Orange County NC Website
Planner Lincoln stated that the submitted traffic impact analysis was originally one <br />pamphlet with several additional items included later. Orange County staff asked for a revised traffic <br />impact analysis that would have everything in one pamphlet so that it could be distributed. There is <br />nothing outstanding from the State Department of Transportation (DOT). Regarding the last letter <br />received from the District Engineer, the issues that DOT would be concerned about would have to be <br />resolved before DOT would approve any of the improvements for the subdivision. <br />Geof Gledhill asked if all of the data the applicant wants to have entered as evidence has <br />been entered into the record. Karen indicated that it has been entered. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis asked Transportation Planner Slade McCalip to comment on what <br />is meant by "peak hours" for Hwy 70 with regard to the state's definition of the word "capacity." What <br />actually is the capacity? He mentioned that he rides both Hwy 70 Business and Bypass and he has <br />noticed a significant increase in the volume of through traffic in the last several years. <br />Planner McCalip indicated that Level Service "E" is capacity and "F is over capacity. <br />When a road is over capacity, any minor disruption causes slowdowns and backups. In response to a <br />question from Commissioner Halkiotis to further explain what the letter definitions really mean, Mr. <br />McCalip indicated that, in his opinion, this road is currently over capacity at certain times of the day. <br />Commissioner Brown asked the developer for clarification regarding size and price. He <br />repeated that there are examples of houses of similar size and price in both the Woodcroft and <br />Downing Creek subdivisions. <br />Planning Board member Katz asked for clarification regarding the impact that the <br />Scottswood development would have on the traffic patterns. He wanted to know if there is an <br />accurate assessment of what the consequence of this development's impact will be on traffic with the <br />addition of previously approved housing in that area. <br />Planner McCalip referred to Page 157 of the packet which presented projected traffic <br />volumes. He stated that US 70 Bypass is currently experiencing more trips and it is forecast in the <br />regional model to get much more traffic in the next 20 years. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis mentioned that there are signs on Interstate 1-40 which refer to <br />trucks using Hwy 70 Business. He asked why that was happening. He has seen tractor trailers doing <br />U-turns at 7:45 in the morning on Hwy 70. He said that he was alarmed to hear that it was projected <br />to get worse. <br />Planner McCalip indicated that Hillsborough has a prohibition on trucks using Churton <br />Street which explains why these trucks are using Hwy 70 in that way. Also, he mentioned that the <br />Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Work Group, of which Orange County is a <br />member, has forecast that US 70 will have a significant increase in traffic. It will be well over capacity <br />by 2025. He explained that the Transportation Improvement Plan includes planned improvements for <br />Hwy 70 but those improvements are not yet programmed. He explained that improvements are not <br />actually expected to be completed until they are included in the State Transportation Program. Only <br />improvements that are programmed are intended to be completed within the next six years. <br />Proposed improvements go into the plan and from there they are selected to be included in the <br />program to be completed within a six-year time period. It could be included sometime after the year <br />2006. <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Halkiotis, seconded by Commissioner Carey, to <br />Q:119990221d.c