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Approved 9/20/2017 <br />791 <br />792 Alex Castro spoke about the very big gas station that truckers use on the west side of Buckhorn Road south of the <br />793 interstate. Traffic flowing in and out of the station plus the traffic coming down the road would contribute to the snafus <br />794 of a roundabout concept. <br />795 <br />796 Abigaile Pittman said that there are also a lot of school bus routes along this road, another reason the roundabout <br />797 would not be the best option. <br />798 <br />799 Heidi Perry asked — aren't roundabouts safer? <br />800 <br />801 Abigaile Pittman responded that they can, in some situations, but not all. <br />802 <br />803 Alex Castro said they are not when you are talking about tractor trailers. <br />804 <br />805 David Laudicina asked about giving extra space for future plans, a future double track in particular for the higher <br />806 speed line. <br />807 <br />808 Abigaile Pittman answered that the double tracks will not be done as much in Orange County because existing lines <br />809 will not be as high speed as in other counties and do not carry as much freight as do rail lines in some other counties. <br />810 However, she was told that rail right -of -way width in certain locations in the County will allow for some double - <br />811 tracking. Traffic Separation Studies (TSS's) help eliminate as many conflicts as possible and help sort out where <br />812 curves can be adjusted. <br />813 <br />814 Donna Musson asked about the rationale of putting a roundabout there as an option. <br />815 <br />816 Abigaile Pittman said that she had called the consultant to discuss this very question. She told him that the County <br />817 was submitting its comments in support of Option 2 but did not support the roundabout. Ms. Pittman's impression <br />818 was that the consultant did not fully understand current conditions of the intersection and area. The County had its <br />819 own consultant do a study in the same area for the previously mentioned access management plan, which shows <br />820 that Buckhorn Road is going to need to be 4 lanes with a median and turn lanes. The roundabout would not suit <br />821 these future plans. In comparison, Mebane Oaks also only has about 600 -650 ft. and this has not proved to be <br />822 sufficient. <br />823 <br />824 Heidi Perry asked if the 4 lanes recommended for Buckhorn by the County's consultant are planned, and if the TSS <br />825 considered this recommendation. <br />826 <br />827 Abigaile Pittman said no, these two studies were not performed simultaneously. <br />828 <br />829 Heidi Perry asked if the proposed roundabout would be a single lane roundabout? <br />830 <br />831 Abigaile Pittman answered that the consultant did not specify the number of lanes for the roundabout, but the <br />832 concept appears to be a single lane. <br />833 <br />834 Heidi Perry said that it would be interesting to know what may be built at that intersection. <br />835 <br />836 Abigaile Pittman said that the consultant stressed to her that what they presented was "just a concept." <br />837 <br />838 Heidi Perry said that it would be hard for her to approve or disapprove a concept. <br />839 <br />840 Abigaile Pittman said that Staff is not asking the Board to approve anything; that her presentation is just an update on <br />841 the courtesy review Staff completed on the TSS. <br />842 <br />843 Heidi Perry asked if there would be any bicycle facilities as a part of this project. <br />16 <br />