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STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
PAT MCCROY
GOVERNOR
MEMORANDUM TO
FROM:
ANTHONYJ.TATA
SECRF.TARY
February 13, 2015
Meeting Participants
Keith Lewis, Project Manager, VHB
Don Brown, Senior Project Planner, VHB
SUBJECT: Meeting Summary —Merger Screening Discussion
Meeting for STIP No. U-2509 — US 74
(Independence Blvd.) Improvements, Conference
Drive to I-485 in Mecklenburg County
TIME & LOCATION: February 12, 2015; 8:30 AM-9:30 AM
Training Room at HR Services, Chapanoke Road
Raleigh, North Carolina
Attended
Kirby Pendergraft
Mitch Batuzich
David Wainwright
Crystal Amschler
Michael Turchy
Carla Dagnino
Scott Cole*
*by phone
MEETING NOTES
NCDOT Hydraulics
FHWA
NCDWR
USACE
NCDOT NES
NCDOT NES
NCDOT— Div 10
Stuart Basham*
Jennifer Harris
Wilson Stroud
Stacy Oberhausen
Keith Lewis
Don Brown
NCDOT— Div 10
NCDOT — PDEA
NCDOT— PDEA
NCDOT— PDEA
VHB
VHB
The overall purpose of this meeting was to introduce the project to the co-team leaders
and to have an information sharing discussion. Wilson Stroud began the meeting with
introductions and then Keith Lewis presented a project overview, reviewed the Project
Data Sheet, the Study Area, No-Build Traffic Analysis, Purpose and Need Statement,
Alternative Statement and preliminary stream and wetland impacts.
MAILING ADDRESS:
NC DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
1548 MAI� SERVICE CENTER
Rn�EicH NC 27699-1548
TELEPHONE: J1J-7O7-6000
FAX: 919-250-4224
WEBSITE: WWW.NCDOT.ORG/DOH/PRECONSTRUCT/PE/
LOCATI ON:
CENTURY CENTER, BUILDING A
'IOOO BIRCH RIDGE DRIVE
RALEIGH, NC 27610
U-2509
February 5, 2015 Pre-Merger Screening Meeting
February 10, 2015
Project Overview:
Keith shared a vicinity map showing the three proposed express lane projects (U-2509, U-
5526, I-5507) and one toll road project (R-3329/R-2559) in the area. Comments included:
• Add the I-77 express lanes project to the vicinity map. Even though it doesn't currently
connect to these projects, it shows the overall system of express lanes planned for the
Charlotte area.
• There is a new project on I-77 south that should be added to the vicinity map also.
Project Data Sheet:
The specific aspects of the project included on the Project Data Sheet were summarized
and presented. The No-Build Traffic Analysis was quickly reviewed. It showed that there
would be many areas along the corridor operating at Level of Service E or F in the design
year (2040), and that congestion and delay are being experienced along the project today.
Purpose and Need:
The Purpose and Need Statement for the project was shared with the co-team leaders.
There were no questions or comments received.
Project Concept and Study Area:
A review was given of the stakeholder involvement that has taken place to this point in
developing this project. Concepts that included expressway, freeway, or elevated
managed/express lanes were considered. The stakeholder technical committee agreed
upon moving the project forward as an expressway with express lanes plus the extension
of existing parallel roads. The Study Area was shown and it was explained how the study
area had been revised through this study process to include all of the parallel roads. The
Alternative Statement was presented as Keith pointed out the various aspects of the
project on the Environmental Screening Maps displayed on the wall. Discussion and
comments included:
• The freeway and elevated concepts will be discussed in the environmental document,
where an explanation will be given for why these were dropped from consideration.
• It was noted that the parallel connector roads were part of the project in STI and were
included by the City of Charlotte, the Town of Matthews, CRTPO, and NCDOT Division 10.
• David Wainwright asked if all the connectors and widening and express lanes would be
built at one time.
o This would be approached as one project, but construction would be phased. We
believe that mobility could be provided first for the surrounding community by
constructing the extension of the parallel roads. Construction on US 74 would
begin after that.
• Crystal Amschler asked how many alternatives are being studied.
o There is one alternative.
o Some of the extensions of the parallel roads may not be constructed.
o Crystal wants more information on the Independence Pointe Parkway extension
behind the Home Depot, particularly on the potential stream crossings in that
location.
U-2509
February 5, 2015 Pre-Merger Screening Meeting
February 10, 2015
• Crystal Amschler asked if it is typical to have Build and No-Build as the only two options.
o There aren't many options to consider as this is an urban setting. The existing
sections of the parallel road system do not leave room for much leeway of
alternatives to finish the connections.
o It was pointed out that NCDOT has in the past received comments about not
looking at the transportation system as a whole. With this project, NCDOT is
looking at the entire system by including what the local jurisdictions have
recommended.
o This alternative is in many ways a"lessons learned" alternative.
• Mitch Batuzich asked if the Sportsplex would have any Section 4(f) implications with the
parallel road going through that property.
o The road has been planned by the Town before the plans for the Sportsplex
existed. The Sportsplex property is owned and being developed by Mecklenburg
County. A privately developed neighborhood is expected to be built on adjacent
land. The plans have left room for the road to be built. This will be noted in the
environmental document.
Preliminary Stream and Wetland Impacts:
The preliminary stream and wetland impacts were presented by location. The
environmental screening maps in the packet contained stream and wetland impacts for
each area in which they are encountered. A table summarizing those impacts was also
included. Keith presented each preliminary stream and wetland impact and noted that at
this stage of study the impacts were based on GIS data and calculated by the right-of-way
width to obtain an order of magnitude. The project team will look at tweaking various
aspects of the proposed connections and improvements to reduce the amount of impact
to the resources. The following comments and questions were received about the
preliminary stream and wetland impacts:
• Independence Pointe Parkway behind the Home Depot is difficult with the stream
and wetland constraints.
• Crystal raised the issue of independent utility, wondering if this project would be
built if it were not for the Monroe Bypass. She requested more information on this
particular road as the project moves along.
o It was noted that Charlotte is trying to build a system of express lanes.
o David Wainwright noted that this will have to be built now or later.
• David asked how many new crossings would be added with this project.
o This is recorded in the Project Data Sheet indicating that there would be up
to 8 new crossings, one stream relocation, and 5 existing crossings that
would need to be extended.
• David and Crystal Amschler commented that they appreciate that this project is
looking at this improvement as a whole and not separating into individual projects.
It makes it easier for their agencies to evaluate this project.
• Mitch Batuzich asked if connection/access points to/from the express lanes had
been decided.
o Those have not yet been determined for U-2509.
• The project team has worked to get this project refined to a"main theme". Now
the project will be further refined and some of those more specific details of the
project will be examined in future steps.
U-2509
February 5, 2015 Pre-Merger Screening Meeting
February 10, 2015
• The study area was discussed and a history of how it evolved was presented. It
was noted that the project team coordinated with NCDOT-NES to make sure the
study area covered all areas that might be affected by the project.
• David indicated that there are many stream and wetland impacts with this project.
Initial thoughts would be to not put this project into the full merger process, but
maybe CP2A would be warranted because of the 8 new crossings. Whether that
would be a field meeting or done at the Century Center is unclear at this time.
o It was pointed out that every project has to go through CP4B/4C.
• Stacy Oberhausen suggested that the co-team leaders are invited to the External
Stakeholder Meetings and meet every 4 months instead of the Merger Process.
This would include them regularly throughout the process instead of just at a
Merger Meeting.
• Crystal suggested that the Merger Process exists for these types of projects.
• There was discussion surrounding the value that would or would not be added by
putting the project in the full merger process. The project is defined and with the
urban setting and existing parallel roads, there is not much room for various
alternatives. The project will not shift from anything that is decided in the merger
process.
o David questioned what decision would be made at CP3 if the project was in
the merger process.
o Mitch stated that he saw no need in utilizing the full Merger Process and
thought holding a CP2A and CP4 meetings would be adequate.
o It was pointed out that it would be difficult to pull the project out of the
merger process if it was put into the merger process at the outset.
o The Purpose and Need Statement is clear. There is not much discretion in
crafting alternatives.
o There was discussion surrounding what effect an Individual Permit
designation has on the merger process.
• Crystal pointed out that more discussion needs to occur regarding the parallel
roads.
o Stacy would like that discussion to be between the 4 co-team leaders.
Next Steps:
Next steps were discussed. It was agreed that within two weeks of this meeting, the co-
team leaders would discuss and make a merger screening decision. The External Scoping
Meeting would likely take place on March 18th or 19t". And a public meeting in Charlotte
and another in Matthews would be scheduled for March 30t" and 315t (likely).
• It was noted that the U-5526 project is driving the public involvement as the
Categorical Exclusion for that project is due June 2015.
Action Items:
• A Merger Screening will take place via e-mail within two weeks of this meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:45 AM. Please direct any comments or questions about
the meeting summary to Wilson Stroud, 919-707-6045, wstroud@ncdot.�ov; Keith Lewis,
919-334-5619, kdlewis@vhb.com; or pon Brown, 919-334-5609, dbrown@vhb.com.