8.21.23 OUTBoard Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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164 Another funding source is the SPOT Safety Program, which provides a continuous and systematic process 165 that identifies reviews, and addresses specific traffic safety concerns. It has limited funding capped at 166 400K. Overall, the amount of investment is extremely modest. Because of this, competition offers the 167 best value across state lines. It generates staff decision-making, which is subject to a predetermined 168 standard. Therefore, the financing sources for discretionary funds would require assistance from House 169 and Senate elected officials. Question: So how should we proceed? 170 171 Two bus stops at Orange Grove Path will be funded as part of the Orange County Bus Stop. Question: Is 172 the mobility funding for accessibility to make locations accessible to those who require mobility? In 173 order to improve the county bus stops, Orange County Transportation and the Orange County School 174 District would need to collaborate. NCDOT has 88 compliances and design guidelines for bus stops. DOT 175 funding for transit support comes from SPOT; 90% of the revenue is made up of highway funds, and 10% 176 is made up of non-highway revenues- (statewide region and division-wide); which means that there are 177 very few sources available. State grants are given to the county. Question: Should we use those grants 178 and state funds, for capital projects or for operations? We can switch back and forth between the two. 179 The stops that require improvement will be identified by the short-term transportation plan, and we 180 may work with Go Triangle, our partners, and local organizations to make the necessary improvements. 181 This needs to be included in the revision of the short-term transit strategy. DOT has incorporated its 182 mobility section and is currently operating. They have altered their organizational structure; formerly, 183 the bike pad and public transit were two distinct divisions, but now they are one division. Since the 184 system safety discussion has been going on for 20-30 years with little to no progress, we shouldn't wait 185 until someone tragically dies or suffers significant injuries before taking any action. In addition to 186 addressing the issues, SPOT Safety DOT is examining the severity, frequency, and crashes and how to 187 make corrections in these situations. In essence, SPOT funding is not available for projects like adding 188 pedestrian amenities to already-existing bridges, demolishing and repairing existing bridges, or creating 189 new pedestrian bridges; instead, funding may be available through the STIP process. SPOTS may be 190 used, for instance, at Oakdale for the signal, and may be considered throughout that process. Cars are 191 impacted by the signal; pedestrians are not. Orange County has data showing that the rate of serious 192 injuries is rising, not falling. Due to driving habits, the rates are now greater in both post-COVID and pre- 193 COVID, at least in certain areas. Infrastructure modifications will not alter driving habits. 194 195 A circular parent driveway surrounding the elementary school is being proposed. Question: Is this a 196 county, state, or school board undertaking? In order to do this, examining the internal and external 197 traffic operations at both schools was necessary. The regular parent pick-up and drop-off traffic on the 198 public road at both schools is an issue. The fact that the road cannot serve as a parking lot is one of the 199 first things that has to be corrected. The study offers suggestions to the school system for how to 200 enhance queuing, which was significant at both schools and improve the loading and unloading 201 procedure. The school must decide whether to act on them or not. The department might think about 202 assisting with this through the SPOT Mobility Process, but there are limited funds and many requests for 203 them on a statewide basis. Nevertheless, it is something to be considered along with the understanding 204 that it would be competing with other needs throughout the state. 205 206 For new schools or schools that are expanding, the laws differ slightly. This status was amended in 2017 207 to state that NCDOT would assess the efficiency and safety of the traffic flow around these kinds of 208 schools and determine what changes were necessary. They are examining both internal and external 209 traffic operations, but if NCDOT determines that an external modification is necessary in order to 5