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3 <br /> PROJECTS IN ORANGE COUNTY OUTSIDE OF THE <br /> URBANIZED AREA BOUNDARY <br /> Orange County would like to give priority to identified safety needs on existing roads and <br /> bridges and to other transportation projects which foster alternatives to automobile travel. The <br /> County also endorses environmentally responsible construction of all transportation projects. <br /> Finally, the County supports adequate maintenance for existing transportation facilities. <br /> I. I-85 Widening Projects <br /> A) I-304 and I-305 - Best Management Practices (BMP's) for Erosion Control <br /> during and after widening construction of both portions of I-85. Last year the <br /> Orange County Board of Commissioners requested a line item in the TIP for <br /> funding of BMP's for both I-85 widening projects. The construction contract for <br /> I-304 has been awarded and is scheduled to begin on September 27, 1993. <br /> NCDOT Division 7 officials and the contract engineer met with State and County <br /> Erosion Control Officers, the County Engineer, and the County Transportation <br /> Planner on September 21, 1993 to physically evaluate erosion control measures <br /> needed on the I-304 project limits. This meeting represents a cooperative effort <br /> between NCDOT and the County and we request these efforts continue until <br /> completion of both projects. Among other concerns, the County desires input <br /> into the erosion control measures in order to ensure optimal protection of the <br /> Sevenmile Creek watershed, a possible future water source. 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 <br /> with NCDOT to implement the strongest protection measures available. <br /> B) I-305 - widening of I-85 to six lanes and reconstruction of interchanges from <br /> Orange Grove Road to Durham County Line <br /> 1) Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities - Orange County has worked over the <br /> last year with the MPO to produce the Regional Bicycle Plan for Durham <br /> and Orange Counties. This plan represents the first such study to identify <br /> both rural and urban bicycle needs for one region. An element of the plan <br /> is to provide pedestrian and bicycle facilities at interchanges of major <br /> highways. Some of Orange County's major commuter roads that - <br /> interchange with I-85 include NC 86, Old NC 86 (SR 1009), and US 70. -- <br /> These facilities are often used for bicycle and pedestrian travel as well, <br /> and the County requests that accommodations be made for these two <br /> alternate modes of travel when designing and constructing the I-85 <br /> widening. Features requested for inclusion are sidewalks, bike lanes, and <br /> adequate guardrails on overpasses. <br /> 2) I-305 Wildlife Corridor Under I-85 - In 1993 the Orange County <br /> Planning Department, in conjunction with the UNC Chapel Hill <br /> Department of City and Regional Planning compiled a report titled "New <br />