Orange County NC Website
DRAFT <br />2 <br />Abigaile Pittman informed the OUTBoard that she had been in communication with Margaret Hauth who advised her 52 <br />that they were enforcing their Connectivity Plan which is not entirely consistent with the Safe Routes to School Plan. 53 <br />There was a unanimous concern that the sidewalks planned in the Safe Routes to School Plan are still not being 54 <br />implemented. Jeff Charles suggested getting somebody in a political position behind it to get the political will they 55 <br />need for it to get done. There was also the suggestion of petitioning for it. Max Bushell explained that since Orange 56 <br />County doesn’t build or maintain sidewalks they would need to enter into a maintenance agreement with the Town of 57 <br />Hillsborough. Abigaile Pittman added that a right-of-way easement would also be needed from NCDOT. 58 <br />59 <br />60 <br />AGENDA ITEM 5A.PRESENTATION ON SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL PLAN BY WALKABLE HILLSBOROUGH –(AMY COLE)61 <br />62 <br />Amy Cole Presented 63 <br />64 <br />Abigaile Pittman spoke of the buses cutting the corner on Grady Brown Road and how they had rutted the ground so 65 <br />badly that students walking to school had to go around the rutting by way of walking in the street, which is dangerous. 66 <br />At staff’s request, NCDOT had come to repair it but that this would just going to keep happening. After further 67 <br />discussion Max Bushell had advised that those interested could also attend the DCHC MPO Board meeting and state 68 <br />their case there as well. 69 <br />70 <br />Heidi Perry made suggestions on possible courses of action. She suggested contacting the school principal and the 71 <br />PTA president to try and get support from the parents. Amy Cole told her the principal is waiting to get approval on 72 <br />whether or not she can do that. So Heidi suggested handing out information on the Bike/Walk to School Day program 73 <br />to avoid having to get approval or go through to school. She also suggested getting video of the paths the children 74 <br />are taking, of the corner where the bus is cutting the corner, and all the other risks and dangers. This can then be 75 <br />shown to the BOCC and the media. Another suggestion she made was to invite the elected officials of Hillsborough 76 <br />and the BOCC to actually do the Bike/Walk to School Day with the children so that they can have a much better 77 <br />understanding of the situation. And lastly, she suggested having the children attend the meetings. There was further 78 <br />discussion of how effective it would be to have the children attend and having at least a couple speak. 79 <br />80 <br />Max Bushell informed the Board that he’s contacted the NCDOT Traffic Safety Unit to obtain a strip analysis report, 81 <br />which will provide an overview of all crashes from Churton Street to Ode Turner Road along Orange Grove Road. 82 <br />83 <br />Abigaile Pittman explained to the Board that because they are staff, they cannot work on something unless they’ve 84 <br />been directed to do so. Jeff Charles responded to this, saying that they need to get into the politics of it and ask the 85 <br />BOCC to have staff work on the SRTS project. 86 <br />87 <br />88 <br />MOTION by Art Menius to request the BOCC to direct a planning staff to study the Safe Routes to School. Seconded 89 <br />by Erie Smith. 90 <br />VOTE:MOTION WITHDREW BY ART MENIUS91 <br />92 <br />After a discussion on the motion Art Menius withdrew his motion. 93 <br />94 <br />Heidi Perry suggested making a presentation to the BOCC and presenting a petition. Jeff Charles asked Abigaile 95 <br />Pittman if concerned residents could petition the BOCC in an open session. Abigaile Pittman answered that any 96 <br />resident can address the Board subject to a three minute time limit. She explained the different aspects of making 97 <br />the presentation and the order in which it would be done. 98 <br />99 <br />Members of the Walkable Hillsborough Coalition petitioned the OUTBoard to make the Safe Routes to School Plan 100 <br />a high priority and to present this request to the BOCC. Jeff Charles agreed with the petition from Walkable 101 <br />Hillsborough. 102 <br />103 <br />4