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I. INTRODUCTION <br /> Purpose <br /> This report is the second in a series of three reports designed to document the . <br /> first consolidated Thoroughfare Plan for the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro (DCHC) <br /> Urban Area. The previous report covered the subject area: Analysis of Projec- <br /> tions. Deficiencies, and Needs. <br /> The purpose of this report is to present a recommended Thoroughfare Plan and an <br /> analysis of alternatives. The report also outlines the process and a probable <br /> timetable for the adoption of the Thoroughfare Plan; including the process to be <br /> followed to obtain input from elected governing bodies and individual citizens in <br /> the urban area. Another purpose of this report is to present some background <br /> material on the principles of thoroughfare planning, the relationship between <br /> growth and transportation needs, and the objectives of a thoroughfare plan. These <br /> topics are more fully discussed in Report #1 mentioned earlier. The ultimate aim <br /> of this report along with the third and final report in this series is to provide <br /> specific recommendations for improving and guiding the development of the area's <br /> transportation system to --- and beyond --- the year 2010. <br /> This report begins with a summary of the process and methodology that was used to <br /> develop the recommended plan. Considerable detail is given to examining the <br /> existing transportation system in its ability to handle both existing and projected <br /> travel. <br /> The previous thoroughfare plans are examined as to their capability to handle <br /> 2000 and 2010 travel projections along with the problems associated with the <br /> plans. Since the new Thoroughfare Plan encompasses Durham, Chapel Hill, Carrboro <br /> and major portions of Durham & Orange Counties, it includes areas that none of the <br /> previous thoroughfare plans covered. Because of this some parts of the urban area <br /> do not have any planned thoroughfares. 'One. of the more critical examples is the <br /> area between Durham and Chapel Hill in the vicinity of the 1-40 corridor. The <br /> recommended plan attempts to provide transportation plans for those areas which <br /> previously had no plan. <br /> Included in the development of the recommendations presented in this report are <br /> the projected impact that public transportation, ridesharing, and bicycling may <br /> have in deferring highway improvements. <br /> Considerable efforts were spent seeking citizen participation in the planning <br /> process. Numerous meetings were held with neighborhoods, various planning <br /> committees, and the local policy boards in the area. Information gathered from all <br /> of these sources was used in development of the recommended plan. <br /> 1.1 <br /> • <br />