Minutes 03-15-2011 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Fall 2011 NCDOT adopts final STIP Craig Benedict said that based on the February 24th meeting with the Town of Hillsborough, there was urgency in moving forward some of the interstate projects in an organized and accelerated manner to open up some economic development opportunities along the interchange areas. Commissioner Foushee made reference to page 5, Attachment 1, the TIP project related to sidewalks and asked how many miles this would be. Craig Benedict said that it is probably about %2 mile. This is Orange Grove Road. Commissioner Gordon made reference to the strategic prioritization process. She said that the County Commissioners need to understand this better because it can affect the allocation of funds. There are three tiers: statewide (e.g. interstates), regional (e.g. NC 54, etc.), and sub-regional. There will be a presentation at an upcoming TAC meeting because how the projects are categorized can affect the funding of the projects. Commissioner Jacobs made reference to page 2 of the CIP and Mattress Factory Road. He asked if this was something that was being done in consultation with Mebane because it was not on the list before. Craig Benedict said yes. Commissioner Jacobs asked about the priority of Buckhorn Road as a key to the economic development. Craig Benedict said that it was a higher priority in the RPO (Rural Planning Organization). Karen Lincoln said that it was not on the MPO's list because the list is based on the previous priority list. This process can be started again and then there will be more information on the priority list. Commissioner Jacobs said that one of the comments that Orange County should make going forward is that if something was a high priority in an RPO area that is not absorbed into the MPO, that it be given special consideration. This will not help in developing the economic development district. Commissioner Jacobs made reference to page 3 and the whole issue of I-40. He said that it seems that if the MPO is committed to this ahead of I-85 and it is in Orange County, that it ought to be one of the priorities. He thinks that this should be embraced as a priority and have both phases done simultaneously. Craig Benedict said that the comments will be logged and presented. Commissioner Jacobs said that he would like an update on the bicycle plan as soon as possible. Commissioner Jacobs made reference to page 6 and the widening of I-85. He pointed out that these suggestions, including working with the NCDOT staff biologist, are partially in response to the fact that DOT totally ignored these issues when it built the Efland interchange. He asked if it was possible to look at the possibility of an exit at Lawrence Road because it would not involve building another major road and would provide a bypass of downtown Hillsborough. Commissioner Yuhasz said that the acceleration of improvements to I-85/US 70 interchange might make it a more reasonable alternative to promote an eastern bypass. Chair Pelissier made reference to item 1 on page 4. She said that she understood the OUT Board looked at this. She read, "many of Orange County's top priorities are bicycle/pedestrian projects." She asked how that would affect DOT's perception of Orange County's other projects that are not bicycle and pedestrian. Karen Lincoln said that there has always been language in there supporting multi- modal funding. She said that she could strike that last sentence. Chair Pelissier suggested language reflecting "multi-modal" so that it is not concentrated just on bicycle and pedestrian.