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1 <br />ORANGE COUNTY <br />ORANGE UNIFIED TRANSPORTATION BOARD (OUTBOARD) <br />REGULARAGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date:September 18, 2013 <br />RegularAgenda <br />Item No.4.i. <br />SUBJECT:Review of St. Mary’s Road as a regional bicycle route <br />DEPARTMENT:Planningand 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 the classification of St. Mary’s Road as a regional bicycle route, discuss <br />the classification with Dale McKeel, Bicycle & Pedestrian Coordinator, Department of <br />Transportation, City of Durham/Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro (DCHC) Metropolitan Planning <br />Organization (MPO), and provide feedback. <br />BACKGROUND:On May 22, 1013 the OUTBoard reviewedmaterials related to the bicycle <br />route classification of St. Mary’s Road, and provided input to the Planning staff on the preferred <br />regional bicycle route. The OUTBoard noted concerns about the safety of the route, noting that <br />this is the primary reason that it is not used much bycyclists. Comments were also made <br />regarding the drainage ditches and embankments, which would make a bicycle project along <br />this route very expensive. There was discussion that a preferred regional route would be <br />Lawrence Road to St. Mary’s Road to New Sharon Church Road. The OUTBoard asked that <br />Dale McKeel be invited to a meeting to discuss this matter, and receive Board feedback. <br />REVIEW OF THE ISSUE: TheDCHC MPO TransportationAdvisory Committee (TAC) <br />approved the key components of the 2040 Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP), such as the <br />highway, bicycleand transit projects and the financial plan, at their December 2012 meeting. <br />The TAC is the MPO’s policy board and is the ultimate decision-making body on MPO <br />plans.Then several months ago the DCHC MPO released the full report for the 2040 <br />Metropolitan Transportation Plan (2040 MTP) and the related Air Quality Analysis/Conformity <br />Determination report (AQConformity) for public comment, and the maps related to the MTP <br />(including the On-Road Facilities Map). <br />9