Orange County NC Website
154 rural area preserving nature and putting bike paths on there, people are more likely to use it for those means. But if you're <br /> 155 widening it, I think you're reducing the likelihood of that going to happen,and I just don't understand why we're trying to widen <br /> 156 both of those roads. I'm missing something. N.Trivedi: If you look at the existing conditions report,we reviewed it last year, it <br /> 157 showed streetlight and modeling data analysis, that 85 wasn't the commuting pattern for the corridor.A. Cole: But if it was <br /> 158 widened. N. Trivedi: Data analysis-wise, the study uses the adopted TRM, which includes 1-85 widening. Future growth will <br /> 159 continue along the corridor itself,affecting local commuting between Mebane and Hillsborough and Durham. A.Cole:So,when <br /> 160 you analyzed the traffic density,do we have the parallel data to show how densely populated 1-85 was at that same time?It's <br /> 161 congested. If you're a local person,you're going to get off and take 70. Do we have the data that says 85 traffic is congested at <br /> 162 the same time as 70? N.Trivedi: It is the Triangle Regional Model(TRM) data that shows the future impact of population and <br /> 163 employment growth impact on the transportation infrastructure.This data is adopted with the MTP and used by all consultants <br /> 164 for all traffic studies.The triangle model showed that even with 85 widened, US 70 still needed to be widened because more <br /> 165 people and future businesses are going to keep using US 70. and the development on 70, whether it's Mebane, Efland, <br /> 166 Hillsborough or west Durham,growth of 70 itself that will cause increased traffic on 70.As development grows,we want this <br /> 167 plan approved so we can use it as a locally adopted collector street plan to request developers address the impact their growth <br /> 168 will cause US 70.It's notjust that it will be a future State project,the developers themselves will be causing the growth and the <br /> 169 traffic. <br /> 170 <br /> 171 S. Apple. What if the Orange County Commission does not approve this plan, can we still require developers to make <br /> 172 improvements? N.Trivedi:Without this locally adopted plan,there is no basis to require any improvement by Developers. S. <br /> 173 Apple: Even though this is a Visionary Report"?N.Trivedi: It becomes a locally adopted plan.That local adoption gives us the <br /> 174 authority through the Unified Development Ordinance.Without adoption,there is no authority. <br /> 175 <br /> 176 S.Appel:And it could also be that there are parts I would feel comfortable with,some parts that I think are good and are needed <br /> 177 for Orange County to be able to constrain Developers or require developers to do things but there are parts of it that I don't feel <br /> 178 comfortable with. N.Trivedi: Please understand without approval,without it being a locally adopted plan,there is no imposing <br /> 179 on a Developer or asking a Developer or requesting a Developer-S.Appel: But can we take parts of this plan out,or is it all or <br /> 180 nothing?N.Trivedi:You can make the recommendations as you see fit.Staff and TAS have recommended approval.Mebane has <br /> 181 approved their portion and endorsed the plan.If you are piecemealing,and taking things away,such as suggesting the bike-ped <br /> 182 component without the highway component,you're telling the County Commissioners to pay for it.Because if you're saying the <br /> 183 bike-ped is good but the widening is not,then Complete Streets no longer applies. <br /> 184 <br /> 185 G.Woloszczuk:To Amy's point about the purpose,my daughter lives near New Bern,and you can go 70 miles an hour,and it is <br /> 186 restricted,so what's the problem we're trying to solve?The more I think about it,the more I'm unsure what problem we are <br /> 187 trying to solve.One minute it's school traffic,then it's nature walks.N.Trivedi:That is why the consultant is providing a <br /> 188 combination of short-,mid-,and long-term improvements for the full multimodal corridor. <br /> 189 <br /> 190 J. Mayo: Looking at the Goals and Objectives that we've got up front, it serves Mobility,but I don't think it serves placemaking, <br /> 191 for safety or natural environment to widen 70. 1 think especially in this part of Orange County and Alamance County 70 doesn't <br /> 192 need to be the controlled access highway.That's 85's job and it's right there. I think the goal should be to make the urban parts <br /> 193 of 70 in Hillsborough and Mebane safer and add some of that to Efland as well.The focus on mobility and adding lanes would <br /> 194 lead me to not approve this Study. <br /> 195 <br /> 196 S.Appel:Regardingthe environmental issues,I've been consciously looking atthe rights-of-way and the trees alongthe corridor, <br /> 197 and heavily forested. She indicated that she was worried about the Federally contracted work/maintenance concerning <br /> 198 Stormwater control and the replacement of trees.She cited an example at the bridge at Riverside Drive.Overall concerned with <br /> 199 widening the roads would lead to a reduction in tree cover. <br /> 200 <br /> 201 R.Marshall:Is it fair to say that there seem to be items in this plan that appear to be at cross purposes to each other?N.Trivedi: <br /> 202 advised starting at section 5.1.1.1 which addresses the goals and how they are mapped out.A.Cole requested that each item <br /> 203 be explained how it worked toward the goal with data from the consultant.Other members agreed that they needed the data <br /> 204 explained to support the mapping and to show the how.Members advised they needed the study to connect the dots for them. <br /> 205 Mortality rate concerns from road widening were mentioned. N.Trivedi advised that the AASHTO showed a four-lane divided <br />