Agenda - 04-09-2013 - 5a - Laserfiche WebLink

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5 1 determined that accomplishments could be made with the schools stated here. He said, with 2 Stanford, there is some expandability to cover up to the high school. 3 Town Commissioner Lowen said that many of these sidewalks will benefit all schools 4 because of proximity to one another. 5 Craig Benedict said there are some implementation actions that the Board can identify. 6 Abigaile Pittman said she heard from DOT that the projects given priority are the projects 7 that serve multiple sites. 8 Craig Benedict said that Orange High and CW Stanford have that proximity and should 9 move up the priority list. 10 Commissioner Price said that there was also more concern with younger children, many 11 of whom walk, getting to school, whereas most high school students were driving. 12 Chair Jacobs said it would be an enhancement to incorporate the mention of the high 13 schools into discussion of the routes. 14 Commissioner Gordon said the staff needs to find out from DOT why this project is 15 handled in this way. 16 Abigaile Pittman said that the locations chosen all had some common deficiencies such 17 as high speed traffic, no sidewalk connectivity to neighborhoods, incidents of bicycle crashes 18 and pedestrian accidents in the area, and extensive planned residential growth. 19 Chair Jacobs asked for feedback on their request. 20 21 d. North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Rail Crossincis Plans in 22 and near Hillsboroucih 23 24 Abigaile Pittman, citing primarily from page three of the meeting abstract, said 25 in September 2012 the Planning Department received a solicitation for comments from the 26 NCDOT Rail Division with regard to proposed private crossing closures with the North Carolina 27 Railroad (NCRR)/Norfolk Southern (NS) Railway crossings at Gordon Thomas Drive, Greenbriar 28 Drive, and Byrdsville Road in Orange County. This railroad track is part of the SE High Speed 29 Rail corridor, which when complete, will provide high speed passenger rail service between 30 Washington, D.C. and Charlotte, NC. NCDOT requested that the County provide scoping 31 comments to be used in the preparation of a proposed Environmental Assessment (EA). 32 Initial comments were sent to the NCDOT Rail Division in November 2012, and a 33 response letter was received in December 2012. Citizens Informational Workshops were held 34 by the NCDOT Rail Division in January for all three proposed private railroad crossing closures, 35 and a summary of public comments is available. The BOCC discussed and added comments at 36 its meeting on February 19th and a second comment letter was approved and sent to NCDOT. 37 Abigail Pittman said the primary comments expressed a need for greater clarity regarding, 1. 38 Which alternate access roads will be improved and/or constructed roads accepted into the state 39 system, 2. More specific details regarding proposed right of way and pavement widths, 3. Storm 40 drain details and pavement standards and 4. The anticipated schedule for required right of way 41 or easement apposition for relocation of property structures. 42 Margaret Hauth said the Town of Hillsborough has been engaged with the State to co- 43 sponsor a traffic separation study of crossing closures in west Hillsborough. She said there has 44 been one meeting, at which the town and North Carolina Railroad (NCRR) has requested 45 scoping changes that have delayed this project. She said the town has committed to fund the 46 data items it requested on traffic counts and actual numbers, and NCRR has not yet committed 47 to fund the study items it was interested in, so the project is at an indefinite standstill until 48 funding is in place. 49 Commissioner McKee asked if any crossing closings were planned in the areas inside 50 the town proper and if so, how many. 51 Margaret Hauth designated the two in West Hillsborough.