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18 <br /> DRAFT AS OF SEPTEMBER 29, 1997 <br /> advancement of Homestead Road in the TIP schedule for the following reasons: a) in the <br /> year 2000, the completed widening of Airport Road will approximately double its capacity <br /> and provide increased access to the land served by Homestead Road; and b) there will be <br /> a period of approximately two years during which accident exposure will be increased <br /> because Homestead Road will not have been improved at the same time as Airport Road. <br /> Orange County supports the position of the Town of Chapel Hill with respect to the <br /> improvements of Homestead Road as expressed in a resolution concerning those <br /> improvements passed by the Council on September 22, 1997, and concurs that widening <br /> the road to a three lane cross section is sufficient. <br /> ORANGE COUNTY PROJECTS OUTSIDE <br /> THE DURHAM-CHAPEL HILL-CARRBORO <br /> METROPOLITAN PLANNING AREA <br /> Orange County would like to give priority to identified safety needs on existing roads and bridges <br /> and to other transportation projects which foster alternatives to automobile travel. The County <br /> eke endorses environmentally responsible construction of all transportation projects. Finally, the <br /> County supports adequate maintenance for existing transportation facilities. <br /> Orange County requests the following projects: <br /> 1) Highway Improvements - In previous years Orange County has made TIP requests <br /> related to project 1-304. Because 1-304 has been completed without these requested <br /> projects, Orange County is now asking that the following infrastructure improvements be <br /> made to the 1-85/Buckhorn Road Economic Development District: <br /> a) Erosion Control Measures - NCDOT currently has no plans for erosion control <br /> measures after completion of construction for project 1-304: widening of 1-85 to eight lanes <br /> from NC 54 (in Alamance County) to Dimmocks Mill Road. NCDOT has installed <br /> temporary erosion control measures according to NCDOT standards. Orange County <br /> requests that permanent erosion control measures be included in the 1999-2005 TIP as a <br /> line item to ensure optimal protection of the Sevenmile Creek watershed. The Upper Eno <br /> watershed, of which Sevenmile Creek is a sub-basin, has been designated a WS-II <br /> watershed; thus the County is committed to protect the water quality by working with <br /> NCDOT to implement the strongest protection measures available. <br /> b) Capacity Improvements - Widen Buckhorn Road to 24 feet (two 12' travel lanes) and <br /> Improve the Intersection of Buckhorn Road and US 70 to include turn lanes and improved <br /> turning radii. <br /> c) Rail Road Crossing Improvements - Improve the Southern Railway/ Buckhorn <br /> Road (SR 1114) railroad crossing. <br /> II) Transit Improvements - It is increasingly evident, through the Triangle Fixed Guideway <br /> Study and other research, that Orange County needs to begin Transit Planning to <br /> coordinate local transit planning with the Triangle Fixed Guideway Study <br /> 2 <br />