Agenda 05-07-24; 6-b - Approval of the Orange County US 70 Multimodal Corridor Study (MCS)

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55 US 70 Multimodal Corridor Study 4.3.6.6 2018 Mebane NC Railroad Traffic Separation Study The Mebane Traffic Separation Study (TSS) focuses on eight (8) existing at-grade roadway-railroad crossings along a 5-mile span through downtown Mebane to determine the need for improvements and/or elimination of public at-grade crossings to improve safety and mobility for motorists, pedestrians, rail passengers, and train crews. The TSS evaluated the rail line in Mebane that crosses various streets, as well as any planned or programmed railroad and roadway improvements within the study area. The plan recommends configuration changes for multiple crossing locations and adjacent intersections. 4.3.6.7 2022 Mebane Fifth St. Improvement Impact Study The City of Mebane analyzed potential traffic impacts of the proposed Fifth Street and Washington Street Intersection Improvement project. Analysis includes volume development, capacity analysis, safety assessment, and multimodal evaluation results due to the planned geometrics modifications and resulting travel pattern changes at the Fifth Street and Washington Street intersection and six other adjacent intersections, including intersections with Center Street (US 70). Notable findings included: • Recommendations include new sidewalk connections, new raised medians, further monitoring for signalization and other crash modifications safety improvements at Fifth/Jackson. • The signalized Fifth Street and Center Street intersection is projected to operate at LOS B during both the AM and PM peak hours,with or without the roadway project, under both the 2025 and 2035 conditions. • The signalized Fourth Street and Center Street intersection is projected to operate at LOS A during both the AM and PM peak hours under the Existing conditions. It is projected to operate at LOS B under both the 2025 No-Build and Build conditions, and at LOS B or C under 2035 No-Build and Build conditions. • Based on travel demand analysis, traffic volumes are expected to continue to increase in the study area (5-10% by 2025, 20-25% by 2035) due to ambient growth and background developments, despite that completion of NC 119 Bypass is expected to result in 9-14%traffic reductions at the Fifth Street and Center Street intersection. 4.3.7 System Connectivity 1-85 supplants much of US 70's role in connecting the Mebane/Burlington area with Hillsborough and Durham.While the proportion of traffic traveling the entire length of the corridor has declined since the completion of 1-85, new development along the corridor and along roads accessed via US 70 has generated additional trips that use parts of the corridor in travelling to jobs, residences, schools, stores, and other services or activities.Although traffic growth for the study corridor overall averaged about 2.3% annually between 2011 and 2019, rates varied considerably year-to-year and by location. Due to the proximity of 1-85 and 1-40 merging just west, and the connection US 70 provides to 1-40 via the Durham Freeway, this route also provides some relief when incidents impact 1-40 between RTP and Mebane. The lack of north-south connectivity along the corridor results in vehicles using portions of US 70 to complete north-south trips. This adds traffic and turning movement conflicts that increase delay, especially at key intersections. Vehicles using NC 86 and NC 57 north of US 70 is an example of this issue. Congestion through downtown Hillsborough discourages automobile trips, and truck traffic is (mostly) routed around downtown. Completion of the new NC 119 connection helped address a similar situation in Mebane. Traffic also uses US 70 to access one of the limited number of north-south routes across or to/from 1-85, such as Lawrence Road. 46 Existing Conditions and Critical Issues