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ORANGE COUNTY <br />ORANGE UNIFIED TRANSPORTATION BOARD (OUTBOARD) <br />REGULARAGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date:May 22, 2013 <br />RegularAgenda <br />Item No.4.a. <br />SUBJECT:Review of St. Mary’s Road as a regional bicycle route <br />DEPARTMENT:Planning and Inspections PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N)No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />1.DCHC MPO Draft 2040 Metropolitan <br />Transportation Plan (MTP) On-Road <br />Facilities Map <br />2.Staff’s Comment Letter (4-4-2013) <br />3.Orange County/NCDOTBicycle Map <br />4.NCDOT/Orange County <br />Comprehensive Transportation Plan <br />(CTP) Bicycle Map <br />5.Town of Hillsborough Community <br />Connectivity Plan Map <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Abigaile Pittman, Transportation/Land Use <br />Planner, 245-2567 <br />PURPOSE: To review materials related to the bicycle route classification of St. Mary’s Road, <br />and provide input to the Planning staff on the preferred regional bicycle route. <br />BACKGROUND: TheDCHC MPO Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) approved the key <br />components of the 2040 Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP), such as the highway, bicycle <br />and transit projects and the financial plan, at their December 2012 meeting. The TAC is the <br />MPO’s policy board and is the ultimate decision-making body on MPO plans.Then several <br />months ago the DCHC MPO released the full report for the 2040 Metropolitan Transportation <br />Plan (2040 MTP) and the related Air Quality Analysis and Conformity Determination report (AQ <br />Conformity) for public comment, and the maps related to the MTP (including the On-Road <br />Facilities Map). <br />Upon reviewof the DCHC MPOdraft Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) On-Road Bicycle <br />Facilities Map (Attachment 1) staff noted that asegment of St. Mary’s Road between US 70 <br />Bypass and the Durham County line was identified as a Regional Bicycle Facility. The Planning <br />staff asked that this designation be removed in favor of a preferred alternative consistent with <br />Orange County’s and the Town of Hillsborough’s approved bicycle routes (Attachments 2, 3, 4 <br />and 5). In response, the DCHC TAC opted to: “Maintain St. Mary’s Road as a regional bicycle <br />route in the MTP for the time being. As part of the DCHC MPO Comprehensive Transportation <br />Plan (CTP), review other regional route alternativesto St. Mary’s Road. If a route other than St. <br />Mary’s Road is selected, amend theMTP to reflect the preferred regional route.” <br />1 <br />7 <br />ReturntoAgenda