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WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners has reviewed the draft 2009- <br /> 2015 DCHC Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program; <br /> NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Orange County Board of <br /> Commissioners that the Orange County submits the following comments to the DCHC <br /> Transportation Advisory Committee to be considered in the development of the final <br /> 2009—2015 DCHC Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program: <br /> 1 . Orange County is concerned that cuts in appropriated federal transportation funds to <br /> North Carolina coupled with the rapid increase in construction costs have reduced <br /> funding sources for bicycle and pedestrian projects in order to prevent further delay <br /> of highway projects. Orange County supports increasing funding for alternative <br /> modes for transportation, particularly for improvements that make bicycling safer on <br /> County roads. <br /> 2. TIP Project B-4218, Replace Bridge No. 108 over New Hope Creek on SR 1730, <br /> Turkey Farm Road. The draft 2009-2015 TIP schedules construction for 2008. <br /> Orange County requests that NCDO T further review and receive public comment <br /> regarding the design of the bridge from an environmental perspective. The current <br /> design calls for an interior bent and three associated 3.5-foot diameter drilled piers <br /> land placement of a 55-foot long rip rap causeway placed in the stream bed. This <br /> reach of New Hope Creek stream is home to six species listed with the North <br /> Carolina Natural Heritage Program, three of which are designated as endangered. <br /> NCDOT has previously responded to concerns of the local jurisdictions and citizens <br /> regarding the design of the US 15-501 bridge over New Hope Creek in Durham <br /> County based on the uniqueness of the corridor and State-Local community <br /> partnership that has invested much time, energy and funding to protect the New <br /> Hope Creek Corridor and preserve it as a natural asset. <br /> 3. TIP Project E-4980, a pedestrian bridge on Orange Grove Road (SR 1006) over 1-40, <br /> continues to be the County's number one priority. Orange County requests that the <br /> NCDOT proceed without delay to execute a feasibility study for this project. <br /> 4. Phase TIP Project 1-0305, 1-85, widen to six lanes and reconstruct interchanges and <br /> structures from 1-40 at Hillsborough to Durham County: Program in phases, with <br /> Phase A being reconstruction of the interchanges followed by widening in Phase B. <br /> a. Use the funding programmed for right-of-way acquisition in FY 11 and FY 12 for <br /> right-of-way acquisition needed for the interchanges. <br /> b. Orange County would also like to know the status of the environmental study for <br /> this project, and be consulted during the study as well as during the design <br /> process as stated in comments previously submitted by Orange County. <br /> 4. Correct the funding split for TIP Project C-4932. The project funds for C-4932 come <br /> from Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funding apportioned to the <br /> DCHC MPO and the Triangle Area Rural Planning Organization (TARPO), according <br /> to an agreement between those two organizations and the NCDOT. The Draft 2009- <br /> 2015 STIP shows funding for C-4932A (the DHCD MPO apportionment) of $41,000 <br /> for each year for FY 09-11. A later agreement assigns all funding for FY 09-11 to the <br />