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- Only one side of Randolph Road has mailboxes; residents must cross the <br />street to get mail <br />- Traffic calming measures are already needed <br />- There is not adequate storage on Randolph to handle any increase in turns <br />- Children already have difficulty walking safely to bus stop on Randolph <br />Meanwhile, there are other ways to make Pickett Road safer besides closing it <br />and diverting its traffic onto Randolph. In fact, at the August TAC meeting, a NCDOT <br />representative said there were measures that could be taken immediately to improve <br />safety at intersection of Pickett and Erwin. <br />With resources not fully available for Hollow Rock development, it would be very <br />premature to close Pickett Road - as planning is often a dynamic, changing process. <br />For example, it may turn out that a pedestrian bridge across Pickett Road would <br />better serve the needs of all concerned. <br />Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter." <br />Bill Hall is a resident of Alman Drive in Durham. This road connects to Randolph <br />Road, and this is his only way of getting out of his neighborhood. He spoke about the <br />proposal to close part of Pickett Road. He is opposed to this. He said that the Orange <br />County Commissioners were involved in park planning and would have the final say in <br />closing this road. He appreciates that the Orange County Commissioners asked for input <br />from the Durham residents that would be most affected by this closure. He said that the <br />Durham representatives had no intent to ask for input from those most affected. <br />He said that most input has been from park supporters who think that Pickett <br />being open and the safety of the park users are mutually exclusive. He believes <br />otherwise, and this was supported at the August TAC meeting by representatives from <br />Chapel Hill. <br />He said that supporters think that Randolph can handle the increased traffic that <br />would happen if Pickett Road were closed. Most emphasis is on Pickett and Erwin and <br />Randolph and Erwin. Randolph and Erwin is slated to get a stoplight, which will help. <br />Pickett and Erwin has already been improved. Randolph and Pickett is a huge issue <br />because there is no room for improvement and no room for increased capacity. If Pickett <br />Road is closed, all of that traffic using Trinity School will come past this intersection. <br />He asked the County Commissioners to please listen to all sides and not just <br />those that are in support. <br />He also asked the County to provide more visible signage for the buildings, such <br />as the Senior Center, especially at nighttime. <br />Bob Randall read a prepared statement. <br />"Thank you for allowing me to speak. My name is Bob Randall and I'm a resident <br />of northern Orange County and Chairman of the Orange County Republican Party. <br />I have read news articles about your excitement in adding yet another tax <br />referendum to a future ballot. I'm referring to the half-cent transportation tax. Having just <br />been given a sales tax hike, this is the last thing Orange County residents need during <br />this economic downturn. <br />Need I remind you that Orange County presently has among the highest property <br />tax rates in the state? Making matters worse, our state has the highest income tax rates <br />in the Southeast and unless our General Assembly acts soon, the second highest gas .tax <br />in the nation. It is not hard to understand why NC has a 10% unemployment rate, higher <br />