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23 <br /> Commissioner Greene said she had questions about the widening of NC 54. She said <br /> that the Town of Carrboro is opposed to the changes. She asked why it is still recommended. <br /> Nishith Trivedi said that the OUTBoard and Board of County Commissioners <br /> recommended it to be a county priority because the Phase 2 study was completed and the project <br /> was broken up differently for SPOT 7. He said the breakup of the project in SPOT 5 was the <br /> entire corridor from Old Fayetteville Road to Interstate 40 and NC 119 past Graham. He said in <br /> the SPOT 6 cycle it was broken it up into different parts focusing on the Alamance County and <br /> Burlington Graham MPO submitting their portion from NC 119 to Mebane Oaks Road. He said <br /> that they all approved the study and they are pursuing widening their portion of NC 54. He said <br /> that PART is going to put a park and ride transit route through the corridor because it is a priority <br /> for them. He said Orange County broke it up differently, understanding Carrboro's objection. He <br /> said it remained a county priority because of high safety, crash, and congestion issues. He said <br /> that the Phase 2 study showed that if it is not widened, congestion will spread to other roads and <br /> crashes will continue to happen. He said crashes and safety issues are getting worse, according <br /> to data from the Highway Patrol. He said that the OUTBoard asked to revisit the action on the <br /> study, to review the alternatives that were analyzed. He said that he will be presenting the study <br /> to the Board in May. He said that the project was submitted in SPOT 6 because they wanted to <br /> consider pursuing the improvements along that corridor. He said they will continue to work with <br /> Carrboro to do those improvements. <br /> Commissioner Greene asked how Carrboro's input is being considered. <br /> Nishith Trivedi said that Carrboro unconditionally objects to the entire project, even in the <br /> areas that are not under Carrboro jurisdiction. He said the state also considers the project a <br /> priority, to reduce serious injuries and fatalities. <br /> Chair Bedford said she spoke with Mayor Seils and that part of it was that they did not <br /> know that the project would include bicycle and pedestrian considerations. <br /> Commissioner Fowler asked what multi-modal means. <br /> Nishith Trivedi said that any time there are improvements considered to the road,the entire <br /> right of way has to be considered. <br /> Nishith Trivedi continued the presentation. <br /> Slide #17 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> NORTH CAROLINA <br /> NC 54 West Corridor Study <br /> Update <br /> April 18. 2023 <br /> Board of County Commissioners <br />