Agenda - 05-22-1989 - Laserfiche WebLink

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\ , . DESCRIPTION OF THE ROAD NETWORK IN THE COUNTY I Orange County contains a relatively adequate road network. Major population and employment centers are linked throughout most areas of the County. The presence of a widespread state- maintained rural highway system has significantly "opened up" the rural areas of the County for residential development. Subsequently, residential pressures in these rural areas have created additional pressures and demands for commercial development serving the needs of the residents. The road network in Orange County is focused on the urban and urbanized areas of the County as evidenced in the Highway Classification System Map. Major roads throughout the County provide access to and link the rural areas of the County with the Towns of Hillsborough, Chapel Hill and Carrboro. The newly-completed Interstate 40, NC 86 and SR 1009 (Old NC 86) link Hillsborough with the Chapel Hill-Carrboro urbanizing area. In addition to providing intra-county service, inter-county service linking Orange County residential areas with employment centers in Durham, Research Triangle with and Raleigh is facilitated along I-40, US 15/501, NC 54, NC 1737 (Erwin Road) and NC 1718 (Mt. Sinai Road) . As Orange County is characterized by a negative net commutation pattern, with Orange County residents employed outside the County numbering more than non-residents employed in Orange County, the adequacy of the road network providing access to these employment centers is particularly important. In turn, the existing road network influences and encourages residential/workplace dispersion, both within Orange County and between Orange County and adjacent counties containing important employment centers, by facilitating such commutation patterns. Already, Interstate 40 has significantly impacted the existing traffic patterns by providing greater access to major traffic generators and encouraging potential development in areas adjacent to the route. The recent impacts of 1-40 are no doubt only a precursor of things to come. The relationship between residential and commercial uses throughout the County is a bit more problematic, particularly in the fringe areas just outside the urban and urbanizing portion of the County along heavily-traveled roads. These roads are subject to the sprawl of commercial activities in an unsightly manner along long stretches of the road. In rural areas, however, the provision of commercial activities in appropriate locations to serve the needs of local residents is important to satisfy quality of life concerns and minimize the adverse effects of the relative isolation of these residents from major population centers in the County. --------------...................