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14 <br /> Orange County is unique in its opportunities to participate in this <br /> program simply due to its population distribution. The County has <br /> opportunities to evaluate its transportation priorities both <br /> independently and through a formal transportation planning process. <br /> Orange County is a member of the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro (DCHC) <br /> Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) . This is an urban area <br /> delineated by the Federal Highway Administration. Members of the <br /> urban area are mandated to participate in the federal <br /> transportation planning process in order to receive federal funding <br /> for transportation improvements. The urban fringes of Orange <br /> County surrounding Hillsborough, Chapel Hill and Carrboro are <br /> included in this designated area. <br /> The DCHC is governed by the Transportation Advisory Committee <br /> (TAC) . This committee is made up of elected officials appointed by <br /> the governing boards of each member jurisdiction. Orange County is <br /> represented by a County Commissioner. This representative <br /> participates in a coordinated, comprehensive, and continuous <br /> process which evaluates transportation needs for all jurisdictions <br /> in the urban area. <br /> Orange County also must evaluate its transportation needs for the <br /> areas outside the DCHC MPO. Through the TIP process, the County is <br /> able to request transportation improvements for areas not supported <br /> by the multijurisdictional process. <br /> As a goal to better inform and involve the Planning Board and <br /> County Commissioners of transportation activities in the County, <br /> the Comprehensive Planning staff has elected to update the members <br /> • of the 1992 Orange County requests as well as solicit input for <br /> projects which may be appropriate for inclusion in the 1993 <br /> Priority Request List. <br /> Last year there were three major requests made by the Orange County <br /> Commissioners for inclusion in the TIP. A brief description and <br /> update of each follows. If necessary, a suggested strategy for <br /> additional funding measures is included. Planning Board Comments <br /> from the August 16, 1993 meeting are provided in italics. <br /> Homestead Road <br /> In conjunction with requests from both Chapel Hill and Carrboro, <br /> Orange County requested widening and bicycle facilities <br /> improvements for this roadway from High School Road to NC 86. <br /> The scope of this request includes shoulder widening improvements, <br /> the installation of turn lanes where appropriate and sight distance <br /> improvements. <br /> A background of this project indicates safety problems associated <br /> with turning movements along the entire facility limits. Left <br /> turns into driveways of large traffic generators such as the Duke <br /> Power Building and the Brookstone residential development, as well <br /> as at major intersections with Airport Road and High School Road <br />