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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />COMMENTS REGARDING THE 2004 -2010 DCHC MTIP <br />Orange County is opposed to any widening of I-40 through Orange County <br />unless there is a commitment by NCDOT to provide HOV and/or dedicated bus <br />lanes. Transportation modeling studies indicate that the existing four-lane section <br />from I-85 to NC 86 may be adequate to handle projected future traffic, but HOV <br />lanes, along with widening to a six-lane section for general traffic, will be needed <br />to help alleviate congestion from NC 86 to Wake County. <br />Orange County requests that, if funding cannot be secured through another <br />project, this project include widening the bridge on Orange Grove Road over I-40 <br />to provide safe access for bicycle and pedestrian traffic over the interstate as <br />recommended in the (2002) Orange Grove Road Study executed by a joint <br />committee made up of Orange County and Town of Hillsborough Commissioners <br />and staff from Orange County and Hillsborough Planning Departments, Orange <br />County Economic Development Department, and NCDOT. <br />Orange County also requests that NCDOT provide aesthetic landscaping at <br />interchanges for this project. <br />B. I-305: widening of I-85 to six lanes and reconstruction of intercha <br />at Hillsborough to Durham County Line <br />Orange County is opposed to any widening of I-85 through Orange County <br />unless there is a commitment by NCDOT to provide HOV and/or dedicated bus <br />lanes. <br />This project is programmed for planning in FFY 04, design in FFY 06 with <br />construction to start in FFY 10. Orange County requests the following <br />infrastructure improvements as they relate to the I-85/US 70 Economic <br />Development District. <br />1. Erosion Control Measures -Orange County requests that NCDOT provide <br />permanent erosion control measures throughout the project. <br />2. Landscaping of Interchanges -Orange County requests that NCDOT <br />landscape all reconstructed interchanges in an aesthetic manner. <br />3. Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities -Orange County requests that NCDOT <br />consult County staff in the determination of where and what type of facilities <br />are to be included in this project. Among the features requested for inclusion <br />are sidewalks and bike lanes (see the Regional Bicycle Plan for Durham and <br />Orange Counties) along roads where interchange improvements are required <br />and adequate guardrails on overpasses. <br />4. Wildlife Corridor Under I-85 (in the vicinity of US70 Interchange) -Orange <br />County requests that NCDOT consult County staff during the planning stage, <br />and that this issue be brought to the attention of the NCDOT Staff Biologist. <br />2 <br />