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M <br />Attachment 1 <br />01 -24 -2013 BOCC Public Hearing Comments on <br />the Draft Comarehensive Transportation Plan (CTP <br />Public Comments: <br />Mr. Ed Flowers, Hillsborough spoke. He had special interests with regard to bus /transit services <br />for the aging, and especially increasing these services for rural senior citizens, and having more <br />buses with better communication systems. <br />Mr. Alex Castro, Bingham Township spoke. Alex is also on the Advisory Board on Aging and the <br />OUTBoard, but stressed that he was speaking tonight strictly as a private citizen. He said that <br />there is a problem of governance and coordination with all the transportation plans and issues and <br />there needs to be some consolidation. He also said that seniors fall through the cracks; they have <br />disabilities, etc. and there are few bus services, and these are fragmented and disjointed. <br />Ms. Bonnie Hauser spoke. She asked if it would be possible to combine cycling lanes /trails with <br />the Mountains -to -Sea Trail through Bingham Township. The BOCC didn't offer a response at this <br />time. <br />Planning Staff Comment: The Pedestrian Map component of the CTP reflects a concept and <br />desire to connect rural community nodes, public facilities and other destinations via off -road <br />trails. Exactly how this is to be accomplished, funding sources and precise locations of trails <br />are not known at this time. In April 2010, the Orange County BOCC adopted a Resolution <br />Supporting the Mountains -to -Sea Trail Through Orange County as reflected on the CTP <br />Pedestrian Map. Implementation of the Trail remains a work in progress across the state and in <br />Orange County. Presently, a series of connectors on bicycle routes and back roads knit <br />together finished sections of the Trail to span the state. The use of NCDOT Right -of -Way for <br />these purposes is informal and done only as an interim solution to complete the Trail. It is <br />staffs understanding that NCDOT does not allow the construction of formal walking trails and <br />advertising of trails located within its Right -of -Way. The County's Department of Environment, <br />Agriculture, Parks and Recreation, through its Lands Legacy program, is working together with <br />the State (NCDENR) and non - governmental agencies to secure trail corridors for the NC <br />Mountains -to -Sea Trail. <br />For more information on the Mountains to Sea Trail visit: http.Ilwww.ncrost.org <br />Commissioner Comments: <br />Commissioner Gordon asked a question about the initials "MAX that is used on page 101 of the <br />agenda packet. Do we need a key? What does this mean? Sarah Lee, Transportation Engineer, <br />NCDOT Transportation Planning Branch, referred to page 100 and communicated that MAJ refers <br />to "Other Major Thoroughfare ". <br />Commissioner Gordon asked Sarah Lee about what kind of comments DOT was looking for from <br />the BOCC. Is the BOCC trying to figure out if the CTP recommendations are correct? Sarah Lee <br />replied that DOT is looking for approval on the recommendations (adoption sheet and four maps) <br />when the CTP comes back to them in March. <br />Planning Staff Comment: Specifically, NCDOT is seeking any final changes to the CTP Maps <br />(Attachment 5) that the BOCC might determine necessary prior to its adoption of the Maps. <br />Comments on the technical report (Attachment 4 ) are welcome, the County's OUTBoard is <br />