Orange County NC Website
5 <br /> seal. <br /> VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br /> B. PROPOSED NCDOT 1993-94 SECONDARY ROAD IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM <br /> Mr. J. W. Watkins, Division Engineer with the Department of <br /> Transportation introduced Mr. Gorman Gilbert as the new member from Orange <br /> County appointed to the Board of Transportation. <br /> Mr. Watkins reported on what was accomplished last year in the <br /> secondary roads program and the program for this year. They did not rerate <br /> the roads this year. The Board of Transportation will be reviewing the rating <br /> formula and decide this fall when to rerate the roads. They would like to <br /> receive input from the County Commissioners on how to change the rating <br /> system. In answer to a question from Commissioner Halkiotis, Mr. <br /> Watkins indicated that their goal was to pave every unpaved road with fifty <br /> cars or more within ten years. He pointed out that on the list of unpaved <br /> roads, priority 100 and under have less than fifty cars. Statewide they are <br /> on schedule and expect to meet their goal. He explained that money is <br /> allocated for each county and the roads compete against the roads in that <br /> County only. There is a procedure for paving out of priority that includes <br /> a public hearing and a presentation before the Board of Transportation. <br /> THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS OPEN FOR CITIZEN COMMENTS <br /> Mr. Steve Rogers made reference to a letter written to the Planning <br /> Department on October 14, 1987 complaining of the site distance problem on <br /> Dawson Road which is 116 on the list. A memo to Planner Eddie Kirk on <br /> November 16, 1987 requested that he meet with DOT about the problem. On <br /> November 20, 1987, a memo was sent to the Planning Director stating that the <br /> Department of Transportation agreed that there was a problem and offered one <br /> suggestion on how to remedy it which required approval from the landowners and <br /> money from the unpaved road improvement fund or the safety fund which the <br /> County Commissioners would have to approve. A meeting was held on December <br /> 1, 1987 requesting that the Dawson Road project be scheduled in the 1988-89 <br /> NCDOT budget from either of these funds. This request was approved. However, <br /> a landowner who lives out of state would not sign the right-of-way agreement <br /> and nothing could be done. In 1991, Dawson Road was surveyed for paving and <br /> everyone signed the right-of-way. Considering that Dawson Road has been moved <br /> down the list for several years and other newly developed roads have taken <br /> priority and considering that this road is not in the best condition and <br /> school buses use this road, he asked that they please give Dawson Road #1 <br /> priority to be paved. Mr. Watkins assured Mr. Rogers that Dawson Road is on <br /> the list to be paved in 1993-94. <br /> Penny Flake spoke about High Rock Road. This road is paved to Ira <br /> Road. There are bolders protruding out of the road. When it rains, water <br /> washes out the bottom of the road. This road is used by citizens traveling <br /> to Highway 70. There is a one-mile stretch that needs to be paved to complete <br /> this road. She asked that it be moved up on the list and that some type of <br /> road maintenance be done on the road now. <br /> Mr. Watkins explained that High Rock Road was rated in sections. This <br /> one section has a very low home count which is the reason it is low on the <br /> priority list. <br /> Commissioner Insko asked that consideration be given to rerating these <br />