Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
1 <br />Information Item <br />►V -,11•e tIgT M17, <br />Date : January 14, 2015 <br />To: Board of County Commissioners <br />Bonnie B. Hammersley, County Manager <br />From Abigaile Pittman, Transportation /Land Use Planner <br />Tom Altieri, Comprehensive Planning Supervisor <br />Craig Benedict, Planning Director <br />Re: Road and Rail Traffic Separation Study for the Town of Hillsborough <br />Report <br />Attachments: 1. Traffic Separation Study Area Map <br />2. Concept 1 and Concept 2 Maps <br />3. Town of Hillsborough Resolution <br />BACKGROUND: <br />The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), Town of Hillsborough, North <br />Carolina Railroad Company (NCRR), and Norfolk Southern Railway (NS), partnered to <br />conduct a Traffic Separation Study (TSS) of rail crossings along the NCRR /NS corridor in <br />Hillsborough. The consultant, ICA Engineering, Inc. was contracted to perform the study <br />determining how to separate rail and highway traffic and enhance the safety and mobility at <br />railroad crossings in Hillsborough. The following crossings were studied in detail: <br />• West Hill Avenue South (SR 1161) <br />• South Bellvue Avenue <br />• Dimmocks Mill Road (SR 1144) (grade- separated) <br />The Piedmont Drive /Faribault Lane (SR 1149) crossing was considered but was not proposed <br />for improvement in the study. The Private Crossing at the Partin Property was previously <br />evaluated during studies for the Hillsborough Rail Station and NCDOT's Private Crossing <br />Safety Initiative (PCSI). See Attachment 1 for an image depicting the study area crossings. <br />Safety and mobility issues were considered at each crossing based on roadway geometry, <br />existing warning devices, and behavior of users across the tracks. The following conditions <br />were observed: <br />• West Hill Avenue South — This is a paved, humped crossing located between closely <br />spaced intersections on each side of the tracks and has limited sight distance. The <br />warning devices at the crossing include signs, flashing lights, and gates. <br />• South Bellvue Avenue — This is a paved crossing located between closely spaced <br />intersections on each side of the tracks. It is across from the truck entrance to a <br />distribution center and also has limited sight distance. The warning devices at the <br />crossing include signs, flashing lights, and gates. <br />