20201515_Merger Process Documentation_20130308

NC 87 IMPROVEMENTS INFORMATIONAL MEETING
WBS Element No. 34466.4.1 SECTION 404 /NEPA INTERAGENCY MERGER PROCESS TEAM MEETING
TIP Project No. R -2561 March 20, 2013
AGENDA
1. Meeting Purpose
2. Project Information
3. Merger Process History
4. Project Study Alternatives (CP2)
5. Public Hearing Summary
6. VOA Concept
7. Riegelwood Shallow Bypass Concept
8. Next Steps
MEETING PURPOSE
The purpose of this meeting is to provide an update on the project since the last Interagency
Team meeting (held November 9, 2010) and to discuss evaluation of two conceptual
alternatives; VOA Concept and Riegelwood Shallow Bypass Concept.
PROJECT INFORMATION
Description - The proposed improvements include the widening of INC 87 from US 74 -76 in
Columbus County to the INC 87 Bypass (Elizabethtown Bypass) in Bladen County. A state
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is being prepared for the project. Exhibit 1 shows the
project location.
Purpose & Need - The Project Team concurred on the following Purpose and Need Statement
on May 24, 2007: "The purpose of the project is to improve mobility and reduce travel time
along the NC 87 corridor between Elizabethtown and US 74 -76. "
MERGER PROCESS HISTORY
The project has progressed through Concurrence Point (CP) 2A. Table 1 provides a list of
concurrence meetings to date.
TABLE 1: Interagency Team Concurrence Meetings
Concurrence Point
Date
Results
CP 1
5/24/2007
Concurrence on Purpose & Need (described above)
(Purpose & Need, Study Area)
CP 2
5/22/2008
Concurrence on Study Alternatives A & B. Also on
(Study Alternatives)
specific widening segments (east side vs. west side)
to be carried forward. CP 2 concurrence revised at
CP 2A meeting to further eliminate some segments
based on more detailed design information.
CP 2A
8/31/2010
Concurrence on hydraulic structures. Also revised
(Hydraulic Structures)
(Field)
CP 2A to further eliminate some segments based on
11/9/2010
more detailed design information.
(Office)
11 Page

NC 87 IMPROVEMENTS
WBS Element No. 34466.4.1
TIP Project No. R -2561
INFORMATIONAL MEETING
SECTION 404 /NEPA INTERAGENCY MERGER PROCESS TEAM MEETING
March 20, 2013
PROJECT STUDY ALTERNATIVES (CP 2)
Exhibits 2a and 2b show the study alternatives as described in the CP 2 form, which was
revised during CP 2A discussions November 9, 2010. The study alternatives are Alternative A
which follows NC 87 from the Elizabethtown Bypass to US 74 -76, and Alternative B which is
concurrent with Alternative A from the Elizabethtown Bypass to NC 11, at which point the new
route follows NC 11 to US 74 -76.
The project has been broken into twenty -two segments in order to evaluate design options
(widening to the east or west side). The project involves widening NC 87 and portions of NC 11
to four lanes with a 46 -foot, grassed median and grass shoulders. The section through
Riegelwood is proposed to be four -lane, 23 -foot grassed median with curb & gutter. The facility
will have partial control of access with super- street intersection configurations.
Table 2 lists the study alternatives by segment and corresponds to the November 2010 CP 2
form (revised).
TABLE 2: Design Options for Detailed Study (CP 2 - Revised)
Sections Common to Alternative A & Alternative B
Section 1 East
Section 9
East
Section 2 East
Section 10
East
Section 3 East
Section 11
East
West
Section 4 East
Section 5 East
Section 12
Section 13
East
East
rmm.
Section 6 East
Section 14
West
Section 7 East West
Section 15
East
Section 8 East
Sections Specific to Alternative A
Section 16 East -
Section 17 East
Section 18 West
Sections Specific to Alternative B
Section 19 East
Section 20 East
Section 21 East
Section 22 East
PUBLIC HEARING SUMMARY
Two combined public hearings were held: January 31, 2012 in Elizabethtown, and February 9,
2012 in Riegelwood. Together the hearings were attended by 329 citizens. The breakdown of
comments received is listed below:
21 verbal comments were transcribed at the hearings.
83 written comments were received during or after the hearings.
Three petitions were received after the hearings totaling approximately 1,500
signatures.
2 1 Page

NC 87 IMPROVEMENTS INFORMATIONAL MEETING
WBS Element No. 34466.4.1 SECTION 404 /NEPA INTERAGENCY MERGER PROCESS TEAM MEETING
TIP Project No. R -2561 March 20, 2013
Comments received in favor of the project noted factors such as improved economic
development for Bladen and Columbus Counties and safety benefits from providing a median -
divided facility.
Comments received in opposition to the project noted: direct impacts to the Riegelwood area,
direct impacts in the vicinity of the East Arcadia Elementary School, and concern with the
majority of potential relocatees being older residents.
Many comments that were opposed to the project (including three petitions totaling 1,493
names) stated support for evaluation of a new location alternative. The new location alternative
is generally referred to locally as the "Voice of America" (VOA) Alternative, as it crosses land
previously owned by the Voice of America.
VOA CONCEPT
Exhibit 3 shows the VOA Concept which was requested in several public comments and
petitions submitted before, during, and after the 2012 public hearings. Public support for the
VOA Concept is based on the avoidance of the Riegelwood area and avoidance of property
impacts along NC 87 south of the VOA Concept terminus.
Traffic projections were obtained for the VOA Concept when it was first suggested by the public
at the 2006 citizens informational workshop. The decision was made not to study the VOA
Concept any further at that time because the traffic projections showed very little traffic using
the new road and cost estimates indicated building a new road would be more expensive.
Due to the interest expressed in the VOA Concept at the 2012 hearings, cost estimates were
updated for the concept. The latest cost estimates indicate the VOA Concept would be less
expensive than widening existing NC 87, but traffic projections still show that very little traffic
would use the new road. Improvements would still be required along existing NC 87 in
Riegelwood, even with construction of the VOA Concept. NCDOT does not intend to study the
VOA Concept any further.
RIEGELWOOD SHALLOW BYPASS CONCEPT
Exhibit 3 shows the Riegelwood Shallow Bypass Concept. This concept was developed as an
option to minimize the impacts through the Riegelwood area associated with Alternative A. This
concept also serves the highest traffic area; the immediate vicinity of the Riegelwood Paper
Plant.
NEXT STEPS
In response to public input received at the hearings and based on continued evaluation and
study, NCDOT is evaluating the following elements regarding the study alternatives:
• Design revisions to minimize residential and school property impacts in the vicinity of
East Arcadia School
• Proposal to add the Riegelwood Shallow Bypass option as a study alternative
• Prepare a revised SDEIS based on new study alternative(s)
• Consider not carrying the VOA Alternative forward due to traffic service
3 1 Page

NC 87 IMPROVEMENTS INFORMATIONAL MEETING
WBS Element No. 34466.4.1 SECTION 404 /NEPA INTERAGENCY MERGER PROCESS TEAM MEETING
TIP Project No. R -2561 March 20, 2013
• Discuss Interagency Team's view of carrying Alternative B forward.
• Further design minimization (interchanges)
A citizens informational workshop will be held in the spring of 2013 to discuss with the public the
project status and present the Riegelwood Shallow Bypass option.
A merger team meeting will be held following the informational workshop to discuss any issues
raised by the public and the possibility of revising Concurrence Point 2 to add the Riegelwood
Shallow Bypass as a detailed study alternative.
41 Page

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TIP
No. R -2561
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'01 T0.AN5�4
TIP No. R -2561 Exhibit 2b
Legend
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'01 T0.AN5�4
TIP No. R -2561 Exhibit 2b

h EOt NOgmC^PO' NC 87 Improvements Estimated Costs for Alternatives
from US 74 - 76 in Columbus Count, to the Elizabethtown B ass in Blad Ct and Concepts
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OF LRA M TIP No. R -2561 Exhibit
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