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DRAFT Alex Castro said in the past, Carrboro was opposed to the widening. Will that opposition hold up the project? Nish Trivedi answered the study is recommending widening and is not sure how strong the opposition is. The second round of workshops will present recommendations and the public will have their opportunity to voice this concern from NC -119 to Old Fayetteville Road. Heidi Perry asked what the public input is for. Nish Trivedi answered that it is to see what the public thinks about the proposed recommendations, opposition and support. Another purpose is to get input on where the sidewalk will be and how big the right of way is going to be. Alyson West checked that the public input will be on sidewalks and trails in addition to the widening of N.C. 54. Alex Castro asked what the words "modernize" and "modernization" mean throughout the document. Nish Trivedi said it means bringing the roads to current standards, which can mean increasing lane widths and increasing paved shoulders. Alyson West asked for clarification on the modernization process. Will NCDOT prioritize safety, speed, or mobility? Nish Trivedi answered yes, they will create turn lanes at multiple intersections for traffic control and pedestrian safety. Heidi Perry asked how pedestrian safety is addressed when turning lanes are added to intersections. Nish Trivedi said he does not have answers to that question but will look into it. Alex Castro noted that on Old Greensboro Road there is a narrow bridge that is difficult for motorists and cyclists to share safely. He is concerned about that. Nish Trivedi said modernization involves increasing the amount of paving without adding more lanes. Alyson West asked whether the design speed is changed when lanes are widened. Nish Trivedi answered that he would need to check on that. It was noted by Alex Castro and Heidi Perry that the paved shoulder on the edge of Orange Grove Road was not built to the standards of the road so it crumbled away. Erle Smith asked whether modernizing roads means there will be 13.5 inches of pavement beyond the white line everywhere. Nish Trivedi said he will follow up on that. Heidi Perry noted that Alyson West's question about widening lanes increasing the design speed is relevant and asked what the width is that NCDOT is bringing standards up to. Alyson West said if the modernization is funded, is there another part of the study where this board can look at the design standard? Nish Trivedi said NCDOT brings the roads up to current design standard. Heidi Perry asked whether there is only one standard for every two -lane road. Nish Trivedi answered roads have to be designed to specific NCDOT cross sections when they are modernized, hence bring it to current standards. Nish Trivedi said he can take comments on reducing speed as part of modernizations. Alyson West said if Old Greensboro Road is widened and that increases the speed, then it becomes more of a cut - through for commuters. If NCDOT widens the road and it increases space for bike lanes, that's great. If it widens the lanes, the tendency is for people to drive faster. Heidi Perry asked about out -of -sync lights. Nish Trivedi said NCDOT is working on them. Alex Castro suggested NCDOT consider installing a sensor for bicycles at each end of the bridge on Old Greensboro Road that would trigger strobe lights (like the pedestrian crossing lights) to slow traffic down. That is true modernization, making it a safer road for bicyclists and motorists, he said. Nish Trivedi said he noted the suggestion and will ask for more information about that possibility. 6i