OUTBoard minutes 082708 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Approved 9/27/08 4 from Hillsborough to I-85 near the Orange/Durham County line. If there is sufficient ridership in the Economic 156 Development District, there will be a bus stop. 157 158 Jan asked about when current big projects would be considered in the process. For example, there is going to be a 159 new solid waste transfer station; so there will be a need for road improvements due to large 18 wheelers, possibly 160 bike lanes, etc. 161 162 Andy stated that it all depends who funds the projects. 163 164 Andy talked about the next steps in the process, they are going to get the public feedback and then develop the 165 preferred option. He will return with that option for the board’s review and comment. Andy explained that comments 166 should be focused on looking at all the details and then deciding where to focus funding for transportation 167 investments: more on transit or roadways? If the decision is to invest more on roadways, should those 168 improvements be for widening, new alignments, or hot spot type improvement? If the decision is to invest more in 169 transit, should there be more local service, express bus service, or do we need fixed quideway here in the triangle? 170 If the feedback received includes a lot of transit, then it will get emphasized in the plan. 171 172 Paul asked about new grids/alignments for new projects, for example, the easiest right of way to obtain is where the 173 major electric lines are, they tend to be straight and direct and owned by one organization. They are leased but what 174 if that system is no longer valid. A lot of railroad systems were done that way. Are there other ways to draw these 175 lines? Most of the high tension lines are probably not leased. They may be easements or not. 176 177 Andy answered that he has never known anyone to look at utility rights-of-way as a possible road right-of-way. There 178 are five rail corridors in the long range plan for preservation. 179 180 Karen Lincoln interjected that new road alignments require more environmental disturbance and the costs for 181 acquiring right-of-way would be greater. 182 183 Sam asked about the bike paths and how those are provisioned, and how costs are determined. 184 185 Andy stated that in the past, costs were calculated by taking into account right of ways, etc., and by assuming 186 construction of bike lanes in the urban areas and wider outside lanes, additional pavement for facilities outside urban 187 areas. 188 189 Nancy noted that there are no off road bicycle facilities near Hillsborough and asked how to remedy that. 190 191 Karen Lincoln informed her that there is nothing in the plan for them. Hillsborough does have Riverwalk, but there is 192 no bicycle plan that includes off road bicycle facilities. 193 194 Nancy asked if they could come up with a plan, would it then go into the (regional long range transportation) plan and 195 was told yes. 196 197 Discussion followed in regard to intersections and interchanges in the plan. Andy informed that the Federal Highway 198 Administration wants a least one mile between interchanges. 199 200 Andy stated that he had already heard from the OUTBoard a lot of concerns and a lot of things that need to be 201 looked into further and he thinks that is a good start on recommendations. 202 203 Discussion about recommendations followed. Karen Lincoln let the members know that part of its recommendations 204 could be to consider how it (the plan) would be funded, i.e. comments on the potential revenue sources. Paul noted 205 that the plan in itself will create development and change and the more you go to high investment projects that will 206