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Home My WebLink AboutR-5522 (2)SR 1113 (Hicks Grove Road) Realignment From SR 1113 to US 221 Rutherford County NCDOT STIP Project No R -5522 February 21 2012 Scoping Meeting Agenda Introductions and Sign in Meeting Purpose Project Overview 0 Proposed Action 0 Schedule 0 Estimated Costs 0 Summary of Need 0 Study Area Description o Social / Economic Conditions o Environmental Features 0 Local Coordination Discussion Summary /Final Comments SR 1113 (Hicks Grove Road) Realignment From SR 1113 to US 221 Rutherford County BV NCDOT STIP Project No R -5522 February 21 2012 Scoping Meeting Project Overview Meeting Purpose X The purpose of this meeting is to provide an overview of the Hicks Grove Road Realignment project schedule design plans and additional documentation and to discuss findings from initial studies prepared as part of the Categorical Exclusion II Proposed Action As part of Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) Project No R 5522 the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) proposes to realign SR 1113 (Hicks Grove Road) between US 221 and SR 1113 This project includes the construction of a two lane roadway with twelve foot travel lanes on new location and a new Bridge 156 over the CSX Railroad The project length is approximately 0 4 mile The proposed right of way is 60 feet The proposed design speed is 35 miles per hour Except for the railroad corridor the Horsehead Corporation owns (outright or in easement) the property on which the realigned roadway would be constructed The project area is shown in the attached Human and Natural Constraints figure III Schedule Project Development /Design In progress Right of Way March 2012 Construction May 2012 ratirn m-d Cost, Right of Way Acquisition $0 Construction $2,700,000 TOTAL $2 700 000 IV Summary ofed for the Proposed Action NCDOT STIP No R 5522 is expected to serve a new major employer in a county with one of the higher unemployment rates in North Carolina as determined by Governor Purdue s JobsNOW initiative the North Carolina Department of Commerce the North Carolina Community Colleges LY the North Carolina Department of Transportation Rutherford County Economic Development Appalachian Regional Commission Duke Energy and PSNC Energy V Study Area Description Hicks Grove Road is a two lane facility with grass shoulders To the south it begins near the North Carolina / South Carolina State Line (Island Ford Road) and runs west of and parallel to US 221 for approximately 15 miles before intersecting and ending at US 221 approximately 550 feet south southwest of the intersection of US 221 and SR 2105 (State Line Road) Currently Hicks Grove Road the CSX railroad track located 2 400 feet west southwest of its intersection with US 221 The road is already closed south of the railroad tracks due to the construction of the industrial plant The new two lane roadway would bring Hicks Grove Road across the CSX railroad track approximately 1 250 feet south southeast of the existing crossing and tie into US 221 approximately 2 500 feet south southwest of the existing intersection A bridge would be constructed over the CSX railroad track US 221 is a north south route and an NCDOT Strategic Highway Corridor US 221 is currently being improved as part of NCDOT STIP No R 2233 the widening of US 221 from the South Carolina State Line to north of Rutherfordton with a bypass around Rutherfordton on new location The project study area referenced for the purposes of this meeting is a 200 foot corridor centered about the centerline of the proposed realigned roadway See the Human and Natural Constraints figure for reference Land on the west side of the railroad track (within the study area) has been graded for construction of the Horsehead Corporation s zinc plant Land on the east side of the railroad track (within the study area) is open field or pastureland There are some single family residential uses along existing Hicks Grove Road and adjacent roadways The Hicks Grove Baptist Church and Cemetery are located near the western terminus of the project but outside of the study area There is a small man made pond located approximately 200 feet west of US 221 and north of the study area NC One Map Geographical Information Systems data also reveals that there are two Significant Natural Heritage Areas just outside of the study area These are the Brice Rare Plant Site located between Hicks Grove Road and the Broad River and Big Horse Creek Rare Plant Site located near the eastern terminus of the project but on the opposite (eastern) side of US 221 VI Social /Econorruc Conditions A summary of the general socio economic characteristics of Rutherford County is provided in Table 1 This information is provided by the Umted States Census QuickFacts Table 1 Socio Economic Characteristics 2010 General Demographic and Economic Characteristics Rutherford County Total population 67 810 White 859% Black or African American 101% His amc or Lattno ,n 35% Median Household Income 2006 2010 { $35364 Persons Below Poverty Level 2006 2010 `` 207% Q Field observations within the project area did not reveal neighborhoods with predominantly minority populations however given the percentage of persons below the poverty level in the county and the poor condition of some housing in the area there may potential for low income populations The socio economic characteristics will be further evaluated in the short form Community Characteristics Report and Community Impact Assessment to be done as part of the Categorical Exclusion VII Environmental Features Water Resources The study area is located within the Upper Broad River Watershed (USGS Hydrologic Unit Code [HUC] 03050105) of the Broad River Basin No water resources are located within the study area A man made pond was observed adjacent to the study area approximately 200 feet west of US 221 and approximately 100 feet north of the eastern portion of the study area Drainage within the study area appears to be directed to this pond which appears to drain into a culvert under US 221 to an unnamed tributary to Big Horse Creek Big Horse Creek in turn flows in a general north northeast direction to the Broad River A Natural Resources Technical Report (NRTR) was prepared by STV /RWA on February 15 2012 STV /RWA conducted a field review on January 25 2012 The area reviewed (study area) encompasses approximately 12 36 acres consisting of a corridor approximately 2 428 feet (0 46 mile) long and approximately 200 feet wide centered about the centerline of the proposed roadway Below is a summary of findings related to water resources 1) No jurisdictional waters of the U S were identified within the study area and no wetlands are identified by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service ( USFWS) on National Wetland Inventory (NWI) mapping 2) No specially classified waterways such as Outstanding Resource Waters Trout Waters Anadromous Fish Waters Primary Nursery Areas High Quality Waters or 303(d) impaired waters are located within a one mile radius of the study area A Section 404 Clean Water Act permit from the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is not required A Section 401 Water Quality Certification from the North Carolina Division of Water Quality (NCDWQ) is not required North Carolina river basin buffer rules do not apply Biotic Resources The NRTR indicates that there are three terrestrial communities in the study area These are maintained /disturbed agricultural field and dry oak hickory forest Habitat for terrestrial wildlife within the study area is limited due to the small amount of natural undisturbed habitat present No aquatic communities are located in the study area Four invasive species (princess tree Chinese privet Japanese honeysuckle and Japanese stilt grass were identified within the study area These invasive species are identified as a moderate threat to habitat and natural areas Protected Species The NRTR indicates that USFWS lists five federally protected (endangered or threatened) species for Rutherford County These are the Indiana bat the Dwarf flowered heartleaf the Small whorled pogoma the White irisette and the Rock gnome lichen Below is a summary of findings related to these species 3) Suitable habitat for the Indiana bat does not exist in the study area and the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program ( NCNHP) record database indicates no known occurrences within one mile of the study area Biological Conclusion No Effect 4) Potential habitat for the Dwarf flowered heardeaf may exist in the study area and the NCNHP indicates two populations Just outside of the study area None of these plants were observed within the study area during the field review Biological Conclusion May Affect — Not Likely to Adversely Affect 5) Potential habitat for the Small whorled pogonia may exist in the study area but the NCNHP indicates no known occurrences within one mile of the study area None of these plants were observed within the study area during the field review Biological Conclusion Unresolved 6) Potential habitat for the White insette may exist in the study area but the NCNHP indicates no known occurrences within one mile of the study area None of these plants were observed within the study area during the field review Biological Conclusion Unresolved 7) Suitable habitat for the Rock gnome lichen does not exist in the study area and the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program ( NCNHP) record database indicates no known occurrences within one mile of the study area Biological Conclusion No Effect Hazardous materials A Geotechnical Report for Planning was prepared by NCDOT on February 13 2012 NCDOT conducted a field review on February 7 2012 Below is a summary of findings 1) No UST facilities (petroleum sites) were identified within the project limits 2) No hazardous waste sites were identified within the project limits 3) No apparent landfills were identified within the project limits 4) No other geoenvironmental concerns were identified within the project limits Cultural and Recreational Resources A Historic Architecture Review was completed by NCDOT in January 2012 It was determined that no historic architecture survey is required as there are no historic resources present An Archaeology Survey will be conducted by NCDOT in late February Field observations did not reveal other community facilities in the study area Figure 2 includes a summary of the environmental features reviewed in the study area Table 2 Summary of Environmental Features Environmental Status /Comments Information Sources Feature R -5522 Study Area Jurisdictional Waters None NRTR USFWS NWI mapping Specially Classified None NRTR NCDWQ NC Waters (i e ORW One Map HQW 303d waters Trout Waters Anadromous Fish Waters Primary Nursery Areas) Aquatic Communities None NRTR NC River Basin Buffer None NCDWQ Rules Federally Protected ■ Potential habitat for Dwarf flowered heardeaf no NRTR Pedestrian Species plants observed (biological conclusion may affect — not Reconnaissance Survey likely to adversely affect) NCNHP • Potential habitat for Small whorled pogonia no plants observed (biological conclusion unresolved) • Potential habitat for White rosette no plants observed (biological conclusion unresolved) Significant Natural None NC One Map Heritage Areas Hazardous Materials (i e None NCDOT GEU Report UST facilities hazardous waste sites landfills) Historic Resources None NCDOT HEU Review Parks and Recreational None Field observations NC Facilities One Map VIII Local Coordination Information will be gathered from local planners in order to complete the short form Community Characteristics Report and Community Impact Assessment