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13 <br /> DRAFT AS OF SEPTEMBER 29, 1997 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION PRIORITY LIST <br /> FOR CONSIDERATION OF FUNDING IN <br /> THE DURHAM-CHAPEL HILL-CARRBORO <br /> METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM <br /> Orange County appreciates the opportunity to participate in the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro <br /> Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program process. We would also like to commend <br /> the Lead Planning Agency's staff: Mr. Mark Ahrendsen, Ms. Kimberley McCarter, Mr. Felix <br /> Nwoko, Mr. Wesley Parham, and Mr. Tim Saunders. We are very appreciative of their efforts <br /> and are looking forward to working with them in the future. <br /> POLICY ISSUE - PROJECT INITIATED BY NC DOT <br /> 1) R-3829: Feasibility Study to Widen Mt.Carmel Church Road (SR 1008) to Multi-lanes - <br /> Orange County requests the following: a) that the feasibility study (R-3829) be <br /> handled through the current Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro (DCHC) Metropolitan <br /> Planning Organization (MPO) process for the 1999-2005 TIP; and b) that in the future, <br /> Orange County be consulted about feasibility studies in its jurisdiction before such <br /> studies are added to the TIP. <br /> REQUESTED PROJECTS <br /> 1) U-2805: Homestead Road Widening - This project remains Orange County's top <br /> priority for new road projects requested from TIP funds. Orange County requests the <br /> further advancement of Homestead Road in the TIP schedule for the following <br /> reasons: a) in the year 2000, the completed widening of Airport Road will <br /> approximately double its capacity and provide increased access to the land served by <br /> Homestead Road; and b) there will be a period of approximately two years during <br /> which accident exposure will be increased because Homestead Road will not have <br /> been improved at the same time as Airport Road. Orange County supports the <br /> position of the Town of Chapel Hill with respect to the improvements of Homestead <br /> Road as expressed in a resolution concerning those improvements passed by the <br /> Council on September 22, 1997, and concurs that widening the road to a three lane <br /> cross section is sufficient. <br /> II) NC 86: construct bicycle lanes - from Chapel Hill (Whitfield Road) to Hillsborough (US <br /> 70). Scheduled improvements to Airport Road (NC 86) in Chapel Hill will extend <br /> bicycle facilities from UNC to Whitfield Road (SR 1731) in Orange County. NC 86 <br /> from Chapel Hill to Hillsborough is experiencing increasing numbers of bicyclists using <br /> this route and there are also two new schools along this route. Orange County <br /> requests that bicycle lanes be constructed. <br /> COMMENTS ON OTHER TIP PROJECTS INITIATED BY NC DOT <br /> 1) 1-305: widening of 1-85 to six lanes and reconstruction of interchanges from Orange <br /> Grove Road to Durham County Line - Even though this project remains an <br /> "IDENTIFIED FUTURE NEED", Orange County requests that its staff be allowed to <br />