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Home My WebLink About20120285 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