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11 <br /> US 70 Multimodal Corridor Study <br /> The project's Study Team reflects the broad interests of the corridor, representing the City of Mebane,the Town of <br /> Hillsborough, BGMPO, DCHC MPO, Alamance and Orange Counties, VHB, and Rose &Associates.The Study Team <br /> examined existing growth management plans, economic and land use trends, and transportation systems to <br /> inform short- and long-term recommendations for region's future prosperity. <br /> 1.2 Context <br /> The study corridor spans 18.9 miles of US 70 from NC 119 in Mebane and the Orange/Durham County line <br /> (classified as Minor Arterial per federal function classifications), and 3 miles of US 70 Business from NC 86 <br /> (Churton Street) in Hillsborough to US 70 (Major Collector/Other Principal Arterial). <br /> Historically, this route was designed to link the municipalities of Durham, Hillsborough, and Mebane;while the <br /> corridor is still an important commuter route, it now acts as a secondary route for 1-85 and 1-40, and a growing <br /> share of its trips begin or end within the corridor in response to increasing residential and commercial <br /> development. <br /> To address the corridor's diverse traffic demand, land use, topography, and roadway design, this report divides <br /> the corridor into shorter segments that share relevant characteristics. Figure 1 identifies seven corridor segments, <br /> A— F. Segments A through E comprise the US 70 corridor from west to east, while Segment F is US 70 Business. <br /> The average segment is 3.6 miles long, each spanning between three and four miles. <br /> Segment A <br /> Segment A passes through Downtown Mebane—the most urban part of the corridor—and the Alamance/Orange <br /> County line, extending from James Walker Road east to Mace Road. <br /> NCRR tracks run along the southern side of this segment, creating delays and safety concerns when trains cross <br /> intersecting roadways. Right-of-way constraints and historical sites limit improvement options. Outside of <br /> Downtown Mebane, US 70 is predominantly abutted by commercial and light industrial uses. <br /> The most recent BGMPO Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP), adopted on May 24, 2022, identifies <br /> congestion relief, enhanced mobility, and intersection modernization as key needs for this segment. Additional <br /> plans recommend bicycle/pedestrian improvements and a fixed-route bus service in Downtown Mebane. <br /> Key segment attributes: <br /> • The prevailing roadway cross-section is two lanes with paved 2'-4' shoulders. <br /> • There are no bicycle accommodations. <br /> • The speed limits drops from 55 mph to 45 mph at the western end of this segment, <br /> transitioning down to 25 mph through the Central Business District (CBD), then back up to 45 <br /> mph through the eastern half of the segment. <br /> • Estimated 2022 average annual daily traffic volumes (AADTs) through the Mebane CBD range <br /> from 9,000 to 12,000 vehicles per day (vpd). <br /> • The Orange-Alamance Connector and Orange-Durham Express bus routes operate along this <br /> segment. <br /> 2 Study Context <br />