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3 <br /> RESOLUTION REQUESTING APPROVAL BY THE ORANGE UNIFIED <br /> TRANSPORTATION BOARD OF SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL PROJECT <br /> IMPLEMENTATION NEXT STEPS <br /> WHEREAS, The Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Strategic Action Plan was <br /> collaboratively developed under the NC SRTS Program to identify improvements that <br /> can help make bicycling and walking to and from school a safe and healthy <br /> transportation alternative; <br /> WHEREAS, The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), the Town of Hillsborough <br /> Board, and the Orange County School Board adopted the SRTS Plan in April 2014; <br /> WHEREAS, Project implementation action has been delayed due to revisions to <br /> federal and state funding sources that limited future funding resources for the SRTS <br /> program; a lack of local matching funds, funds for engineering and sidewalk <br /> construction, and project management funding and capability; difficulties in entering into <br /> maintenance agreements with local jurisdictions; and the metrics used to generate <br /> project scores now prioritizing highway projects to a greater degree than other modes <br /> (such as bicycle and pedestrian); <br /> WHEREAS, the OUTBoard believes that one of the most important things a <br /> transportation plan must do is to protect community children on their way to and from <br /> school, we feel this is an urgent issue that needs immediate attention. The OUTBoard <br /> requests that the BOCC prioritize the safety improvements along the bridge and the <br /> routes on either side of it as indicated in this resolution. <br /> WHEREAS, the following identified actions can be accomplished primarily with Staff <br /> support and/or without minimal County funding, and would serve to help make bicycling <br /> and walking to and from school a safe and healthy transportation alternative; <br /> WHEREAS, North Carolina State law creates a quantitative process to evaluate funding <br /> priorities and other funding sources are also available through the Durham-Chapel Hill- <br /> Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization; <br /> NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange Unified Transportation Board <br /> (OUTBoard) recommends the following SRTS next step actions included in this <br /> Resolution, to be forwarded to the Board of County Commissioners for its consideration: <br /> • Pursue projects from the SRTS Plan related to safety improvements for Grady <br /> Brown Elementary School and Cedar Ridge High School: <br /> o Crosswalks with flashing lights; and <br />