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<br />Task Force Charge <br />^ Gather data on problems that impact traffic and pedestrian safety <br />^ Examine development pressures that impact traffic and the University Lake watershed <br />^ Explore ways to provide safe, non-vehicular use of SLR <br />^ Identify obstacles to transportation improvements <br />Northern Section <br />Southern Section <br />General strategies for improving <br />non-vehicular mobility <br />^ Reduce speed of motor vehicles. <br />^ Reduce volume of motor vehicles. <br />^ Reduce exposure time for pedestrians. <br />^ Improve access and mobility for all pedestrians, especially those with disabilities. <br />^ Encourage walking by improving aesthetics, safety, and security. <br />^ Improve compliance with traffic laws (motorists and pedestrians). <br />^ Eliminate behaviors that lead to crashes (motorists and pedestrians). <br />Speeding concerns <br />^ In 2003, nationwide, speeding was a contributing factor in 31 percent of all fatal crashes <br />^ At 4Q mi/h a pedestrian has an 85 percent chance of being killed; <br />^ At 30 milh, the likelihood goes down to 45 percent, <br />^ At 20 mi/h, the fatality rate is only 5 percent <br />^ One fatality on SLR between 200-2006 <br />Truck Traffic <br />^ DOT does not count trucks separately from other vehicles during traffic counts. <br />^ UNC uses Merritt Mining for fill; should expect their truck traffic to remain constant over the <br />next several years. <br />^ DOT will work with municipalities to impose truck restrictions on some roads. <br />Chatham Development <br />Chatham County is expected to grow by approximately 10,Q00-22,QQ0 new homes <br />within the next 15 years, most of them in the northern section of the county. <br />Right of Way <br />^ Approximately 70 feet of easement along each side of the road on the southern section <br />^ Easement restricts other uses <br />^ Right of way gives authority to use for road widening, sidewalks, andlor bike lanes <br />^ Steep ditches along much of the road from 15-501 up to Ray Road complicates prospect for <br />bike lanes/sidewalks <br />^ Adding sidewalks requires adding curb and gutter for safety-extends needed right-of-way <br />out to 15 feet <br />