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• 4 1 VIII. PUBLIC HEARINGS 2 A. FEASIBILITY STUDY - NC 54 WIDENING 3 Planning Director Marvin Collins presented this item to 4 receive citizen comment on a feasibility study for the proposed widening 5 of N.C. Highway 54 in Orange County. The proposed widening would be 6 from I-85/40 in Burlington to the N.C. Highway 54 Bypass in 7 Carrboro/Chapel Hill. Mr. Collins listed the possible negative 8 environmental impacts as well as staff comments to the feasibility 9 study. 10 Mr. Collins entered into the record a letter from Blair 11 Pollock. Mr. Pollock opposes the widening of NC 54 for three reasons: 12 (1) displaces existing buildings, people and agricultural land, (2) 13 disrupts important areas of the local drinking water supply watersheds 14 especially University Lake, and (3) implies that the only way to handle 15 transportation needs is with more roads with no examination of 16 alternatives. He supports the development of passenger rail service 17 between the Burlington area and Chapel Hill/Carrboro, and also 18 encourages carpooling or convenient, regular, cheap, good bus service. 19 Mr. Richard Davis from North Carolina Department of Transpor- 20 tation (NCDOT) stated that they would explore all feasible alternatives 21 to the widening of NC 54 . It has not been definitely decided that this 22 widening will be planned. 23 In answer to a question from Commissioner Willhoit about how 24 an item is proposed for a feasibility study, Mr. Davis indicated it 25 could be by a request from a member of the Board of Transportation or 26 a member of the DOT staff. 27 In answer to a question from Chair Carey about the need and 28 where this fits into the proposal, Mr. Davis indicated that it is a need 29 perceived by someone -- a Board member or citizen. He stated that what 30 the feasibility study was saying was that to choose another location 31 would be too expensive. 32 In answer to Commissioner Willhoit' s concern about increased 33 truck traffic, Mr. Davis stated that this would be a longer route 34 because of the many stops for signals and intersections. 35 Mr. Davis stated that the next step is that the project could 36 be added as an active project. 37 In answer to a question from Commissioner Gordon on the 38 impact that action by the Board of County Commissioners would have on 39 this widening, Mr. Davis stated that it would depend on the level of 40 support. It would either move it along or slow it down. 41 42 THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS OPEN FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS 43 44 RAY SPARROW spoke against the widening of NC 54 . He agreed 45 with the letter received from Blair Pollock. He feels that some 46 alternate form of transportation could be looked at to ease the traffic 47 on NC 54. He stated that this road is a shortcut for truckers. They 48 dodge the scales on Highway 85 and use this route because it is still 49 the most direct route to many points. He indicated that if the project 50 must be done that it be done with minimal impact on the road. 51 52 LOIS HERRING, Chair of the OWASA Board, read a letter into