OUTBoard agenda 092017 - Laserfiche WebLink

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intersection was too close to get over and back down safely. For Buckhorn Road, the consultant recommended three 755 options (Ms. Pittman passed around a graphic showing the options and then went over the options). Option 1 showed 756 a grade separation at Buckhorn Road in connection with a new road over the railroad to US 70. Option 2 showed a 757 grade separation with a roundabout at Buckhorn Road and Industrial Drive and connection to South Frazier Road. 758 Option 3 showed a grade separation with a roundabout and a new road connecting US 70 not lining-up with Frazier 759 Road. Orange County Transportation Planning Staff was consulted for a courtesy review and comments. Staff 760 preferred Option 2 but did not like the roundabout. Staff supported Option 2 for the following reasons: alignment 761 shown in Option 2 with Frazier Road is consistent with the County’s road alignment concepts through this area as 762 supported by the Buckhorn-Efland-Mebane Access Management Plan; could include traffic lights in concert with the 763 alignment on US 70; and that direct routes around the western side of Efland are important. There is also a big 764 problem around Mount Willing Road and Buckhorn Road with trucks getting off the interstate and going through the 765 area to head towards north or to avoid the weigh station on the highway. The alignment shown in Option 2 is good for 766 moving trucks through here; however, Staff recommended that the Buckhorn Road and Industrial Drive design be a 767 cross intersection with turn lanes, not a roundabout. There is too short of a distance to the interchange ramps to 768 accommodate a roundabout for trucks to go around. 769 770 Jenn Sykes said that a roundabout sounded like a disaster. 771 772 Heidi Perry asked a question if traffic calming would help the situation since vehicles would be getting off the 773 intersection anyway. 774 775 Abigaile Pittman said that Staff thought that these vehicles need to be managed with a light and turn lanes, not 776 directing them straight into a roundabout. With a roundabout, trucks would be backed up to the interchange ramps. 777 778 Heidi Perry asked Ms. Pittman if she could remind her why the intersection is being improved. 779 780 Abigaile Pittman answered that this traffic separation study is in-line with the state’s future goals of doing higher 781 speed trains in the future. Ms. Pittman reminded the Board of work on private crossing closures in the last several 782 years in the eastern part of the County around Old NC 10 (three of them), straightening curves, etc. All of this work is 783 in preparation for higher speed trains coming through the area, thus the state needs to improve safety along the rail 784 line. 785 786 Heidi Perry asked why this could not be done with the arms at railroad crossings. 787 788 Abigaile Pittman answered that in some cases this can be done but they also need to straighten-out some of the 789 curves and allow for trains to continue at higher speeds safely. 790 791 Alex Castro spoke about the very big gas station that truckers use on the west side of Buckhorn Road south of the 792 interstate. Traffic flowing in and out of the station plus the traffic coming down the road would contribute to the snafus 793 of a roundabout concept. 794 795 Abigaile Pittman said that there are also a lot of school bus routes along this road, another reason the roundabout 796 would not be the best option. 797 798 Heidi Perry asked – aren’t roundabouts safer? 799 800 Abigaile Pittman responded that they can, in some situations, but not all. 801 802 Alex Castro said they are not when you are talking about tractor trailers. 803 804 David Laudicina asked about giving extra space for future plans, a future double track in particular for the higher 805 speed line. 806 807 17