constraints. Those projects will be included in the (fiscally unconstrained) <br />Comprehensive Transportation Plan for the MPO that extends beyond the 2035 time <br />horizon. Attachment 2 is a list of those projects. Attachment 2 indicates that the <br />Hillsborough Western Bypass and US 70 from NC 86 to I-85 near Durham County were <br />removed because the model indicated lack of congestion on those roads for year 2035. <br />The Conformity Analysis and Determination Report <br />The Air Quality Conformity Analysis and Determination Report covers the entire Triangle <br />Ozone Non-Attainment Area and is based on the LRTPs for the DCHC MPO, the Capital <br />Area MPO (CAMPO), and the Burlington-Graham MPO (Orange County portion of <br />Mebane). The Conformity Analysis and Determination Report states that "The combination <br />_, .. on;s <br />(' ~j`=,: •.>.,..G.~tS 8rd Sr;?iirys~"s ]i30`~:Ln.^.; ; ?'>9.:!?^S;T<,: n: n;', •,. -::~ .. .. ., <br />MEMORANDUM May 5, 2009, BOCC Agenda Report <br />