U-5008

Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs
Project Review Form
Project Number Count)' !Date Received Date Response Due (firm deadline)
l0-?l3I HCCKCC ea c?I?$Ilo ?I ??
This project is being reviewed as indicated below:
Regional Office Re gional Office Area In-House Review
Asheville N Air Soil & Water _ Marine Fisheries
Fayetteville N Water - Coastal Management
Mooresville
-
- Aquifer Protection \v Wildlife .
? O7
_ Raleigh ! Land Quality Engineer \v Forest Resources
Washington - Water Resources V Environmental Health
Wilmington N Parks & Recreation _ Waste Mgmt
Winston-Salem _ ra e, kp - Radiation Protection
-
Air Quality Other
Manager Sign-Off/Region: Date: In-House Reviewer/Agency:
Response (check all applicable)
No objection to project as proposed
No connnent
Insufficient information to complete review
Other (specify or attach comments)
RETURN TO:
Melba McGee
Environmental Coordinator
1601 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1601
a
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
14
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION N*17 y
EU GENh?w„JR.
BEVERLY EAVES PERDUE SECRETARY'S
GOVERNOR
June 9, 2010
MEMORANDUM
FROM: Colista Freeman, PE
Rail Environmental Planning Engineer
NCDOT Rail Division, Environmental anu Piaaning Bra*.ictl
SUBJECT: Start of Study for the Proposed Grade Separation of Sugar Creek Road fo k
2975) and 'the' North Carolina Railroad Company (N
Southern Railway (NS) in Charlotte. Crossing No. 715 352H. NS Mile Post
374.02: Mecklenburg County, NC. TIP Project No. U-5008. State WBS
Project No. 42848. ion
ained the firm
The North Carolina Department of Services Inc. torpr par'eatan Env onmenal Assessmen (EA)tfor proposed
tte. The
of ec Consulting g
grade de separation of Sugar Creek Road (SR 2975) and the TC?RR/Nectr l
NoU-5008.
project is identified as Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)
The purpose of this letter is to provide notification of the start of study and to solicit
comments regarding potential concerns or data within the project study area. Please
pleadress ase contact below o at
submit written comments to Ms. Colista Freeman at
[e-mail] by July 9, 2010. If you have any questions,
7245.
The following paragraphs provide a description of the project, the purpose and need for the
project, plus the general characteristics and natural- resources of the project study area.
Project Description
The proposed project would provide a grade separation at the Sugar Creek Road (SR 2975
crossing of the NCRR/NS rail line (Crossing No. 715 352H; NS Mile Post e374 ginni jut north of
Sugar Creek Road under the railroad, with re'surfacuig'and' grading work beginning J
er the railroad, and ending just
intersection of Sugar Creek Road and The Plaza,
dintersection.
south of the Sugar Creek Road and North Tryon LOCATION:
TELEPHONE: [phone] TRANSPORTATION BMDMG
MAILING ADDRESS: FAX: [phone] SOV H WR.MMOPON STREET
NC DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION RALEIGH NC
RAR. DMSION W£BSITE: WWW.BITR -ORG
1553 MAB.SERVICECENTER
EAI.EIGHNC 27699-1553
Grade Separation of Sugar Creek (SR 2975) and the NCRR/NS Railway
TIP Project No. U-5008
Start of Study Letter
Page 2 of 3
The proposed cross-section for Sugar Creek Road would include wide outside lanes to
accommodate bicycle traffic and a sidewalk on each side; however, this cross-section may be
modified to avoid impacts to historic properties along the roadway on the north side of the
railroad. The proposed project is approximately 0.75-mile in length. The project location is
shown in the attached exhibit.
Purpose and Need
The need for this grade separation was established in the late 1990's and is based on existing and
projected rail and vehicular traffic volumes. The current freight train count is 30 trains a day,
although up to 60 freight trains a day may pass through this rail corridor (NCRR, 2008). This
section of rail line also hosts six daily Amtrak passenger trains. This rail line is also part of the
federally-designated Southeast High Speed Rail (SEHSR) corridor. In addition, traffic volumes
on Sugar Creek Road are projected to reach 37,600 vehicles per day by 2030, making this one of
the busiest crossings in the Charlotte area.
The purpose of this project is,to create a safe crossing of the NCRR/NS rail at Sugar Creek Road:
Separating the grades at, this location would provide safe passage for vehicular, bicycle,. and
pedestrian traffic. It would also eliminate idlingi.vehicles at.the crossing, which would help
improve Mecklenburg County's air quality. This project will also provide a suitable location for
future high-speed rail service, plus any additional transit tracks that may be developed in the
vicinity.
General Characteristics of the Project Study Area
The project study area is located along Sugar Creek Road in northeast Charlotte in Mecklenburg
County.
Land Use - Land use within the project study area is a mix of industrial, commercial, and
residential uses. As shown in the attached exhibit, a large neighborhood is located in the eastern
and southeastern portions of the study area.
Socio-economic Characteristics - A preliminary review of 2000 US Census data indicates that
the neighborhood located within the study area has notable minority and low-income
populations.
Natural Resources - The project study area is in the Lower Catawba River Basin (USGS
Hydrologic Unit 03050103) (DWQ Subbasin 03-08-34), within the Sugar Creek watershed.
Sugar Creek is classified as an impaired Class C water. A preliminary review of the USGS
topographic quadrangles for the project study area did not reveal any waterbodies along Sugar
Creek Road within the project study area; however, a formal natural resource investigation will
be completed during the course of the study.
Grade Separation of Sugar Creek (SR 2975) and the NCRR/NS Railway
TIP Project No. U-5008
Start of Study Letter
Page 3 of 3
A review of the National Wetland Inventory (NWI) mapping inventory did not reveal any
wetlands within the project study area. Formal wetland delineations will be conducted during the
course of the study:
In accordance with provisions of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, the project study area will
be evaluated for protected species habitat. The threatened and endangered species listed for
Mecklenburg County include the Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) which is protected under
the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (BGPA) and the following endangered [E] species:
Carolina heelsplitter (Lasmigona decorata), Schweinitz's sunflower (Helianthus schweinitzii),
smooth coneflower (Echinacea laevigata), and Michaux's sumac (Rhus michauxii). The Georgia
aster (Symphyotrichum georgianum) is classified as a Candidate [C] species. Federal Species of
Concern [FSC] for Mecklenburg County include the American eel (Anguilla rostrata), Carolina
oarter (Etheustawxa Collis wl. ), Carolina c.-ekshcll vaughaniana), Dwarf aster
(Eurybia mirabilis), Shoals spiderlily (Hymenocallis coronaria), Tall larkspur (Delphinium
exaltatum), and Prairie birdsfoot-trefoil (Lotus unifoliolatus var helleri).
Potential habitat for Michaux's sumac, Schweinitz's sunflower and Georgia aster may exist along .
the railroad corridor, Sugar Creek Road, and,in clear-cut areas. Surveys will be conducted during
.the plants' flowering and/or fruiting seasons to identify any species in the project area.
Archeological and Historic Architectural Properties - Along Sugar Creek Road north of the
railroad, there are two properties eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places
(Republic Steel Corporation Plant on the east and the Standard Chemical Products Plant on the
west). A historic architecture field survey will be conducted during the course of the study.
A formal archaeological investigation is not anticipated; however, NCDOT awaits comments
from the State Office of Archaeology regarding the level of investigation required for this
project.
CF/acs
Attachment
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Sugar Creek Road Grade Separation Project Location
TIP No. U-5008 and Study Area Map
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina Not To Scale
Exhibit 1.1