Agenda - 05-15-1990 (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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OTHER SIGNIFICANT TRANSPORTATION ELEMENTS Orange County's transportation system is dominated by the road network, but is not entirely defined by it. Rail facilities and air services additionally comprise the transportation system and contribute to the movement of people and goods through Orange County. Rail Facilities. Orange County is served by the Southern Railroad which traverses the central portion of the County in an east /west direction through Eno Hillsborough and Cheeks Townships parallel to the uthern / portion Railroad also serves the so p area, although this segment of the line is now rarely used. Air Seces. Orange County is served by publicly -owned airport. Horace williams, a general aviation airport, is owned and operated by the University of North Carolina. Concentrated residential development has surrounded the airport during recent decades and resulted in conflict between the airport and its environs. In an effort to reduce the level of conflict the University of North Carolina has elected to impose a 50 -craft limit on based aircraft and a corresponding ceiling on aircraft activity, effectively limiting the airport to one -third of its full service capacity. This action has not assuaged the concerns of residents of surrounding neighborhoods who continue to exert pressure aimed at closing the airport. Recent discussions about the phase -out of the airport have contributed to the controversy surrounding the need and location of new air facilities in the County providing the same level of service. A study was commissioned in 1988 to find another location for a County airport, but no suitable site could be identified and selected. Three small privately owned and operated airstrips are located throughout the County serving a small amount of air traffic use. These facilities are Hogan, Neville and Rice's airstrips. 38