Agenda - 11-05-2015 - 7-a - Bicycle Safety Resolution and Next Steps

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4 RES-2015-059 ATTACHMENT 1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS RESOLUTION SUPPORTING BICYCLE SAFETY AND NEXT STEPS WHEREAS, the issue of bicycle safety has been a topic of interest by various County groups over the past several years, including discussions by the Orange Unified Transportation Board (OUTBoard), the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), and citizen groups; and WHEREAS, a petition related to bicycle safety was brought forward at the BOCC's November 6, 2014 meeting during Petitions by Board Members and subsequently reviewed by the Chair/Vice Chair/Manager agenda team; and WHEREAS, in response to the petition the County Manager discussed bicycle safety with Town Managers; the Chair and Vice Chair discussed the topic with North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) representatives at its regular quarterly meeting; and Planning staff worked with the OUTBoard and a sub-group to develop recommendations; and WHEREAS, the charge of the OUTBoard is to advise the BOCC on the planning and programming of transportation infrastructure improvements and other County transportation planning initiatives, as directed by the Board; and WHEREAS, there has been consultation with the Sheriff's Department, the Highway Patrol, and the North Carolina Department of Transportation on the issue of bicycle safety in Orange County during the process; and WHEREAS, the BOCC received the OUTBoard's Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Report, including recommendations, at its June 16, 2015 meeting; and WHEREAS, a goal of the Orange County 2030 Comprehensive Plan Transportation Element is a multi-modal transportation system that is affordable, available, accessible to all users, and that promotes public health and safety; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners supports all public and private efforts to increase safety awareness between motorists and bicyclists, as well as the implementation of roadway safety improvements for bicyclists through County, State, and Metropolitan/Rural Planning Organization plans. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board hereby thanks the OUTBoard and sub-group for its efforts preparing a comprehensive list of bicycle safety recommendations and instructs Planning staff to: • Forward this Resolution and associated report to NCDOT, the Orange County Sheriff for consideration of pertinent items, as well as Orange County municipalities for information and partnership in bicycle safety communications;