OUTBoard minutes 121813 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Approved 2/19/14 Abigaile Pittman responded that it is not on anyone's job description and that he is right. Alex Castro suggested that it would be worthwhile to have photographs of the road sections mentioned. Jeff Charles noted he planned to do that whenever Chuck Edwards comes to an OUTBoard meeting. Abigaile Pittman reminded the members that Chuck requested an agenda be created prior to setting a date for him to attend a meeting. 174 Abigaile Pittman noted that she has an item for that list that relates to schools. She said that there are other schools 175 in the district that have minor issues. She suggested the OUTBoard have a survey of those and noted there is one 176 elementary school that has a drop off area with a lot of traffic that all it would take is a slip lane at the exit to the right 177 so people can get out. She noted there are all these minor issues at schools all over the County that are not 178 necessarily on SRTS and staff can go around and evaluate those needs. She advised that it could then be brought 179 to the OUTBoard for input and then on up for the BOCC to ask DOT to do something. She added that DOT has 180 money to do projects for small things like slip lanes or flashing lights, etc. 181 182 Paul Guthrie noted that while it is a good discussion, the County has no jurisdiction on the state road system. The 183 building of the lanes was done speedily and was probably not very well inspected. 184 185 Jeff Charles responded that DOT was supposed to do Old Greensboro Road with the 2 foot for cyclists and if they 186 say they are going to do it, then they should do it. 187 188 Paul Guthrie stated that what he's hearing is that the Board would very much like to talk to the district engineer and 189 suggested that the members prepare a list of things for discussion and then Abigaile can put in the request. 190 191 Alex Castro would like to add to the list the following- study the feasibility of using existing triangle region railway 192 infrastructure for commuter rail purposes. He noted that one of the backgrounds on this is the 440 that will be under 193 repair for the next three years and one of the ways they are looking to relieve congestion is to use an existing rail link 194 from Selma up to Raleigh and putting in temporary commuter rail station along the existing route to take some of the 195 commuters off the highway. Alex thinks that could be extended through the triangle region as there is existing rail 196 infrastructure that goes right through the RTP and through Hillsborough and a there is a plan to put a station in 197 Hillsborough. Alex suggested initiating a study to see what is, what it will take, and then piggyback what DOT is 198 doing as they are implementing this already for the 440. 199 200 Paul Guthrie noted that he served on the Hillsborough Rail Station Task Force and it was stimulated by Amtrak 201 saying it was financially feasible for them to make a stop at Hillsborough. He noted that one of the ideas with the 202 Hillsborough station that he would like to see the OUTBoard to query the Town of Hillsborough is where they are in 203 that process. He indicated that the station could be used as a hub for bus lines and other forms of transportation. 204 205 Alex Castro showed the Orange County Land Use Map and noted the light rail link and the economic development 206 zones which is along existing railways. He noted that we have it if we get it worked out. He referred to Northern 207 Virginia and they put in commuter rail on existing rail links and it's called Virginia Railway Express and they have 208 good ridership. He says that is the idea to address where future development is proposed and see what can be done 209 using what is with additional on the margin funding compared to what is being talked about for the LRT. 210 211 Alex Castro amended what he suggested earlier to say — Study the feasibility of using existing triangle region railway 212 infrastructure for commuter rail purposes as part of a multi -modal transportation system. 213 214 Motion made by Alex Castro to approve the report to the County Commissioners as amended. Seconded by Jeff 215 Charles 216 Vote: Unanimous 217 218 AGENDA ITEM VI: STAFF UPDATES 219 a. Notes from the NCDOT luncheon meeting