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the staff in response to problems brought up at the meetings are described along with the <br />discussion of the specific issue. <br />GENERAL ISSUES <br />Several issues were addressed during the course of the Thoroughfare Plan meetings which <br />were of a general nature, not related to any one specific project or area. <br />FREEWAYS AND INTERCHANGES <br />Comment: Freeways and their interchanges stimulate high density development. If a <br />freeway is constructed, there will be pressure to have the area adjacent to the <br />interchanges rezoned for commercial or high density residential development. <br />Response: Good freeway access increases values of property for commercial and industrial <br />development. Residential property values are also increased as long as the property is <br />not impacted by noise or air pollution problems. The elected policy board must make the <br />decision to rezone property. The appropriate zoning is determined by conformity and <br />compliance with currently adopted land -use plans. Land -use plans determine zoning. <br />There may be pressures, but current policies can be retained if there is determination. <br />Freeways remain the most effective auto movers. They provide for a separation of the <br />land use and travel service functions of a roadway system. <br />W11.1 I ;, "'i &100) Z4 Vivi- 611 <br />Comments: Public Transportation should be promoted as an alternative to expensive new <br />roadway construction and to extensive roadway widening. It was felt that public <br />transportation should be considered as part of the modeling process. <br />Response: Many of the projected traffic volumes throughout the region, particularly in <br />urban areas, cannot be accommodated by increasing roadway capacities. The <br />development of a comprehensive system of local and regional transportation systems will <br />be a critical element of the region's future transportation system. The ultimate ability to <br />develop a comprehensive system of public transportation within the Durham - Chapel Hill - <br />Carrboro Urban area will depend, in part, on the development of an efficient roadway <br />system. Public transportation impact has been considered in the development of the final <br />recommendation. However, even an extraordinary increase in transit usage will not <br />change the recommendations significantly, but will serve to delay implementation and <br />extend the planning horizon. <br />2.2 <br />