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Approved 1/20/10 2 determined to continue the study and listed preferred options alignments. The first three preferred options were the 56 three alignments (alignment 6, alignment 4, and alignment 3) studied in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement. 57 Karen Lincoln advised that the NCDOT will accept comments through January 7, 2010. They should have it written 58 up a month or so later, then NCDOT will make a recommendation for the Final Environmental Impact Statement. 59 NCDOT will look at the things the project is suppose to do; alleviate traffic congestion, improve safety, traffic delays, 60 and public comments, etc. The FHWA issues the record of decision on what can or cannot be built and she 61 estimates it will be another year unless the no build option means it stops at that point. 62 63 Randy Marshall asked if the Town of Hillsborough and Orange County have both agreed on a no build option can 64 NCDOT override it and build anyway. 65 66 Karen Lincoln responded that although they have invested in the studies, etc. she thinks they will probably cut it. She 67 noted that they will consider public opinion. 68 69 Randy Marshall asked it the results from the CTP survey was known to the decision makers. 70 71 Karen Lincoln responded that they did not yet have it. 72 73 Nancy Baker commented that they are acting at the end of a very long timeline and so many things have changed in 74 that time. 75 76 Randy Marshall noted that in his memory of the survey results, there was substantial support for a western and/or 77 eastern bypass. He noted that the no build goes against the majority of the respondents of the survey that want 78 some type of bypass around Hillsborough. 79 80 Karen Lincoln explained some of the criteria were not met according to the Federal Highway Administration; the 81 statement of purpose and need was not met. Therefore, the NCDOT held a stakeholders meeting to change the 82 Statement of Purpose and Need. MPO representatives did not vote for the change because NCDOT was not 83 considering returning to all previous consensus points to study suggested alternatives to see how they stack up and 84 to see if they can be chosen for study. Karen is not sure if they recommend a no build if it has to be carried through 85 to the final EIS phase record of decision. 86 87 Sam Lasris suggested that in the interest of time that the Board move straight to the invited speaker, Tom Magnuson. 88 89 90 IV. Approval of Minutes 91 92 The OUTBoard approved the minutes from November 18, 2009 with correction by affirmation. 93 94 95 V. 2010 Meeting Schedule 96 97 The OUTBoard approved the meeting schedule for 2010 by affirmation. 98 99 100 VI. Rural Pedestrian Connectivity Plan Update 101 102 Nancy Baker updated the Board that as part of the Comprehensive Transportation Plan, work is being done for a 103 pedestrian connectivity plan. The Town of Hillsborough has a pedestrian connectivity plan and it seems to be a good 104 idea to have a Countywide pedestrian connectivity plan. She noted that the idea is somewhat novel because there is 105 very little in the way of sidewalks and the ability for someone to walk from one part of the County to another. She 106 advised that they are devising a plan of different routes through the County that people can walk. She advised that 107 she had invited Tom Magnuson to come and speak to the Board because he is working with the group. Nancy 108 introduced Tom as the head of the Trading Path Association and is an expert on the history of walking in Orange 109