Orange County NC Website
~~s_~oo~ oiy <br />a _ ~~-~~ <br />ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br />A RESOLUTION PROVIDING COMMENTS TO THE DURHAM-CHAPEL HILL- <br />CARRBORO TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE REGARDING THE <br />DRAFT 2009 -2015 TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM <br />WHEREAS, Orange County, as a member of the DCHC MPO, has participated <br />in the development of the Durham-Chapel Hill- Carrboro (DCHC) Metropolitan Priority <br />List for the 2009 -2015 State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP); and <br />WHEREAS, the North Carolina Department of Transportation has released the <br />Draft 2009 -2015 STIP for public comment; and <br />WHEREAS, the DCHC MPO Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) is <br />charged with the development of the Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program <br />(MTIP) consistent with the STIP, and has released the draft MTIP for public comment; <br />and <br />WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners has reviewed the draft 2009- <br />2015 DCHC Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program; <br />NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Orange County Board of <br />Commissioners that the Orange County submits the following comments to the DCHC <br />Transportation Advisory Committee to be considered in the development of the final <br />2009 -2015 DCHC Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program: <br />1. Orange County is concerned that cuts in appropriated federal transportation funds to <br />North Carolina coupled with the rapid increase in construction costs have reduced <br />funding sources for bicycle and pedestrian projects in order to prevent further delay <br />of highway projects. Orange County supports increasing funding for alternative <br />modes for transportation, .particularly for improvements that make bicycling safer on <br />County roads. <br />2. TIP Project B-4218, Replace Bridge No. 108 over New Hope Creek on SR 1730, <br />Turkey Farm Road. The draft 2009-2015 TIP schedules construction for 2008. <br />Orange County requests that NCDOT further review and receive public comment <br />regarding the design of fhe bridge from an environmental perspective. The current <br />design calls for an interior bent and fhree associated 3.5-foot diameter drilled piers <br />land placement of a 55-foot long rip rap causeway placed in fhe stream bed. This <br />reach of New Hope Creek stream is home to six species listed with the North <br />Carolina Natural Heritage Program, fhree of which are designated as endangered. <br />NCDOT has previously responded to concerns of the local jurisdictions and citizens <br />regarding the design of fhe US 15-501 bridge over New Hope Creek in Durham <br />County based on the. uniqueness of the corridor and State-Local community <br />