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41 <br /> Behavioral Components of Vehicular and Pedestrian Traffic Patterns <br /> There are approximately 15-20 Orange Middle students walking to school. On-site observations <br /> noted a number of middle school pedestrians walking from the direction of Orange High School. <br /> Field staff noted the following travel norms for Orange Middle: <br /> ♦ Motorist behavior was observed as good. Motorist behavior was observed as <br /> good. Drivers are generally respectful and pull of to the shoulder to allow other <br /> traffic to pass. <br /> ♦ There is one entrance and exit out of the same driveway for carpool traffic. <br /> ♦ During the morning drop off, motorists were observed queuing along Orange <br /> High School Road and traffic was backed up in both directions.Traffic cleared <br /> quickly once the sheriff arrived to direct traffic in the morning. <br /> ♦ During the afternoon pick up, traffic backed up in both directions along Orange <br /> High School Road.Vehicles were observed pulling onto the shoulder to wait until <br /> the afternoon bell.Through traffic was observed passing through the left lane at <br /> full speed, creating safety concerns. <br /> ♦ Staff noted that some walkers come from the direction of Orange High School <br /> down the street and walkers are not released in the afternoon until 3:55PM. <br /> ♦ Some cars pull into the driveway exit lane while the carpool traffic is also leaving <br /> the exit lane creating the potential for an accident. <br /> ♦ Buses must pass in the left lane to get past the cars lined up on Orange High <br /> School Road and into the bus lot. <br /> ♦ There is not a crossing guard present, but office staff said there is occasionally <br /> someone directing traffic during pick-up times when available. <br /> ♦ Town of Hillsborough staff noted that students walk from the school to the <br /> nearby Walgreens via an existing informal pedestrian path through the woods. <br /> Existing Infrastructure - Strengths <br /> Few strengths were noted due to the lack of pedestrian and bicycle facilities.The following <br /> observations were noted as existing system strengths: <br /> + There is some sidewalk along the immediate school entrance. <br /> + There is a short section of sidewalk along Orange High School Road, but it <br /> doesn't connect to any other sidewalk. <br /> + There is a crosswalk across Orange High School Road at Ann Road. <br /> + There is a short segment of sidewalk along the north side of US 70 on the House <br /> at Gatewood property. <br /> Safe Routes to School <br /> Orange County,North Carolina 39 <br />