20141132 All Versions_Meeting Minutes_20110317

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
Merger Team Members
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 41ZR
BEVERLY EAVES PERDUE
GOVERNOR
March 15, 2011
MEMORANDUM TO:
Ronnie Smith, USACE
Gary Jordan, USFWS
Felix Davila, FHWA
Travis Wilson, NCWRC
Chris Militscher, EPA
FROM:
I
4f4R l y
ht7*'Q e Z?11
O""'q 4ry
EUGENE A. CONTI, JR.
SECRETARY
David Wainwright, NCDWQ
Brian Wrenn, NCDWQ
Derrick Weaver, NCDOT-PDEA
Janet Robertson, Lumber River RPO
Renee Gledhill-Earley, SHPO
Steve Brown, PE
Project Development and Environmental Analysis Branch
SUBJECT: Concurrence Point 2A/ 4A Information, US I from Sandhill Road
(SR 1971) to North of Fox Road (SR 1606), Richmond County,
Federal-Aid Project No. NHF-1(1), State Project No. 8.T580501,
WBS No. 34437.1.1, T.I.P. No. R-2501. '
This addresses comments raised during the R-2501 Concurrence Point 2A/ 4A field meeting held
July 21, 2010 regarding the Falling Creek and McDonalds Pond Restoration Site crossing
(Structure 8). Merger Team members made the following comments and requests for additional
information:
• The original preferred alignment (with 480 foot bridge) or the southern alignment (with
250 foot bridge) are acceptable.
• A reduced median width of 30 feet is requested within the Ecosystem Enhancement
Program (EEP) conservation easement for minimization. The resulting impact and cost
reductions are also requested.
• EEP input is needed to help identify the alignment with the least impact to the site.
Acreage calculations are requested for impacts to restoration, enhancement, and
preservation areas within the conservation easement.
These issues are addressed below.
Median Width
Members of the Merger Team cited examples in coastal areas where NCDOT proposed a 30 foot
median in high quality wetland areas. Project R-3403 widens US 17 in Craven County. It is
being designed as an expressway with a 30-foot raised median and a 60 mph design speed
throughout the entire project limits. Project R-2507A widens US 13/158 in Hertford and Gates
MAILING ADDRESS: TELEPHONE: [phone] LOCATION:
NC DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FAX'. 919-733-9794 TRANSPORTATION BUILDING
PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS 1 SOUTH WILMINGTON STREET
1548 MAIL SERVICE CENTER WEBSITE. WWWNCDOTORG RALEIGH NC
RALEIGH NC 27699-1548 1 1
,,
R-2501 Concurrence Point 2A/ 4A Information
March 2011
Counties. It is also an expressway facility with a 46-foot depressed median and a 60 mph design
speed. In the area of the proposed bridge crossing of the Chowan River, the median width has
been decreased from 46-feet to at 30-foot median to reduce the footprint of the river crossing.
Due to-the facility type and design speed, positive barrier protection is not warranted to prevent
cross median head on crashes for R-3403 and R 2507A.
R-2501 is a proposed Strategic Highway Corridor and designated as a freeway with a 70 mph
design speed. NCDOT's policy is to include positive barrier treatments for freeways with a
median width of 70 feet or less to prevent cross median head on crashes. Reducing median width
to 46-feet (with cable guiderail for positive barrier protection) for a freeway is generally
considered by NCDOT to be a reasonable consideration for minimizing impacts. We would
prefer not to reduce the median width below 46 feet for a freeway facility. A 30-foot wide
median (with cable guiderail) is not preferred by NCDOT for this freeway facility because it
would not provide adequate positive barrier protection required for a freeway median of less than
46 feet in width. Impacts associated with a 30-foot wide median are provided below for
comparison purposes only.
At the McDonalds Pond crossing, a median width less than 46 feet would require two lines of
steel beam guardrail placed along the median shoulder transitioned to a median concrete barrier
to provide adequate positive (barrier) separation between the opposing travel lanes. The resulting
median that meets freeway standards for positive barrier protection would be a 22-foot wide
concrete median barrier. This type of median is not ideal for several reasons including: 1) A
reduced median width introduces the likelihood for vehicles to crash into a barrier, 2) Concrete
barrier has a high initial cost and is less forgiving in severe crashes, 3) A narrow median is more
difficult to maintain and expensive to construct, and 4) Concrete barrier would be out of
character for a rural new location freeway.
However, we recognize the high environmental significance of the McDonald's Pond Restoration
Site and are willing to consider a reduced median width through this area. Due to the need to
minimize impacts to the McDonald's Pond Mitigation Site and the relatively low projected future
traffic for proposed US I Bypass, our design staff is willing to compromise and reduce the
median width to a 22 foot hard median with a concrete median barrier across the mitigation site.
Wetland impacts and costs have been compared using median widths of 70 feet, 46 feet, 30 feet,
and 22 feet for the original preferred alignment (with 480 foot bridge) and the southern
realignment (with 250 foot bridge). These findings are presented below.
Structure Options Wetland Im acts acres and Costs b Median Width
480' Brid es LEDPA Alignment 70 ft 46 ft 30 ft 22 ft
Wetland Impacts 2.15 1.95 1.85 1.75
Mitigation Cost** $160,000 $145,000 $145,000 $125,000
Construction Cost $6,200,000 $6,120,000 $6,115,000 $7,220,000
Total Construction & Mitigation) $6,360,000 $6,265,000 $6,260,000 $7,345,000
** NOTE: Mitigation Costs are based on EEP Schedule of Fees, dated 7/1/10 for Lower Fee Hydrologic Units, and
2:1 mitigation ratio (www.nceep.net/pages/fee.htm). Wetland impacts were rounded to the nearest 0.25 acre for cost
calculations in accordance with this schedule of fees.
2
Avoidance and Minimization: Avoidance and minimization efforts have been incorporated in
the preliminary design. Where possible, these include shifting the alignment to avoid water
resources, crossing streams perpendicularly, or crossing the narrowest areas of wetland systems.
These efforts have resulted in the avoidance of:
• 13 of 24 streams in the corridor (or 85% of stream length)
• 36 of the 55 wetland sites (84% of wetland areas)
• 7 of 10 ponds (93% of pond areas)
Specific areas are described as follows:
• Structure I - Osborne Road/ Baggetts Creek - S3, W3, W9 - The proposed alignment
reduces wetland impacts by crossing stream S3 between two large wetlands W3 and W9.
• Structure 3 - UT to Speeds Creek - W 11, PI - The alignment was located to avoid stream
S6 and to cross a narrower portion of W 11.
• Structure 4 - Watery Branch - Wetland W14 - The median is to be reduced to 46 feet for
minimization.
• US 74 Bypass Interchanee - W18, W19, W21, P2, P3, and P4 - The greatest areas of
avoidance/ minimization are in this interchange. As presented in the 11/2004 interagency
field meeting package, a larger full clover interchange design was planned, resulting in
impacts of 25.2 acres of wetlands and 3.5 acres of ponds. The proposed bypass was
shifted southward and the interchange footprint was compressed using directional ramps.
The impacts were reduced to 15.4 acres of wetlands and 0.5 acre of ponds.
Structure 7 - South Prong Falling Creek (US 74) - W26 - The alignment is located
between residential neighborhoods and crosses the smallest portion of wetland W24.
Dual 450-foot bridges with equalizer pipes are proposed over part of the floodway for
South Prong Falling Creek. On site mitigation opportunities will be pursued where
NCDOT is controlling access to properties between US 74 Business and the wetland
areas. The proposed median width is 46 feet within the wetland limits.
Structure 8 -Falling Creek - W27 - The alignment is located along the south side of the
project corridor to avoid wetlands W32 and W33 just to the west. It crosses a narrower
portion of W27. The alignment has been shifted to the south of the original LEDPA
alignment to cross a portion of the McDonalds Pond EEP site where braided streams have
narrowed. A 250-foot bridge is proposed at the crossing, and the median width has been
reduced to 22 feet within the limits of the EEP conservation easement.
Structure 9 -Chock Creek - 520, P9, W49, W50 - The proposed widening is planned on
the north side, away from P9 and W49. W49 is the highest quality wetland along the US
1 widening portion of the project. This location is in an area where the grade is being
changed to flatten the vertical curvature. Culvert extensions are planned on each side of
the existing culvert. Shifting the alignment further north will result in greater impacts to
W50.
Concurrence Point 2A/ 4A 3 R-2501
March 2011
Section 404/NEPA Merger Project Team Meeting Agreement
Concurrence Point No. 2A/ 4A
Bridging Location and Alignment Review/
Avoidance and Minimization
Project No./TIP No./Name/Description:
FA Project Number: NHF-1(1), State Project Number: 8.T580501, WBS Number: 34437.1.1,
TIP Project Number: R-2501, US I From Sandhill Road (SR 1971) to Marston Road (SR 1001),
Richmond County, North Carolina
Concurrence meetings and field reviews were held with members of the Merger Team on
September 18, 2008, November 12, 2008, August 20, 2009, and July 21, 2010. During these
meetings, the Merger Team reviewed wetland and stream crossings of the "least environmental
damaging and practicable alternative," proposed culvert and bridge recommendations, and
avoidance and minimization measures. The Project Team has concurred with the proposed
structures and avoidance and minimization measures as shown on the attachments.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Ronnie Smith
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Chris Militscher
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Gary Jordan
N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission
Travis Wilson
N.C. Department of Environment and 1/7/b
Natural Resources - Division of Water Quality Brian Wrenn/ David Wainwr ht
N.C. Department of Cultural Resources
Historic Preservation Office Renee Gledhill-Earley
Federal Highway Administration
Felix Davila
N.C. Department of Transportation
Steve Brown
Concurrence Point 2AAA 1 R-2501
March 2011
Concurrence Point 2A/4A
us 1
From Sandhill Road (SR 1971) to Marston Road (SR 1001)
Richmond County
Federal-Aid Project No. NHF-1(1)
State Project No. 8.T580501
TIP Project No. R-2501
Protect Description: The proposed action consists of widening and/or the relocation of US 1 in
Richmond County from Sandhill Road (SR 1971) south of Rockingham to Marston Road (SR 1001) north
of Rockingham, a distance of approximately 19.2 miles. This portion of the US I project is identified as
project number R-2501 in the 2009-2015 Transportation Improvement Program (T.I.P.). The TIP
schedule for R-2501 shows right-of-way acquisition will begin in Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 and construction
will start in FY 2013.
Of four alternatives considered in the Draft EIS, Alternative No. 21 was selected as the Least
Environmentally Damaging Practicable Alternative (LEDPA) by the Project Team. A Supplemental
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS) proposed the extension of widening improvements from
north of Fox Road (SR 1606) to Marston Road (SR 1001).
Bridging Location and Alignment Review: Preliminary Design Plans were provided to the Merger
Team members and reviewed at meetings on November 10, 2004, September 18, 2008, November 12,
2008, August 20, 2009, and July 21, 2010. The proposed stream crossing structures will be constructed at
the following locations:
Structure Stream/ Wetland Nearest Road Proposed
Number Crossing Location Structure
I Baggetts Cr (S3, W3, W9) Osborne Rd (SR 1104) 3@10'x8'x350' RCBC
3 UT to Speeds Cr (W 11, East of Osborne Rd 3@10'x8'x250' RCBC
PI) (SR 1104)
4 Watery Br(W14) East of Sandhill Rd 2@9'x7'x240'RCBC
(SR 1971)
5 Solomons Cr(S10, W21) US 74 Bypass Interchange 1@7'x6'xl,340' RCBC
Solomons Cr (SIOA, US 74 Bypass Interchange Extend 3@9'x5'x5O' RCBC & 4
7 South Prong Falling Cr Between CSX Railroad & 450'x38' Dual Bridge (wetland)
(W26) US 74 225'x38' Dual Bridge (railroad)
335'x38' Dual Bridge (US 74)
8 Falling Cr (W37) East of County Home Rd 250'x90' Single Bridge
(SR 1624)
Chock Cr (S20, P9,
Concurrence Point 2A/ 4A
March 2011
East of Fox Rd (SR 1606) Extend 3@9'x9'x85'
R-2501
R-2501 Concurrence Point 2A/ 4A Information
March 2011
Structure Options Costs b Median Width
250' Bridges:- Southern
Realignment
70 ft
46 ft
30 ft
22 ft.
Wetland Impacts 5.80 5.40 5.15 5.00
Mitigation Cost $425,000 $390,000 $370,000 $355,000
Construction Cost $4,750,000 $4,680,000 $4,680,000 $5,260,000
Total Construction & Mitigation) $5,175,000 $5,070,000 $5,050,000 $5,615,000
Impacts within the EEP Conservation Easement
Impacts to this site have been coordinated with representatives from the EEP. Wetland
restoration, enhancement, and preservation areas in the EEP conservation easement were
calculated using median widths of 70 feet, 46 feet, 30 feet, and 22 feet for the original preferred
alignment and the southern realignment within the proposed right of way limits. Figure 2 of the
concurrence meeting information package dated 7/2/10 shows the location of both alternatives
within the EEP easement. These total areas are summarized below. Note that they are different
than the jurisdictional wetland impacts within the construction and clearing limits as presented in
the table above.
McDonald's Pond EEP Easement Areas
Lnented Within Prnnnsed Rinht of Wav Limits
LEDPA Alignment A ea_Wihin Right of Way acres b Median Width
`Cafe or' " MOW 46 ft 30 ft 22 ft
Wetland Restoration Area 0 0 0 0
Wetland Enhancement Area 2.70 2.33 2.08 1.96
Wetland Preservation Area 4.75 4.57 4.45 4.39
Upland Area 0 0 0 0
Total Area 7.45 6.90 6.53 6.35
# _,
Southern Reali riment
'll ? .

; A EUWifhin Right of Wa ,. acres b.:-Medi an Width
x'4 J'
7 Cate o '? 'T '7 AR 70'ft ? ' 46`ft r 36 ft`s " ' 22 ft •'
Wetland Restoration Area 0 0 0 0
Wetland Enhancement Area 0 0 0 0
Wetland Preservation Area 5.85 5.40 5.10 4.95
Upland Area 0.85 0.75 0.71 0.69
Total Area 6.70 6.15 5.81 5.64
Based on these findings, NCDOT recommends the southern bridge realignment option with
a single 250-foot bridge and a 22-foot wide median with barrier within the limits of the
EEP conservation easement.
We request your concurrence on the proposed stream crossing structures and minimization
measures as summarized in the attached Concurrence Point 2A14A form. If you have questions
3
R-2501 Concurrence Point 2A/ 4A Information
March 2011
or need other information, please contact me at slbrownAncdot.¢ov (919-733-7844, ext. 235). You
may also contact Mark Reep, of Florence & Hutcheson, at mreepaa Flohut.com (919-851-6066).
SLB/mlr
cc:
Eric Midkiff, NCDOT-PDEA Roger Thomas, NCDOT-Roadway Design
Mark Reep, Florence & Hutcheson