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6 <br />part of the Triangle Greenprint project. Reservation of a pedestrian crossing <br />linking these two large open space and trail areas would be desirable. <br />2. Design Features <br />Planning and design for this project are in progress. Right-of-way acquisition <br />is scheduled to start in FFY 10 - FFY 12, with construction. starting in FFY 10. <br />Orange County requests that NCDOT consider the following design features <br />for this project: <br />a. Provide HOV lanes. Orange County is opposed to any widening of I-85 <br />through Orange County unless there is a commitment by NCDOT to <br />provide HOV and/or dedicated bus lanes. <br />b. Use native plants in landscaping at interchanges for this project. <br />c. Include noise walls or other means to reduce the effects of traffic noise on <br />residential and other uses located along the corridor. <br />d. Include anv available wildlife mitigation measures, particularly at bridges. <br />e. Incorporate bridge designs that allow wildlife to cross safely under the <br />bridge and that allow pedestrian passage along anv existing or planned <br />trail-system connectors. <br />3. Infrastructure Improvements <br />Orange County requests the following infrastructure improvements as they <br />relate to the I-85/US 70 Economic Development District. <br />a. Erosion Control Measures -Orange County requests that permanent <br />erosion control measures be included in the project. <br />b. Landscaping of Interchanges -Orange County requests that NCDOT <br />landscape all reconstructed interchanges in an aesthetic manner. <br />c. Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities -Orange County requests that its staff be <br />allowed to participate in the determination of where and what type of <br />facilities are to be included in this project. Among the features requested <br />for inclusion are sidewalks and bike lanes (see the Regional Bicycle Plan <br />for Durham and Orange Counties) along roads where interchange <br />improvements are required and adequate guardrails on overpasses. <br />d. Wildlife Corridor Under I-85 (in the vicinity of US70 Interchange) -Orange <br />County requests that its staff be allowed to participate during the planning <br />stage and that this issue be brought to the attention of the NCDOT Staff <br />Biologist. Constructing this wildlife corridor is one of the recommendations <br />presented in the "The New Hope Corridor Open Space Master Plan: <br />Proposals for Linking Duke Forest and Eno River State Park." Orange <br />