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4 <br />1 VIII. PUBLIC HEARINGS <br />2 A. FEASIBILITY STUDY - NC 54 WIDENING <br />3 Planning Director Marvin Collins presented this item to <br />4 receive citizen comment on a feasibility study for the proposed widening <br />5 of: N.C. Highway 54 in Orange County. The proposed widening would be <br />6 from I- 85/40 in Burlington to the N.C. Highway 54 Bypass in <br />7 Carrboro /Chapel Hill. Mr. Collins listed the possible negative <br />8. environmental impacts as well as staff comments to the feasibility <br />9 study.. <br />10 Mr. Collins entered into the record a .letter from Blair <br />11 Pollock. Mr. Pollock opposes the widening of NC 54 for three reasons: <br />12 (1) displaces existing buildings, people and agricultural land, (2) <br />13 disrupts important areas of the local drinking water supply watersheds <br />14 especially University Lake, and (3) implies that the only way to handle <br />15 transportation needs is with more roads with no examination of <br />16 alternatives. He supports the development of passenger rail service <br />17 between the Burlington area and Chapel Hill /Carrboro, and also <br />18 encourages carpooling or convenient, regular, cheap, good bus service. <br />19 Mr. Richard Davis from North Carolina Department of Transpor- <br />20 tation (NCDOT) stated that they would explore all feasible alternatives <br />21 to the widening of NC 54. It has not been definitely decided that this <br />22 widening will be planned. <br />23 In answer to a question from Commissioner Willhoit about how <br />24 an item is proposed for a feasibility study, Mr. Davis indicated it <br />25 could be by a request from a member of the Board of Transportation or <br />26 a member of the DOT staff. <br />27 In answer to a question from Chair Carey about the need and <br />28 where this fits into the proposal, Mr. Davis indicated that it is a need <br />29 perceived by someone -- a Board member or citizen. He stated that what <br />30 the feasibility study was saying was that to choose another location <br />31 would be too expensive. <br />32 In answer to Commissioner Willhoit's concern about increased <br />33 truck traffic, Mr. Davis stated that this would be a longer route <br />34 because of the many stops for signals and intersections. <br />35 Mr. Davis stated that the next step is that the project could <br />36 be added as an active project. <br />37 In answer to a question from Commissioner Gordon on the <br />38 impact that action by the Board of County Commissioners would have on <br />39 this widening, Mr. Davis stated that it would depend on the level of <br />40 support. It would either move it along or slow it down. <br />41 <br />42 THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS OPEN FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS <br />43 <br />44 RAY SPARROW spoke against the widening of NC 54. He agreed <br />45 with the letter received from Blair Pollock. He feels that some <br />46 alternate form of transportation could be looked at to ease the traffic <br />47 on NC 54. He stated that this road is a shortcut for truckers. They <br />48 dodge the scales on Highway 85 and use this route because it is still <br />49 the most direct route to many points. He indicated that if the project <br />50 must be done that it be done with minimal impact on the road. <br />51 <br />52 LOIS HERRING, Chair of the OWASA Board, read a letter into <br />