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Home My WebLink AboutNC 43 (4) ;t ,Q _wo 0 (Office of the peztfzer tiro `U.empore ,Nlort4 @Inrolina ;4otmie of Pepresentaitifies ,5tarte f.gislatiGe Office puilbing 300 ?q_ `?alisburg Street, Poom 301 ?Ratleiglt, Nortll (qnrolina 27603-5925 WILLIAM L. WAINWRIGHT SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE 12TH DISTRICT: CRAVEN & LENOIR TELEPHONE: (919) 733-5995 March 13 2009 , (919) 828-3801 FAX EMAIL: williamw@nCle9.nei HOME ADDRESS: PO BOX 33 HAVELOCK. NC 2 8 5 3 2-003 3 The Honorable Eugene A. Conti, Jr. Secretary of Transportation, NCDOT 1501 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1501 RE: NC 43 Connector - New Bern, North Carolina Dear Mr. Secretary: COMMITTEES: FINANCE, CHAIRMAN WAYS & MEANS, VICE CHAIRMAN APPROPRIATIONS SVOCOMMITTEE ON CAPITAL HEALTH INSURANCE Thank you again for meeting with me, Representative Underhill, and Senator Preston on February 25, 2009 to discuss our concerns regarding intersection access to the 43 Connector. As you know personally, the 43 Connector was an economic development project never intended to be a strategic corridor. With the construction of the Highway 17 Bypass immediately to the West, the primary purpose of the 43 Connector will be to serve as a four lane, high volume collector road providing service to local streets. In this regard, BSH, for whom the Connector was constructed;A# Ily supports the requested access by Craven County, the City of New Bern, and the major property owners adjacent to NC 43. Following a commitment made at a meeting in my office last fall with NCDOT officials, the property owner paid for a Traffic Impact Analysis prepared by Ramey Kemp & Associates pursuant to the requirements of NCDOT. This TIA was delivered to NCDOT weeks ago and confirms the appropriateness of the requested access. Ramey Kemp's recommended design arising out of the TIA is a modified super street that has been reviewed and approved as appropriate by Mr. Joe Hummer. Ramey Kemp will proceed with a final version of the TIA as soon as NCDOT agrees with the design concept to include phasing of the access to provide initial construction of full at-grade signalized intersections at the two proposed access, locations with signalization installed as traffic may warrant in the future. This requested access is a critical economic development issue for Craven County and New Bern as each of these local governments have emphasized over the past year in correspondence and resolutions directed to NCDOT. The principal development involved is approximately five hundred fifty (550) acres with an estimated development value of three hundred (300) to four hundred (400) million dollars. Geographical and environmental limitations in the New Bern area severely restrict the amount of available developable # ra The Honorable Eugene A. Conti, Jr. March 13, 2009 Page 2 property. Refusal by NCDOT to approve necessary access will result in loss of this proposed project and leave a 2.6 mile barrier to New Bern's development to the west (the only direction in which development is possible). Specifically, I am requesting that NCDOT: (a) Acknowledge that the 43 Connector is not a "strategic corridor". (b) Accept the data and intersection access recommendations in the TIA prepared by Ramey Kemp. (c) Review and approve a phasing plan pursuant to the final TIA that allows conventional access to the development along NC 43 until such time as the modified super street concept is required by traffic demand. . Finally, from the outset of discussions on this issue months ago, the property owner offered to settle the condemnation for the 43 Connector right-of-way at the value offered by the State and also to fund the design and construction of the requested access at no cost to the State. NCDOT has refused to discuss this with the property owner or local governmental officials. I wholeheartedly agree with your comment that positive cooperation between legislative and local government officials, property owners and NCDOT is necessary to achieve maximum benefits for the citizens of our state. Your willingness to work with us on this matter is appreciated. I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience. (Z:e William L. Wain oh Speaker Pro Tempore WLW/be cc: Representative Alice G. Underhill Senator Jean Preston Mayor Thomas A. Bayliss, III Chairman Jason R. Jones Mr. Walter B. Hartman, Jr. Mr. Harold Blizzard Mr. Ramey Kemp ,,Mr. Taylor Downey Mr. J. Troy Smith, Jr. ?f[N(nH ?Knrtli Qlarulina Gemrul'?ssemlrl"r Annse of e?reserrtutiLes Mute ??ZgioLdfie Office puiNng 3DD - 6n ioharg ?'§trref, ?Rnnm 301 FaLcigff, C"""t &rrolinu 27603-5925 SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE WILLIAM L. WAINWRIGHT 12TH OISTRICT TEI-EPMOrv E: (919) 733-5995 (919) 028-3801 FAX EMAIL: Wi1J12 W@nC1eg.nCt August 24 ^2007 HOME ADDRE85: , PO SO. 33 HAVELOCK, NC 28532-CO33 Mr. Lyndo Tippett Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Transportation 1501 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1501 Dear Mr. Tippett: COMMITTEES FINANCE. CHAIRMAN WAVB & MEAN A, VICE CHAIRMAN APPROPRIATI ON& SURCOMMITTEE ON CAPITAL HEALTH IHIIURANC4 We are writing to request that North Carolina Department of Transportation (NC DOT) reconsider the proposed design for the NC Highway 43 Connector project in Craven County. We understand that your staff engineers and attorneys have heard concerns from the City of New Bern as well as Weyerhaeuser about the safety and future use of the proposed "left over" or "Michigan Super Street" design for the NC Highway 43 Connector. Both parties request a full movement intersection with signalization, rather than the left over design- We share.their concerns and urge you to change your proposed design. We believe there are several reasons why the left over design is inappropriate for this project. A full movement intersection with signalization would be a much safer design for multi axle commercial and industrial vehicles such as log trucks. The proposed road will divide a large, active tract of Weyerhaeuser's timberlands. It is critical that commercial vehicle safety and the safety of passenger vehicles sharing the road with these commercial vehicles be considered. Also, the City of New Bern believes that the left over design will increase travel distances and travel times for citizens of the large residential area to the east in order to access Highway 70. The limited access, left over design will also not help to alleviate the current overcrowding Glenburnie Road. II% r.M' Mr. Lyndo Tippett August 24, 2007 Page 2 In summary, we strongly and respectfully request a reconsideration of the design of the NC Highway 43 Connector in Craven County. Representative Alice Underhill cc: Cam McRae Dan Devane Deborah Barbour Neil Lassiter Taylor Downey Walter B. Hartman, Jr. r Waco SEP - 4 2007 ?\Itn-t}! tJ-arolina 6crvvra1,?Assembhj ?eltate SENATOR JEAN R. PRESTON COMMITTEES: 2ND DISTRICT AGRICULTURE/ENVIRONMENWNATURAL RESOURCES OFFICE: 1121 LEGISLATIVE BUILDING APPROPRIATIONS ON EDUCATION/PUBLIC INSTRUCTION 16 W. JONCS STREET APPROPRIATIONS/BASE BUDGET RALEIGH. NC 27601-2808 EDUCATION/PUBLIC INSTRUCTION PHONE: (919)733-5706 FINANCE 715.7586 FAX (9191 MENTAL HEALTH/YOUTH SERVICES 2007 TRANSPORTATION ust 29 Au EMAIL: ^ 163nP`RCIQ9.nEI g . DISTRICT: CARTERET. CRAVEN AND PAMLICO COUNTIES Mr. Lyndo Tippett North Carolina Department ol'Transportation 1 501 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1501 Dear Mr. Tippett am writing to request that North Carolina Department of Transportation (NC DO'r) reconsider the proposed design for the NC Highway 43 Connector project in Craven County. I understand that your staff engineers and attorneys have heard concerns from the City of New Bern as well as Weyerhaeuser about the safety and future use of the proposed "left over" or "Michigan Super Street" design for the NC Highway 43 Connector. Both parties request a full movement intersection with signalization rather than the left over design. I share their concerns and urge you to change your proposed design. I believe there are several reasons why the left over design is inappropriate for this project. A full movement intersection with signalization would be a much safer design for multi axle commercial and industrial vehicles such as log trucks. The proposed road will divide a large; active tract of Weyerhaeuser's timberlands. It is critical that commercial vehicle safety and the safety of passenger vehicles sharing the road with these commercial vehicles be considered. Also, the City of New Bern believes that the left over design will increase travel distances and travel times for citizens of the large residential area to the east in order to access Highway 70. The limited access, left over design will also not help to alleviate the current overcrowding Glenburnie Road. t E T? In summary, 1 strongly and respectfully request a reconsideration of the design of the NC Highway 43 Connector in Craven County. Sincerely, 9Jea'n Prestor cc: Cam McRae Dan Devane Deborah Barbour Neil Lassiter \,Taylor Downey Waller B. Hartman. Jr. e !2-(1633 /D(?2 RESOLUTION WHEREAS, the City of New Bern has been advised that the North Carolina Department of Transportation ("DOT") proposes that the only intersection in the NC Highway 43 Connector project ("Project") is to be constructed as a "left-over" or "Super Street" design; and, WHEREAS, the location of the Project is consistent with the City's thoroughfare plan and, additionally, is being constructed pursuant to the determination by the Governor and the Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Transportation to provide access as an economic incentive to the BSH factories and warehouse sites; and, WHEREAS, the Project principally will serve local traffic and is not reasonably expected to be used by a substantial volume of non-local traffic as any substantial volume of future "through traffic" will use the US Highway 17 Bypass which is to be constructed by DOT just to the west of the location of the Project; and, WHEREAS, the City of New Bern expected and has requested of DOT a full- movement intersection with signalization at the Project intersection, which intersection would be consistent with the New Bern thoroughfare plan, the extension of Elizabeth Avenue, the need to divert local traffic from Glenburnie Road, to reduce increasing traffic and pedestrian safety concerns for H J McDonald Middle School, the necessity to provide access to existing extensive development to the west of Glenburnie Road, and to facilitate anticipated development on both sides of the Project; and, WHEREAS, Weyerhaeuser Company is the owner of the tract of land adjoining and to the west of the Project, which property currently is being used for timber operations; and, WHEREAS, Weyerhaeuser and the City of New Bern have expressed serious concerns about the safety of the proposed "Super Street design" and the "design speed" set forth by DOT as sixty (60) miles per hour; and, WHEREAS, in the event a full-movement signalized intersection for any reason might prove inadequate at a later date, a change to the intersection at such time could be effected without additional right of way acquisition and at minimal cost; and, WHEREAS, local legislators have expressed in writing to DOT their opposition to the proposed "Super Street" intersection design at this location; and, WHEREAS, the Board of Aldermen of the City of New Bern, after consideration and review of the matter, believes that DOT planners have not adequately taken into JUL-18-2007 16:45 CITY OF NEW BERN Ctg of CKefur "3ern ALDERMEN JULIUS C. PARHAM, JR. ROBERT G. RAYNOR, JR. MACK L -MAX-FREEZE JOSEPH E MATTINGLY. JR. BARBARALEE DANA E. OUTLAW %hree (dettfuries of North @Iarolina Atritage FOUNDED 1710 Phone: (252) 638.4000 P.O. Box 1129 POP Perm, W(JR 28553-1129 July 18, 2007 Mr. Lyndo Tippett North Carolina Department of Transportation 1501 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1501 Dear Mr. Tippett_ P.01i02 TOM BAYLISS, 111 MAYOR WALTER D. HARTMAN. JR. CRY MANAGER VICKIE H. JOHNSON CRY CLERK MARY B. MURAGLM DIRECTOR OF FINANCE I am writing on behalf of the City of New Bern to express the City's concern that the North Carolina Department of Transportation is proposing a "left over" (also referred to as a "Michigan Super Street") intersection rather than a full movement intersection with signalization on the NC 43 Connector project. The City of New Bern's 1993 Urban Area Thoroughfare Plan and 2005 NC 43 Connector and Land Use Development Plan recommends the connection of Elizabeth Avenue to the Highway 43 Connector (aka Bosch Blvd Ext'd). Each of these plans forecasts commercial and industrial land uses surrounding the intersection of Elizabeth Avenue and Highway 43 as well as a large concentration of residential development to the east. It was anticipated in the development of these plans that the intersection would be a full movement intersection with signalization. A full movement configuration versus a "left over" would encourage local traffic to use Highway 43 in order to access Highway 70 and thus alleviating the already overburdened Glenbumie Road, which involves tight residential streets and a school zone. A "left over" configuration will increase travel distances and travel times of the residents of the large residential area to the east in order to access Highway 70. Further and more importantly, the "left over" configuration will make movements for multi axle commercial and industrial vehicles more difficult and dangerous for both the commercial and industrial vehicles as well as passenger cars around the commercial and industrial vehicles during such maneuvers, In addition, once the Highway 17 Bypass is completed, the Highway 43 Connector will accommodate generally only local traffic. The City believes that while it is important to make sure the road will accommodate through traffic, it is equally if not more important to be certain the road will safely sustain the local commercial and industrial traffic which will utilize the road on a daily basis. (rifting for f¢xsellence - JUL-18=2007 16:46 CITY OF NEW BERN CITY OF NEW BERN July 18, 2007 Page 2 P. e2/02 In summary, we are strongly requesting the North Carolina Department of Transportation to help us benefit the residents of New Bern and the drivers of our local streets with a full movement intersection that will reduce their travel distances, travel times, and delays as well as providing for the safety of those vehicles turning left and those wishing to travel straight through the intersection. Yours very truly, Walter B. Hartman, Jr. City Manager cc: Cam McRae Marvin Blount Taylor Downey TOTAL P.02 ?t -CanmllteeChairmo&Mavely th,P.r. Ward and Smit4 P.A. Craven/Pamlico/Jones Lee Kyle Alien Commirrknee. Craven County Thoness III e itt T t ti C Mayor,Qtyy& o7Ne. New8<. omm e ranspor on a Harold Hit. Manager, Craven County Tim Buck Manager, Pamlio County RESOLUTION Ray Brinson, Sr. Commissioner, Pamlico County Daniel T. DeBaw Refired WHEREAS, the City of New Bern has advised the Committee that James W. Freeman Manager, Qty of Hair``` the North Carolina Department of Transportation ("DOT') proposes that Willer B. Narbonne, Jr. Maroger, City o( New Henn ') is the only intersection in the NC Highway 43 Connector project (nProjectn Robert L Manwks, 11 Jrnar BCq to be constructed as a "left-over" or "Super Street" design; and Larry P. P. Mc Meadows L Mnug wa Comnty WHEREAS, the location of the Project is consistent with the rverly Beverly M. Perdne LL Covermr,SteteoJ North Carolina thoroughfare plan of the City of New Bern and, additionally, is being Lonnie E. PrWgeq Jr. 1.onme Priegen Reel Pstak constructed pursuant to the determination by the Governor and the Jon Preston Senator, god D"elrid Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Transportation to provide Lit. Rowe-Rolls C.iI I. EntreprenewwoeKkprnent access as an economic incentive to the BSH factories and warehouse sites; J. Harold T.Itou Retired and, Joseph E. Thomas Joseph F. Thomas Developmem, Inc WHEREAS, the Project principally will serve local traffic and is Alice UrMerhM Representative, 3rd District not reasonably expected to be used by a substantial volume of non-local WBB.m L Waimright Representative, 121h Disrict traffic (as might be the case if a southern leg of NC Highway 43 were to be Joseph F. Wiggins ' ch..o.jo.acountycomasrio«rs constructed to connect with US Highway 17--a project which is not Invitees: contained in the DOT TIP nor for which there is any funding by DOT); and, Michael W. Avery Dir. Cam. Der. City of New Rem any substantial volume of future "through traffic" WHEREAS Saomprdner, Jr., oval, L. , Director of Phordng Craven Comty Bl 111 M i K E will use the US Highway 17 Bypass which is to be constructed by DOT just avn4 , sq. arv n . Member, N.C- Dept. aJ Transportation Jane. Crerch to the west of the location of the Project; and, Chairman, Craven R.& Airport Aesh. Jame: T. Doris, III WHEREAS, the City of New Bern expected and has requested of Enc. Dir. Craven County Etmnmk Orrdmpmem Co®ieovon DOT a full-movement intersection with signalization at the Project Ray Fogk Economic Orveloper, Jones coma' intersection, which intersection would be consistent with the New Bern John Maras F1nlaysun Highway 17 Association thoroughfare plan, the extension of Elizabeth Avenue, the need to divert Tyler Harris Community Planning Liaison rapidly growing local traffic from Glenburnie Road, pedestrian safety Lauren L. HBkun OJi. Fw«t s.rvice concerns for McDonald Middle School, the necessity to provide access to C. L (No'D Lassiter, Jr.. P.E. N.C. DOT Divisim Engineer existing extensive development to the west of Glenburnie Road, and to Co.. W. McRae Morber,N ofTmnsporeettim facilitate anticipated development on both sides of the Project; and, S... L M.RaP ems, Thomns Susan Erecutirt Director, Swiss Bear, Inc WHEREAS, Weyerhaeuser Company is the owner of the Danid va,d.km s r Transportation tract of land adjoining and to the west of the Project, which property Ba U7 P.O. Boa g6 do Ward aml Smith. P.A. New Bern, NC M674867 currently is being used for timber operations; and, Phone (752) 672-5400 Far(252)672-5677 RESOLUTION September 6, 2007 Page 2: WHEREAS, Weyerhaeuser and the City of New Bern have expressed serious concerns about the safety of the proposed "Super Street" design and the "design speed" set forth by DOT as sixty (60) miles per hour; and, WHEREAS, in the event a full-movement signalized intersection for any reason might prove inadequate at a later date, a change to the intersection at such time could be effected without additional right of way acquisition and at minimal cost; and WHEREAS, local legislators have expressed in writing to DOT their opposition to the proposed "Super Street" intersection design at this location; and, WHEREAS, the Committee, after consideration and review of the matter, believes that DOT planners have not taken into proper consideration the actual nature of the proposed Project with respect to traffic volume, source of users nor the direct and secondary impacts upon and needs of the public to be primarily affected. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED AND REQUESTED BY THE COMMITTEE THAT THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION CONSTRUCT THE SUBJECT PROJECT INTERSECTION AS A FULL-MOVEMENT INTERSECTION Wrm SIGNALIZATION. The foregoing resolution being unanimously passed by the Committee at its meeting on September 4, 2007. CRAVEN/PAMLICO/JONES ANSPORTLTION COMMITTEE JTS:crc NBMAIN\740381\1 cc: Mr. Lyndo Tippett, Secretary, NC Department of Transportation Mr. Cameron W. McRae Mr. Marvin K. Blount, III, Esq. Members C/P/J Transportation Committee Craven County City of New Bern Senator Jean R. Preston Representative Alice G. Underhill Representative William L. Wainwright Craven qTj?ty N O R T H C A A September 11, 2008 The Honorable William Wainwright North Carolina House of Representatives 300 N. Salisbury Street, Room 301 F Raleigh, NC 27603-5925 Dear Speaker Wainwright: The property owned by Weyerhaeuser, often referred to as the Craven 30 Property, is adjacent to the intersection of US Highway 70 and Highway 43 Connector. Weyerhaeuser has a design that reflects proposed business, commercial and residential zoned properties on the subject property. The location of this property is positioned to allow large retail establishments often referred to as "boxes" to locate on subject property. Because of service roads parallel to US 70 in James City and Havelock, this property may be one of the few pieces of real estate in Craven County that is positioned to be considered as a prime commercial property. Without a full movement intersection the public using those establishments on subject property will have to make very unfamiliar turning maneuvers on this super street design roadway. The Craven County Committee of 100 agrees with the City of New Bern and Craven County leadership to oppose a super street design and allow a North Carolina Department of Transportation designed full movement intersection with signals at the proposed intersection. Sincerely, 9AXIIColeY7 Chairman cc: Taylor-Downey, Troy Smith, Joe Thomas Craven County Committee of 1.00 IM Industrial Drive 0 New Beni, NC 2&562 o 252-633-5300 o Fax: 252-633-3253 o Email: cravenedc@cconnect.net