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Agenda Item 6.a. 95 <br /> Orange County & NCDOT Highway Luncheon <br /> Division 7 and District 1 <br /> March 31 , 2021 12:00 p.m. <br /> - Nish: This has been a County priority and is still on the SPOT list. I'm not aware of any express <br /> design that is being used currently. <br /> - Wright: We are looking at the way we design with value engineering. They used to be at the <br /> end of the process, and we're looking to bring them in to an earlier part of the process. That <br /> way, we get different ideas earlier in the process. We use this to try to get costs down to a <br /> reasonable level. <br /> E. Traffic Safety Issue in the Dogwood Acres Neighborhood (NCDOT) <br /> The BOCC has received an additional complaint with regard to traffic and safety in the Dogwood <br /> Acres neighborhood. The NCDOT Traffic Engineering investigation (Attachment 1) to the original <br /> complaint was given to Orange County Planning and the Orange County BOCC in November 2020. <br /> Status: NCDOT to provide any updates. <br /> - Dawn: Recommendation is not to improve intersection. We did not see any type of safety <br /> concerns in that area that we could tangibly see that would involve an all-way stop in that area. <br /> - Renee: Did you email the constituent? <br /> - Dawn: I believe that we have, and Chuck had reached out at one point. <br /> - Wright: Dawn, can you follow-up on that? <br /> - Dawn: Yes, I can and can copy Renee Price on that too. In the future, please feel free to <br /> forward this over to my office. <br /> F. Hillsborough Train Station and Feasibility Study on NC 86 Connector (Hillsborough) <br /> Hillsborough will share the status of their train station project as well as the progress of their <br /> feasibility study with consulting firm VHB on the NC 86 Connector. <br /> Status: Hillsborough staff to provide any updates. <br /> - Margaret Hauth: We did get notice from NCDOT that there's a freeway funding agreement <br /> between the town, NCDOT and GoTriangle. We will start the process of seeking a design team <br /> now. We did a conceptual study a few years ago to help inform this process, and so we're <br /> using that now. This project includes no improvements in the rail corridor. We will not be <br /> building a platform or outside improvements in that area for the time being. NC railroad isn't <br /> committing to anything right now. RFQ for design team will go out later this summer, and then <br /> design will be 18 months to two years. One thing we got besides the building is $100,000 to <br /> design a connection for pedestrians from the building to the downtown of Hillsborough. <br /> - Jenn: We're excited that this is moving and will accept any advocacy on our behalf to get the <br /> train to stop. <br /> - Renee: So you're building a station and the train may not stop? <br /> - Margaret: That has been our direction. There's some curve removal that creates an issue. <br /> Norfolk Southern has not shown interest in passenger activity in their corridor, while NC railroad <br /> has been a partner. There are steps that we have to go through in order to get a train to the <br /> station. <br /> - Renee: So if GoTriangle says that we're appropriately sized for rail, are we able to use it in 10- <br /> 15 years when we reach that threshold? <br /> - Margaret: Still would require Norfolk Southern's affirmation. <br /> Moving on to NC 86 Connector topic: <br /> - Margaret: NC 86 has used some of its funding from MPO to identify a solution at Eno Mountain <br /> Road and Mayo Street. Using two roundabouts instead of realignment is more cost-effective. <br /> Looking at river to Orange Grove Road and how to make improvements in an area that is rich <br /> with barriers (businesses, creeks, power lines, railroad, etc.). Working on that now and hoping <br /> to find a project that will become a TIP project in the future. <br /> 3 <br />