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<br />Access management of the road network in the study area will facilitate access to land <br />for development, while maintaining the functional safety and efficiency of the State’s <br />transportation system. Within Orange County, the E-B-M Study Area was selected as a <br />location to encourage future economic development activities, based on its strategic <br />location along major transportation corridors. Recent growth along the I‐40/I-85 corridor <br />has resulted in an average increase of traffic of 3% each year; with the expected growth <br />of residential activity and office, service, research, commercial and industrial <br />development in the Study Area, the future traffic is anticipated to intensify. <br /> <br />Section 2 of the Report - Existing Conditions: Environmental Features, Cultural <br />Features, and Existing Roadway Network <br /> <br />The County’s environmental consultant conducted preliminary studies regarding <br />hydrology, wetlands determination, threatened and endangered species determination, <br />historic properties/structures and/or archaeological remains, and cultural resources. The <br />purpose of this work was to document environmentally and culturally sensitive areas to <br />assist in the long-range planning and regulating future road networks related to <br />development proposals in the area. See pages 7 and 8 of the Report. <br /> <br />Existing primary transportation facilities in the Study Area were included in the planning <br />of future road networks. Below is a description of the seven primary existing roadways: <br />Road Name Road Type Speed Limit AADT <br />I-40/I-85 8-lane interstate 65 mph 98,000 vehicles/day <br />Ben Wilson Rd 2-lane major <br />connector <br /> <br />35 mph <br /> <br />Not Available <br />West Ten Rd 2-lane major <br />connector <br /> <br />55 mph/ 45 mph <br />near school <br /> <br />1,800 vehicles/day <br />Mattress Factory Rd 2-lane major <br />connector <br /> <br />35 mph <br /> <br />2,500 vehicles/day <br />Buckhorn Rd 2-lane major <br />connector <br /> <br />35 mph <br /> <br />2,700 vehicles/day <br />US 70 2-lane Other <br />Principal Arterial <br /> <br />45 mph <br />3,600-5,300 <br />vehicles/day <br />I-85/US-70 <br />Connector <br /> <br />4-lane interstate <br /> <br />55 mph <br /> <br />4,400 vehicles/day <br /> <br />Section 3 of the Report – Future Network: Future Lane Use Map, Study Area Buildout <br />Analysis, Future Roadway Network, Typical Sections, Traffic Volume Analysis, and <br />Intersection Analysis <br /> <br />The Future Land Use Map (FLUM), a component of the Orange County Comprehensive <br />Plan, provides guidance and direction regarding future land use planning and <br />development efforts in the Study Area. See page 11 of the Report. The FLUM defines <br />the location of appropriate land use classifications to achieve a desired pattern of <br />development, and is accomplished primarily through the application of zoning districts. <br />The classifications designated for the area are: Commercial-Industrial Transition; <br />Economic Development Transition Activity Node; and 10-Year Transition. <br />22