Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
Efland-Buckhorn-Mebane Access Management Plan <br />Orange County Planning Department Page 1 <br /> <br />I.Introduction <br />Orange County seeks to develop an access management plan in order to maintain and improve the functionality <br />of the transportation network as the Efland-Buckhorn-Mebane (E-B-M) Study Area develops. This E-B-M AMP <br />provides the basis and justification for requiring the dedication of right-of-way in the planning area. Orange <br />County’s Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) requires that proposed site plans demonstrate compliance with <br />adopted access management plans. <br /> <br />As properties are developed, transportation interconnectivity and access become increasingly important. <br />Orange County and regional metropolitan and rural planning organizations are dedicated to safe and efficient <br />use of the transportation network through sound access management practices. These practices in form of local <br />plans and policies are applied to highways, major arterials, and other roadways, including but not limited to: <br />x Access Spacing: Increasing the distance between traffic signals improves traffic flow on major roadways, <br />reduces congestion, and improves air quality for heavily traveled corridors. <br />x Driveway Spacing: Fewer driveways spaced further apart allow for more orderly traffic merging and <br />presents fewer challenges to drivers. <br />x Safe Turning Lanes: Dedicated left- and right-turn, indirect left-turns and U-turns, and roundabouts keep <br />through-traffic flowing. Roundabouts provide an opportunity to reduce conflict points within intersections <br />for safe travel. <br />x Median Treatments: Two-way left-turn lanes and non-traversable, raised medians are examples of some of <br />the most effective means to regulate access and reduce crashes. <br />x Right-of-Way Management: Right-of-way reservation for future widenings, good sight distance, access <br />location, and other access-related issues. <br /> <br />Such policies designate appropriate control levels for various land <br />uses. Local residential streets are allowed full access, while <br />commercial corridors have limited access. A wide range of road <br />types are included, each requiring standards that ensure free traffic <br />flow while allowing access to major businesses and other land uses <br />along a road (FIGURE 1). <br /> <br />Orange County uses Access management Plans to ensure land use <br />decisions take into consideration their impacts on the <br />transportation network. This practice is incorporated into the UDO <br />as a means of implementing the County’s 2030 Comprehensive Plan. The County currently has three Access <br />Management Plans in place: <br />x Orange Grove Road (March 2003) <br />x Efland-Buckhorn-Mebane (November 2011) <br />x Eno Economic Development District (November 2013) <br /> <br />A review of current legal and regulatory practices lists some fundamental access management aspects and <br />authority: <br />Figure 1: Access vs Mobility <br />20