OUTBoard minutes 092116 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Approved 11/16/16 52 Abigaile Pittman informed the OUTBoard that she had been in communication with Margaret Hauth who advised her 53 that they were enforcing their Connectivity Plan which is not entirely consistent with the Safe Routes to School Plan. 54 There was a unanimous concern that the sidewalks planned in the Safe Routes to School Plan are still not being 55 implemented. Jeff Charles suggested getting somebody in a political position behind it to get the political will they 56 need for it to get done. There was also the suggestion of petitioning for it. Max Bushell explained that since Orange 57 County doesn't build or maintain sidewalks they would need to enter into a maintenance agreement with the Town of 58 Hillsborough. Abigaile Pittman added that a right -of -way easement would also be needed from NCDOT. 59 60 61 AGENDA ITEM 5A. PRESENTATION ON SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL PLAN BY WALKABLE HILLSBOROUGH - (AMY COLE) 62 63 Amy Cole Presented 64 65 Abigaile Pittman spoke of the buses cutting the corner on Grady Brown Road and how they had rutted the ground so 66 badly that students walking to school had to go around the rutting by way of walking in the street, which is dangerous. 67 At staff's request, NCDOT had come to repair it but that this would just going to keep happening. After further 68 discussion Max Bushell had advised that those interested could also attend the DCHC MPO Board meeting and state 69 their case there as well. 70 71 Heidi Perry made suggestions on possible courses of action. She suggested contacting the school principal and the 72 PTA president to try and get support from the parents. Amy Cole told her the principal is waiting to get approval on 73 whether or not she can do that. So Heidi suggested handing out information on the Bike /Walk to School Day program 74 to avoid having to get approval or go through to school. She also suggested getting video of the paths the children 75 are taking, of the corner where the bus is cutting the corner, and all the other risks and dangers. This can then be 76 shown to the BOCC and the media. Another suggestion she made was to invite the elected officials of Hillsborough 77 and the BOCC to actually do the Bike /Walk to School Day with the children so that they can have a much better 78 understanding of the situation. And lastly, she suggested having the children attend the meetings. There was further 79 discussion of how effective it would be to have the children attend and having at least a couple speak. 80 81 Max Bushell informed the Board that he's contacted the NCDOT Traffic Safety Unit to obtain a strip analysis report, 82 which will provide an overview of all crashes from Churton Street to Ode Turner Road along Orange Grove Road. 83 84 Abigaile Pittman explained to the Board that because they are staff, they cannot work on something unless they've 85 been directed to do so. Jeff Charles responded to this, saying that they need to get into the politics of it and ask the 86 BOCC to have staff work on the SRTS project. 87 88 89 MOTION by Art Menius to request the BOCC to direct a planning staff to study the Safe Routes to School. Seconded 90 by Erie Smith. 91 VOTE: MOTION WITHDREW BY ART MENIUS 92 93 After a discussion on the motion Art Menius withdrew his motion. 94 95 Heidi Perry suggested making a presentation to the BOCC and presenting a petition. Jeff Charles asked Abigaile 96 Pittman if concerned residents could petition the BOCC in an open session. Abigaile Pittman answered that any 97 resident can address the Board subject to a three minute time limit. She explained the different aspects of making 98 the presentation and the order in which it would be done. 99 100 Members of the Walkable Hillsborough Coalition petitioned the OUTBoard to make the Safe Routes to School Plan 101 a high priority and to present this request to the BOCC. Jeff Charles agreed with the petition from Walkable 102 Hillsborough. 103 2