Minutes - 20020508 - Laserfiche WebLink

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b. Matters on the Printed Agenda (These matters were considered as the Board addressed the items on the agenda below.) 3. BOARD COMMENTS Commissioner Gordon made reference to the Durham/Chapel Hill/Carrboro Transportation Advisory Committee meeting that was held this morning. She distributed a handout that had a map of the Northern Durham Parkway. After three years of study, the Department of Transportation says that the alternative (darker line that goes up to the north and comes back down) is not satisfactory for some reasons that are stated under "Alternative Evaluation." There will be a meeting on May 23'' of the Durham County and City officials to discuss this. The Orange County Commissioners are also invited. The understanding is that this will have to be decided fairly quickly— in the next few months — or the money will be lost for any of the alternatives. If the alternative is not acceptable and people go with the recommendation of DOT, it will be the route that the County Commissioners objected to previously. The County Commissioners should be ready to register their opinion on this matter. Commissioner Gordon said that the 2025 Transportation Plan Update has gotten through tier three. The analysis of the five alternatives will be presented on June 26`h Commissioner Gordon said that there are some information items from the TTA and the TAC. The phase one of the regional rail is the railroad corridor that goes from locations in Durham to Raleigh. She pointed out that phase two is important to Orange County. There has been a long process for evaluating US 15-501 and there is a bus/mixed transit alternative, which will go to preliminary engineering and preliminary environmental impact statement. Also, she made reference to alternatives analysis for the I- 40/NC 54 corridor. Phase two is a long ways in the future, but at some point in the near future, the Commissioners may need to express their opinions concerning the relative priority of US 15-501 and 140/NC54. Transportation Planner Karen Lincoln was at the meeting and will provide information to the County Commissioners on this. Commissioner Gordon made reference to the High Occupancy Vehicle study and said that we need to be clear on how many lanes of general vehicular traffic do you have to have before you can get HOV lanes. Her understanding is that you have to have six lanes, three each way, to have HOV lanes. Other people have understood this differently, so it needs to be straightened out. The good news is that DOT has entertained these possibilities. Commissioner Gordon distributed information on the North Carolina Multi-Modal Investment Network and the State Multi-Modal Transportation Plan. The staff attended this meeting. Commissioner Brown asked if DOT has printed something on HOV lanes and if they support these HOV lanes. Commissioner Gordon said that what DOT is saying is that HOV lanes are feasible. Chair Jacobs made reference to the analysis of Don Moffett from the Eno River Association about Eno River Drive and said that there is a less supportive interpretation of DOT's planning process. He asked for copies of this analysis. This area is one of the most environmentally sensitive areas along the Eno River. Chair Jacobs said that representatives from Triangle Transit Authority (TTA) attended a meeting several months ago where there were questions from the County Commissioners, which have not been answered. He said that he was disappointed in the presentation because it was very generic. Planning Director Craig Benedict said that Karen Lincoln will be getting the answers soon and will provide a copy to the County Commissioners. Commissioner Brown asked about the Estes Drive widening proposal and mentioned that there was a DOT meeting at the middle school and she was not informed. Commissioner Gordon said that there is a three-lane road proposal for Estes Drive in the Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP). Nothing has officially changed, but it could. According to the process, part of what DOT does is to reassess the needs and determine the scope of the project. Commissioner Gordon said that the TAC is an advisory committee. Once a project has been approved, it is included in the TIP. Commissioner Brown asked for an update on this meeting. In answer to a question from Commissioner Brown about the construction on 1-40, Commissioner Gordon said that this is a widening project. Chair Jacobs asked for a written report from Karen Lincoln for answers to questions for TTA, what is happening on 1-40, and other projects within Orange County. He suggested developing a bimonthly transportation report.