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Home My WebLink AboutR-3434 (10)BEVERLY EAVES PERDUE GOVERNOR d,a STATp q. STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION October 10, 2012 EUGENE A. CONTI, JR. SECRETARY MEMORANDUM TO: File FROM: Kristine A. O'Connor, P.E. Project Planning Engineer Project Development & Environmental Analysis Unit SUBJECT: R -3434 CP 1 Meeting Minutes, Proposed Improvements to SR 1500 (Midway Road) and SR 1401 (Galloway Road) from US 17 Bypass to NC 211, WBS Element 34545.1.1, TIP Project No. R -3434 The CP 1 meeting for TIP Project R -3434 was held on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 at 10:30 AM in the Structure Design Conference Room at the Century Center, Building A. The purpose of this meeting was to determine if the agencies & NCDOT could obtain concurrence on the Purpose & Need for this project. The following people attended the meeting: Ron Lucas Federal Highway Administration Brad Shaver US Army Corps of Engineers Chris Militscher US Environmental Protection Agency Gary Jordan US Fish & Wildlife Service Renee Gledhill - Earley NC Department of Cultural Resources — SHPO Steve Sollod NC Division of Coastal Management Amy Simes NC Division of Environment & Natural Resources Mason Herndon NC Division of Water Quality Travis Wilson NC Wildlife Resource Commission Don Eggert Cape Fear RPO Bruce Maxwell Cape Fear RPO (Town of Saint James) BenJetta Johnson NCDOT —Congestion Management Stonewall Mathis NCDOT — Division 3 Jackson Provost NCDOT — Division 3 (on phone) Patrick Riddle NCDOT — Division 3 (on phone) Paul Atkinson NCDOT — Hydraulics Kalynn Chambers NCDOT — PDEA MAILING ADDRESS: TELEPHONE: 919- 707 -6000 LOCATION: NC DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FAX: 919 - 250 -4224 CENTURY CENTER, BUILDING PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS 1000 BIRCH RIDGE DRIVE 1548 MAIL SERVICE CENTER WEBSITE: WINW.NCDOT.ORG /DOH /PRECONSTRUCT /PE/ RALEIGH NC 27610 RALEIGH NC 27699 -1548 Charles Cox Rob Hanson Kristine O'Connor Martha Hodge Chris Rivenbark Tyler Stanton Hardee Cox Cedric Butler Tatia White Emily Murray Brian Murphy Memory Washaya Shane York Discussion: NCDOT — PDEA NCDOT — PDEA NCDOT — PDEA NCDOT — PDEA — Human Environment Section NCDOT — PDEA — Natural Environment Section NCDOT — PDEA — Natural Environment Section NCDOT — Program Development Unit NCDOT — Roadway Design NCDOT — Roadway Design NCDOT —Structures Management Unit NCDOT— Traffic Safety Unit NCDOT— Traffic Safety Unit NCDOT— Transportation Planning Branch • Kristine O'Connor opened the meeting with a presentation about the project and the agenda for the meeting (see attached). Once each agenda item was introduced and reviewed, the floor was opened to allow each agency a chance to discuss their particular concerns or contribute their relevant information regarding this proposed project. • During a discussion about potential right of way impacts to adjacent churches, Bruce Maxwell noted that the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses Church may be relocating to NC 211. • At the Scoping meeting in May, Chris Militscher asked for more information regarding the boundary of the Voluntary Agricultural District (VAD) located on Midway Road. It was determined that for this particular property, the boundary of the VAD is the same as the existing right of way line. Don Eggert wanted to know what the significance of a VAD was, and Martha Hodge responded that the presence of VADs are important to be aware of because impacting one typically triggers a requirement to hold a public hearing. She noted that we don't have details on what will specifically be required for this project right now, but that they will investigate this further in the Community Impact Analysis (CIA). • Don Eggert & Bruce Maxwell expressed their concern about the existing and projected traffic numbers. Mr. Maxwell was particularly concerned that the summer peak numbers are low and do not reflect the actual summer traffic numbers. He also requested that a new traffic forecast be completed to account for the potential traffic increase from the new Wilmington Bypass (1 -140). Rob Hanson suggested that PDEA, Division 3, and the Transportation Planning Branch (TPB) sit down with Mr. Maxwell and Mr. Eggert in a separate forum to discuss their concerns. • Mason Herndon & Brad Shaver both noted their concern that the purpose and need statement was not reflective of what NCDOT is trying to accomplish. Ron Lucas proposed that the purpose and need statement focus on the individual areas of concern like safety, emergency response, and traffic operations. During the meeting, the Merger team crafted a new purpose and need statement that more aptly describes the project. The statement that the team concurred on is as follows: The purpose of this project is to make safety and operational improvements and facilitate weather - related evacuations and general emergency response events. • Although the team did not fully address or reach concurrence on Concurrence Point 2 (Alternatives to be Carried Forward) due to a fire drill that occurred during the meeting, there was some discussion about which alternatives would best meet the purpose & need. Chris Militscher stated that he believes safety /emergency response issues can be handled with a 2 -lane facility if wider shoulders and /or sections of center turn lane were added. Mason Herndon concurred that adding 6 -foot paved shoulders would enable emergency responders to utilize this facility during periods of congestion or evacuation. • Chris Militscher asked if SR 1500 (Midway Road) was currently posted as an evacuation route. Charles Cox noted that Division 3 would like to have this roadway posted as an evacuation route, but is not able to do so because it is considered substandard. Jackson Provost stated that the Division of Emergency Management handles the posting of evacuation routes. • In discussing potential alternatives, Jackson Provost noted that there are safety issues with having a three -lane facility with a center turn lane for long stretches in a rural setting. Chris Militscher responded that although the 3 -lane facility may not be the team's Least Environmentally Damaging Preferred Alternative (LEDPA), he would like to see it carried forward for additional study, even if there are only sections of center turn lane, as opposed to a continuous third lane. He stated that 3 -lane and 5 -lanes facilities exist on other projects with no capacity or level of service issues, and that 3 -lane facilities still meet the need of emergency response teams. Tatia White noted that a facility with intermittent turn lanes and wide shoulders would be considered as a modified 2 -lane option, rather than a full 3 -lane facility. Action Items: • NCDOT will reschedule the CP 2 meeting so the Merger team will have ample time to discuss the alternatives to be carried forward. • NCDOT will also schedule a meeting with the Cape Fear RPO and local representatives to discuss their concerns related to the existing traffic forecast and the need for additional traffic forecasts in the future. If you have any questions or comments, please contact me at (919) 707 -6034 or at kaoconnor @ncdot.gov. September 19, 2012 Section 404 /NEPA Merger Project Team Agreement Concurrence Point No. 1: Purpose & Need TIP Project R -3434 Project Name /Description: Proposed Improvements to SR 1500 (Midway Road) and SR 1401 (Galloway Road) from US 17 Bypass to NC 211, Brunswick County The Project Team Members listed below have concurred with the following statement as the Purpose & Need for this project: The purpose of this project is to make safety and operational improvements and facilitate weather - related evacuations and general emergency response events. The Project Team members have also concurred with the following project study area: As depicted on Figure 3 of the Merger packet, the following project study area is agreed upon. A map of the study area is attached. US Army Corps of Enginee US Fish & Wildlife Service NC Division of Water Quality NC Division of Marine Fisherie Brad Shaver 9f/I /Zo17– DATE g1/91 0 ) Gary Jordan DATE ' ZL-4 f� e / /., Mason Herndon DATE Jessi Baker DATE NC Division of Coastal Management Steve Sollod DATE National Marine Fisheries FItvrz 2o'i4DE DATE Wildlife Resources Commission 9-1,9- `A,)Y1L Travis Wilson DATE Environmental Protection Agenc Chris Militscher q DATE Federal Highway Administration Ron Lucas DATE j NC Department of Transportation _ Kristine O'Connor DATE State Historic Preservation Office ".1 q • 1q. 1,R Renee Gledhill - Earley DATE R -3434 Page 1 of 2 September 19, 2012 Cape Fear RPO Don Eggert DATE R -3434 Page 2 of 2 September 19, 2012 Section 404 /NEPA Merger Project Team Agreement Concurrence Point No. 1: Purpose & Need TIP Project R -3434 Project Name /Description: Proposed Improvements to SR 1500 (Midway Road) and SR 1401 (Galloway Road) from US 17 Bypass to NC 211, Brunswick County The Project Team Members listed below have concurred with the following statement as the Purpose & Need for this project: The purpose of this project is to make safety and operational improvements and facilitate weather- related evacuations and general emergency response events. The Project Team members have also concurred with the following project study area: As depicted on Figure 3 of the Merger packet, the following project study area is agreed upon. A map of the study area is attached. US Army Corps of Engineers NC Division of Coastal Management Steve Sol lod DATE National Marine Fisheries Fritz Rohde DATE Wildlife Resources Commission Travis Wilson DATE Environmental Protection Agency Chris Militscher Federal Highway Administration DATE Ron Lucas DATE NC Department of Transportation Kristine O'Connor DATE State Historic Preservation Office Renee Gledhill Earley DATE R -3434 Page 1 of 2 Brad Shaver DATE US Fish & Wildlife Service Gary Jordan DATE NC Division of Water Quality Mason Herndon DATE NC Division of Marine Fisheries Jessi Baker DATE NC Division of Coastal Management Steve Sol lod DATE National Marine Fisheries Fritz Rohde DATE Wildlife Resources Commission Travis Wilson DATE Environmental Protection Agency Chris Militscher Federal Highway Administration DATE Ron Lucas DATE NC Department of Transportation Kristine O'Connor DATE State Historic Preservation Office Renee Gledhill Earley DATE R -3434 Page 1 of 2 September 19, 2012 Section 404 /NEPA Merger Project Team Agreement Concurrence Point No. 1: Purpose & Need TIP Project R -3434 Project Name /Description: Proposed Improvements to SR 1500 (Midway Road) and SR 1401 (Galloway Road) from US 17 Bypass to NC 211, Brunswick County The Project Team Members listed below have concurred with the following statement as the Purpose & Need for this project: The purpose of this project is to make safety and operational improvements and facilitate weather - related evacuations and general emergency response events. The Project Team members have also concurred with the following project study area: As depicted on Figure 3 of the Merger packet, the following project study area is agreed upon. A map of the study area is attached. US Army Corps of Engineers Brad Shaver US Fish & Wildlife Service Gary Jordan NC Division of Water,Quality DATE DATE Mason Herndon DATE 1 2. NC Division of Marine Fisheries� J si Baker DATE NC Division of Coastal Management Steve Sollod DATE National Marine Fisheries Fritz Rohde DATE Wildlife Resources Commission Travis Wilson DATE Environmental Protection Agency Chris Militscher DATE Federal Highway Administration Ron Lucas DATE NC Department of Transportation Kristine O'Connor DATE State Historic Preservation Office Renee Gledhill - Earley DATE R -3434 Page 1 of 2