Agenda 11-02-23; 8-a - Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

25 1 She said the SPOT and STIP processes are very slow, and these projects are many years out. 2 She said she would rather the NCDOT fund this than the county. She said that if folks are to 3 consider biking as a true method of transportation, then it needs to be like this and connected. 4 Nishith Trivedi said that the Department of Aging is trying to develop a fixed route for 5 transportation in Southern Orange County. He said this calls for resources to do that and this 6 would assist in providing those resources. He said that park and ride lots cannot be planned 7 without a fixed route service. 8 Commissioner McKee said that for years he was content to study and talk about the 9 southern branch library. However, he came to the position that it is time to make a decision. He 10 said they should decide to approve and move forward. He said this has been discussed for years 11 and he is aware that several members have not, but to receive this means they paid for a study 12 to be placed on the shelf. He said that receiving this signals to everyone that they acknowledge 13 that traffic is bad, but they will not move forward. He said that approving this signals that they can 14 begin. He said there is an entire process that has to run, and it will not start tomorrow. He said 15 that they will be in the mix if they approve it. He said that the right of way that is already owned 16 by NCDOT is adequate already to complete this. He said that traffic is going to continue to get 17 worse. He said that people are going to continue to move here, and Hwy 54 is already a corridor. 18 He said that public transportation will become impossible on the two-lane road and approving the 19 study is the only way he sees forward to expanding public transportation out in the county that 20 connects to feeder routes. He said that the bike lane gives enough room to put bicycles and 21 pedestrians. He said that Carrboro has this from Carrboro High School to the subdivision. He said 22 he would hate to see this Board to make the mistake the previous board made with 1-85 and 1-40. 23 He said that Hwy 54 will be widened in the future, with or without the Board's approval. 24 Commissioner Greene read from an email from Carrboro Mayor Seils. She said that part 25 of this is about process. She said that the UDO Board received the report in 2019 and directed 26 staff to implement items to improve the study and identify future work. She said that last week the 27 MPO removed the widening. She said she thinks there are a lot of assumptions being made here 28 and that is why she cannot vote in favor. 29 Chair Bedford referred to Figure 13 from the agenda packet showing minor roads that feed 30 into this study. She said that her concern previously was around safety. She said that if they take 31 the regional approach, they are responsible for all of Orange County. She said remember that the 32 ETJ votes for the commissioners. She said this shows that the feeder roads are being used 33 because 55 is so congested and the other roads are not built for traffic and that is where the 34 accidents are happening. She said they are planning for three turns near Hatch Road. She said 35 they can adopt this contingent on the multimodal factors being included and that they can work 36 with the other partners. She said that she thinks they should tell NCDOT that they intend to be 37 very involved. She said that multimodal has a lot of opportunities in this. 38 Nishith Trivedi clarified that the SPOT 7 project is with TARPO. He said that this might 39 have to be done again in future SPOT versions until it is funded. 40 Commissioner Greene asked for clarification that TARPO is the one that has submitted 41 this project. 42 Nishith Trivedi said yes that it was approved as part of the county's resolution and 43 submitted through TARPO for the whole plan. He said that when it was removed DCHC, the only 44 portion that was removed was the portion from Orange Grove Road to Old Fayetteville Road. He 45 said that it was submitted twice as two different projects with one in TARPO and one in DCHC. 46 Commissioner Greene asked if she heard him say that the TARPO submission goes all 47 the way from Alamance County to Old Fayetteville Road. 48 Nishith Trivedi said yes, Mebane Oaks Road to Old Fayetteville Road. 49 Commissioner Greene asked if TARPO has already submitted this to SPOT 7. 50 Nishith Trivedi said yes. 51 Chair Bedford said that is just part of the project.