RES-2011-026 Resolution Providing Comments to NC Dept. of Transportation Regarding Draft 2011–2020 State Transportation Improvement Program

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only 0.14 mile long, but when it is in place, it will provide connectivity from the bridge to three high-density neighborhoods: Patriot's Point, Colonial Estates, and the Timbers. To improve the pedestrian access to the south of the bridge, the Orange County School System has committed to constructing a safe and comfortable path from the pedestrian bridge to the Cedar Ridge entrance. In phase II of the SRTS project implementation, we plan to apply for funding to construct a crosswalk from the Cedar Ridge campus to Grady Brown, thereby completing the connectivity. This project will benefit many students and families. The Orange County school system estimates that over 126 high school students live within one mile of Cedar Ridge (2010 estimation). Most of these students live in the high-density Timbers, Patriot's Pointe, and Colonial Estates neighborhoods. The school system estimates that 136 Grady Brown Elementary students live in the same area. Safe walking routes will allow students (and families) to walk to school and to school-based activities such as sporting events and the completed routes will help the school system save transportation dollars through the reduction in hazard busing. The pedestrian overpass is the central and essential component for safe routes to these schools. We urge you to move forward with this project. 3. EB-5108, Dairyland Road (SR 1112), Union Chapel Grove Road (SR 1111) to Orange Grove Road (SR 1006), add wide paved shoulders Orange County requests NCDOT to proceed without delay with the feasibility study scheduled in the 2009-2011 TIP. This area experiences high levels of bicycle traffic from Carrboro and Chapel Hill to rural routes. This route is a portion of the number 3 priority listed in Orange County's Priority List for the 2009-2015 TIP for projects outside the MAB. The entire project would connect the urbanized areas of Carrboro and Chapel Hill to Efland and Mebane via Dairyland Road, Orange Grove Road, and Buckhorn Road. The portion from Union Grove Church Road to Orange Grove Road is part of a loop that, along with Old NC 86, has been designated as a North Carolina Scenic Corridor. NCDOT, through the Moving Ahead Program and the Resurfacing Program has provided 2-ft. paved shoulders on Orange Grove Road, improving conditions for cyclists from Dairyland Road to NC 54. Orange County requested this project as a rural project, as most of the route was outside The DCHC MPO planning area. Recently the state approved an expansion of the Metropolitan Area Boundary, which now includes most of this route. 4. B-5348, Old Greensboro Road (SR 1005), replace bridge number 85 over Phil's Creek: Orange County recommends accelerating this project. The Draft STIP proposes replacement of this bridge in 2019. NCDOT has programmed his portion of Old Greensboro Road to be resurfaced in 2011 and Orange County has requested 2' paved shoulders be included in the repaving project. The bridge will not handle being repaved and has been patched repeatedly to repair recurring potholes. Old Greensboro Road is identified in the Orange County Bicycle Plan and the DCHC Long Range Transportation Plan as a priority bicycle route, and is part of the NCDOT Mountains to Sea Bicycle Route (Route 2). 5. Project I-0305, widen I-85 to six lanes and reconstruct interchanges and structures: Orange County requests that NCDOT consider comments submitted for previous TIP updates by Orange County regarding the I-85 widening project. Orange County requests the following based on previous County comments: