HomeMy WebLinkAbout20120285 Ver 1_Meeting Note_20061215a
GASTON EAST WEST
CONNECTOR
Turnpike Agency
g Coordination Meeting
s December 15, 2006
t�
AGENDA
1. Project History
2. Recently Completed Stud
z 3. Ongoing Studies
F
4. Next Steps Towards DEIS
l�
ect Timeli
2001 — NEPA Studies Began
2002 (July) — Concurrence Pt 1
(Purpose and Need)
2003 (Sep & Dec) — Public
e Workshops
3
1
Project Timeline
2005 (Feb) — Project adopted
NCTA as a candidate toll faci
2005 (Sep) — Concurrence Pt 2
- (Detailed Study Alternatives)
2006 (Jan & Feb)— Public Worksh
2006 (Oct) - Toll Revenue Feasibi
Study
r.
Workshops '
Held Jan 31, Feb 1 &2 2006 at 3 locations
study area
819 — Total attendance
185 — Comment forms received
g LJLI .
2
Workshops
About 60% supported new highvAT
AGENDA
Project History
T 3. Recently Completed Studio Mussel Screening Report
Protected Plant Surveys
Traffic Forecasts
Ongoing Studies
Towards
I ScreeninE, R
j Survey Conducted by NCDOT ONE
Unit (October 2005)
Conducted screening for Carolina heelsplitter
in September 2005
28 potential stream crossings evaluated
8 named streams surveyed using typical
mussel screening protocols: Oates Creek,
Bessemer Branch, Myrtle Creek, Crowders
i Creek, McGill Branch, Mill Creek, Catawba
Creek, Beaverdam Creek
Biological Conclusion — No Effect
Concerns
Impacts to churches and homes
Visual /noise impacts to Crowder's Mtn
State Park
s
5
Potential historic and archaeological
resources
,> Bald eagles and water quality in
L
fR
Brown's Cove
AGENDA
Project History
T 3. Recently Completed Studio Mussel Screening Report
Protected Plant Surveys
Traffic Forecasts
Ongoing Studies
Towards
I ScreeninE, R
j Survey Conducted by NCDOT ONE
Unit (October 2005)
Conducted screening for Carolina heelsplitter
in September 2005
28 potential stream crossings evaluated
8 named streams surveyed using typical
mussel screening protocols: Oates Creek,
Bessemer Branch, Myrtle Creek, Crowders
i Creek, McGill Branch, Mill Creek, Catawba
Creek, Beaverdam Creek
Biological Conclusion — No Effect
N
Michaux's sumac and Smooth
Coneflower (Mecklenburg only)
Schweinitz's sunflower (both counties)
Report prepared by PBSBJ and 4
subconsultants (March 2006)
Four Survey Segments
(1- Mecklenburg, 2 thru 4 — Gaston)
Survey Segment 2 — one small outcroA-f
i` Schwenitzs sunflower
• Not likely to be impacted
Traffic Forecasts -
Non -Toll Scenarios
New Regional Model Used
2030 Design Year
u 6 Representative Alternative
Alignments Modeled
uild Volumes highest in Belmont
3 Range is 33,000 ADT on west end to
105,000 ADT on east end
l
Final documentation submitted f
review by NCDOT
0
ffic and Revenue Std
AGENDA
Project History
Recently Completed Studic
Ongoing Studies
Historic Architecture
Archaeology
Natural Resources
Next Steps Towards DEIS
hi
Mattson, Alexander and
t.Associates preparing Phase II
tudy s
itial field work complete
entified 18 properties likely
ligible for the National Register
I Coastal Carolina Research 'f
conducting study
• Background research and field
mapping completed
r
• Scheduled to begin field work
shortly (late Dec /early Jan)
5
Found a survey of cemetery
L locations in Gaston County
! Wetlands and Streams 14
S &ME (West portion)
JH Carter and Assoc (Central por
Catena Group (East portion)
g
it Bald Eagle Surveys — Earth Tech
Biotic Communities — Earth Tech
�j • Natural Systems Report — Earth
f
Wetland and Streams
Surveys finding more streams than
shown in the existing databases used
to create the land suitability map
Field data collection progressing
No major problems
w i i
E
ate
`
1
ald Eagle Survey
Surveys will be
conducted by
helicopter
Planned for
December 19 -20
Credit: UslA
F
Completed, being compiled, and
being brought into GIS
Predominant vegetative
communities
Mixed Pine- Hardwood
Disturbed Areas
!i
Hardwood Forest
These communities are present In about equal area
I and make up about 70% of the coMtlor area.
U
AGENDA
Project History
Design and Impact
Evaluations
Jm Roadway designs will be refined using
updated mapping and results of
surveys and results of traffic
operations analyses
Hydraulic studies can begin
concurrent with roadway design
Traffic forecasts for toll scenarios
L_ Agin concurrent with designs
1 Design ari
Evaluations
ICI and CIA studies can begin
prior to completion of roadway
designs
Noise, air quality, jurisdictional
resources, and other impact
j evaluations will be completed
using roadway designs
G
2. Recently Completed Stu,
3. Ongoing Studies
4. Next Steps Towards DEIS
► Design and Impact Evalur �' -
l�
P Special Technical Stud'-
Design and Impact
Evaluations
Jm Roadway designs will be refined using
updated mapping and results of
surveys and results of traffic
operations analyses
Hydraulic studies can begin
concurrent with roadway design
Traffic forecasts for toll scenarios
L_ Agin concurrent with designs
1 Design ari
Evaluations
ICI and CIA studies can begin
prior to completion of roadway
designs
Noise, air quality, jurisdictional
resources, and other impact
j evaluations will be completed
using roadway designs
G
Allen Steam Station
representatives have
expressed concern
about water vapor
j impacts to Segment
K3BIK3C from air
pollution 'scrubber
stacks'
Considering ways to
address concerns. Will
be documented in DEIS.'
10