Orange County NC Website
c) US 70/Highway 57/Highway 86 <br /> Craig Benedict pointed out this area on a map. This is part of an Orange County and <br /> Hillsborough study area where an Urban Rural Transition Study was done. This is the <br /> predecessor of the Phase I report. There are problems with this intersection regarding traffic, <br /> etc. There have been probably three or four different studies in the area. The goal is to <br /> develop an access management system, which is a plan, working with the DOT to determine <br /> the best access points along a certain corridor to move traffic efficiently. He said that he and <br /> Margaret Hauth need to work on a timetable of when to develop plans. <br /> Chair Jacobs reminded everyone that this same thing was done for Orange Grove Road, <br /> and it was fairly quick. It has not been tested yet, but he thinks that the outcome was good. <br /> Craig Benedict said that having the Orange Grove Road study report is helping Orange <br /> County greatly with DOT's participation in getting an 1-40 pedestrian overpass. The Orange <br /> Grove report was done in about four or five meetings. He would like to do something like this <br /> again. <br /> d) TownlCounty/NCDOT Meetings Regarding Downtown Hillsborough Traffic <br /> Craig Benedict showed an aerial photo of downtown Hillsborough. <br /> Eric Hallman thanked Chair Jacobs for getting DOT involved in this. He said that until <br /> the light goes in on South Churton St., there is not a lot that can be done with adjusting the <br /> signal times. The study must be done with that light in place. Once the light is in place, the <br /> holdup is the black support pole that the Town of Hillsborough approved that is causing long <br /> lead time. The concerns expressed with the DOT were the cross Churton Street movements, <br /> particularly from East Margaret Lane, heading west onto South Churton Street at the end of the <br /> day. Making some improvements would cause Hillsborough to lose some of the on-street <br /> parking. <br /> Laura Blackmon said that protected turns would really slow the traffic movement down. <br /> Craig Benedict said that they are trying to be proactive because there are some <br /> buildings that are not even open yet. There needs to be an ongoing discussion about traffic <br /> improvements. <br /> Chair Jacobs said that Hillsborough had required George Horton to get his transportation <br /> consultant to do a study of the little corridor after the light goes in. He said that he was charged <br /> with speaking to George Horton to encourage him to pay for whatever was necessary to see <br /> what would happen if left turn signals were put in at King St. and Margaret Lane. He has <br /> spoken to him, and although it was not a formal discussion, George Horton agreed with paying <br /> for this. <br /> e) US 70/Cornelius Street Business Incubator Funding Assistance Request <br /> Willie Best said that this was resubmitted to Congressman Price. <br /> Chair Jacobs said that he was sending an updated draft, and he asked for any <br /> comments or additions. He said that the resubmission accents that it is US 70. He suggested <br /> that the Hillsborough Town Board send Congressman Price a letter supporting this. <br /> There should be a decision in January 2009. <br /> f) Possible Reassignment of Elizabeth Brady Road Funding Without Loss of Project <br /> Funds <br /> Eric Hallman said that there is $23 million dollars for Elizabeth Brady Road as partial <br /> funding, and things continue to get pushed aside. He said that if Hillsborough is never going to <br /> use the money for the bypass, then it could be used to improve other traffic situations. He <br /> asked if there was an interest in reprogramming the money for immediate needs instead of <br /> watching it get pushed out further into the future. <br />