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Home My WebLink AboutU-2530A SOS Letter - NCDOT, Env Agencies_20230802STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Roy COOPER J. ERIC BOYETTE GOVERNOR SECRETARY August 2, 2023 FROM: Bryan Sowell Division Project Team Lead, Division 12 SUBJECT: Project Information for the widening of NC 127 1-77 from SR 1132 (Huffman Farm Road) to SR 1008 (Zion Church Road) in Hickory, Catawba County, TIP No. U-2530A The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Division 12 is resuming the project development, environmental, and engineering studies for State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) Project No. U-2530A. The project proposes to widen NC 127 from Huffman Farm Road (SR 1132) to Zion Church Road (SR 1008). The project is included in NCDOT's 2024-2033 STIP and is scheduled for right of way in fiscal year 2025 and construction in fiscal year 2027. NCDOT is preparing a Categorical Exclusion and has made the preliminary determination that the project will not proceed through the Merger Process. The project is currently state funded, but a federal document is being prepared in the event funding changes. Additional project information is provided in the attached Project Data Sheet. NCDOT staff or their consultants may be contacting you to request project -specific information. While we do not expect a response to this notification, we welcome your input if you have time - sensitive concerns. Your input will be used in the development of environmental documentation prepared pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act and/or State Environmental Policy Act. We would appreciate any information that may be helpful in evaluating the potential environmental effects of the proposed project, as well as recommended alternatives to be considered. If applicable, please identify any permits or approvals which may be required by your organization. If you have any questions concerning the project, please contact Project Manager Bryan Sowell (bksowell@ncdot.gov, 980-552-4221). Please include the STIP Project Number (U-2530A) in all correspondence and comments. Attachment (Project Data Sheet) Mailing Address: NC DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION DIVISION 12 PO BOX 47 SHELBY, NC 28151 Telephone: (980) 552-4200 Customer Service: 1-877-368-4968 Website: www.nedot.gov Location: 1710 E. MARION ST (US 74 BUSINESS) SHLEBY, NC 28151 North Carolina Department of Transportation Project Data Sheet August 2023 Essential Pro'ec STIP Project NC 127 Widening from SR 1132 (Huffman Farm Rd) to SR 1008 (Zion Church Rd) Name STIP Number U-2530A County Catawba NCDOT Division 12 07/19/2024* ROW Date LET Date 07/21/2026* Schedule *These are current dates shown in SAP, but subject to change during project Considerations initiation and scoping STIP (2024-2033) Estimate: Cost Estimates ROW - $23.9M, Utilities - $3.8M, Construction - $25.5M, Total - $53.2M Note — cost estimates will be updated as design progresses Fundin Type State Proposed Project Detail Project Widen NC 127 to multi -lanes Description Project Limits SR 1132 Huffman Farm Rd to SR 1008 Zion Church Rd Typical Section Four 12' lanes with 23' median along divided arterial with planting strip (width 10' 1ti ' h 'd d ' 'd Ik Access Contro Design Speed Right -of -Way Width Physical or Engineering Constraints Other Consideration vanes), mu -use pat (east si e), an 5 si ewa (west si e). I Partial (median) 50 mph Varies (60'-150') Utilities are prevalent along the northern half of the project corridor. Most of the project area is on well/septic with drain fields present in front yards. s Survey Request Final surveys completed 12/16/2022 and updated 6/22/2023 Date Design Plan 15% design plans prepared in March 2020 Construction To be determined Recommendation Consultant Consultant is currently scoped through environmental document and field Involvement inspection (PDN Stage 2) • Greater Hickory MPO 2050 Metropolitan Transportation Plan (Draft Plan) NC 127 is defined as "a major north -south radial serving the Hickory - Planning Studies Brookford-Mountain View area and is one of only two major crossings over Lake Hickory from Alexander County, making it a critical link for the travel between the Counties". The plan recommends widening to a 4-lane divided boulevard with a grass median from Zion Church Rd to Huffman Farm Rd Page 1 of 4 and then extend south to NC 10. This project is included in the 2030 Horizon Year. No specific recommendations for bicycle/pedestrian accommodations are included for the project corridor. Catawba County Comprehensive Plan (In Progress) Plan will establish 20-year vision, including transportation, based on community feedback and information from small area plans. See Mountain View Small Area Plan (2002). Catawba County Thoroughfare Plan (2007) The Thoroughfare Plan defines NC 127 as a capacity deficient corridor that provides links between NC 10, US 321 and 1-40. NC 127 is also important to local traffic in the Hickory-Brookford-Mountain View area and provides access to a number of businesses and residential developments in Mountain View and Hickory. The plan recommends widening to a 4-lane divided (boulevard type) facility. Mountain View Small Area Plan (Catawba County, 2002) The Small Area Plan notes that commercialization along the corridor is resulting in unattractive development and congestion. The plan specifies decreasing congestion along NC 127 as the first guiding principle for the plan. The overall recommendation of the plan is to widen to a 4-lane, divided roadway with landscaped median and provide bicycle and pedestrian accommodations. Note — the Western Piedmont Bicycle Plan includes NC 127 north of the project limits as a priority segment. SPOT P 4.0, SPOT ID H090335A Description Widen NC 127 to multi -lanes from SR 1132 to SR 1008 (This SPOT project also included the completed interchange improvements at US 321). Feasibility None Studies Problem Project included in current Greater Hickory MPO Draft CTP as a Congestion Statement project. Alternatives An alternative selection meeting was held on June 19, 2019, to review the two Previously proposed alternatives (Symmetrical vs Best -Fit Widening). Based on the Dismissed and comparison of potential impacts, it was determined that Alternative 2 (Best -Fit Why _ Alignment) would be carried forward to final design. Purpose & Need _ Purpose Alleviate traffic congestion by increasing the capacity of NC 127 through the _Mountain View area. Traffic volumes are approaching capacity along the two-lane section of NC 127 Need(s) through the project area and congestion is expected to worsen with projected traffic volume increases through 2040. • U-2530A Traffic Forecast Report (May 2018) • U-2530A Traffic Operations Report (November 2018) Supporting Data Reports are posted on NCDOT Preconstruction Site under Congestion Management (for internal NCDOT users). PDFs can be provided upon request. Alternatives C Alternative 1 Alternative 2 Under Consideration metrical Wideni Best -Fit Wi Page 2 of 4 Public and A ency Coordination Anticipated None Permits Federal A en, g y USACE, FHWA (if federal funding is added) Involvement Public A public meeting was held in October 2018 to introduce the project and gather initial Involvement feedback. A second public meeting is planned to present the preferred alternative. Strategy Merger During the internal/external scoping meeting held in June 2018, it was noted that Screening Date the project would not likely be inserted into the Merqer Process. Potential Merger None Triggers Existing Con __M Functional Other Principal Arterial Classification Strategic No Highway Corridor AADT AADT varies from 11,500 at the southern end of the project to 15,500 at the northern end (NCDOT 2021 AADT). Access Control None existing 2-lane undivided roadway with TWLTL south of SR 1008 (Zion Church Rd) to SR Typical Section 1128 (Mountain Grove Rd); 2-lane undivided with intermittent left turn lanes south of SR 1128 (Mountain Grove Rd) to SR 1132 (Huffman Farm Rd) • South of SR 1008 (Zion Church Rd) to SR 2580 (Westover Rd): varies from Right -of -Way approximately 85 feet to 150 feet. Width • South of SR 2580 (Westover Rd) to SR 1132 (Huffman Farm Rd): approximately 60 to 70 feet Posted Speed 45 mph • Retaining wall on private property perpendicular to NC 127 on the west side (approximately 15 feet from roadway) between Mountain Grove Rd and Old Structures Farm Rd. (bridges, RCBC, • Multiple reinforced concrete pipes adjacent to and leading underneath the etc.) current roadway. • Driveway pipe plus junction box (open top) and cross pipe at the main Hawksridge Farm entrance on west side of NC 127 south of Huffman Farm Rd. Railroad None Involvement Other Adjacent None STIP Projects Preliminary Resource Inventory Table Utilities Piedmont Natural Gas, Duke Energy, Century Link, Charter Communications, AT&T, Broadplex LLC, City of Hickory water/sewer _ Hazardous 4 potential hazardous sites (Phase I ESA Completed September 2018) Materials Known No Historic Properties Present of Affected by this Project (03/25/2019) Potentially- Note - Two historic properties were evaluated for eligibility: Teague House (3181 S Eligible National NC 127 Hwy) and Deal House (3265 S NC 127 Hwy). Both properties were Register of determined ineligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Page 3 of 4 Historic Places Sites/Districts Other Cultural Resources Wetlands Streams FEMA Floodplai Detailed Study Area Water Supply Watersheds Riparian Buffer Rules Active Agricultu Parks, Greenways, Game Lands, Section 4(f) & Section 6(f) Properties Environmental Justice Populations • No Archaeological Survey Required (02/05/2019) • Tribal coordination is underway None N/A one stream identified in study area but no impacts are anticipated) n No FEMA Floodplains within the project study area None Study area is subject to Catawba River Buffer Rules (buffer rules do not apply to the stream identified in the study area) Small active agricultural fields near southern end of project study area; Voluntary Agricultural District on east side of NC 127 near Huffman Farm Rd; Hawksridge re Farms (nursery) is located at the southern end of the corridor on the west side of NC 127 Potential Section 4(f)/6(f) Resources • Huffman Park — located at 5697 Huffman Farm Road Note — Section 4(f) only applicable if federal funding is applied to this project. Initial screenings indicate low-income populations, elderly populations, and disabled populations may be present in the project vicinity. Additional communities with large numbers of children under the age of five may also be present. Further screenings are necessary to determine proximity of these groups to the project corridor. Other Resources (i.e., Wild and Scenic Rivers, None TVA, Scenic Byways, etc.) Attachments: Figure 1 — Project Vicinity Map Figure 2 — Environmental Features Map Page 4 of 4 3 Town of �� I =�--� Long View I ,�City-of o -- --- ---------- H i c k o r y i, o LU — \ � SWEET BAY-LN .._ C-)G 19TH AV 41V `� _-- I \� \ Town of E SW Brookford y�l wGELAND DR ono y i \` o 9i i 127 z SHE\ -BY PO ��'/N / ` iq� t ' <�4 JUNIPER 9 0 � RD ��' r-1'", CFO O o � = m BOWM v GEGR m COLU I ST c �FHENRY DR 00 rn --_I �- ---- I I KE \ STARNES DR Py O '- G o Q G'2 p0 RIVER RO o F< CHURCH°=RD z QUEENS RD CO pR/c J � NTEAD DR F,/ELO c.i V1LLA�'� p,N FARM RD T-E=AKWO ,,,,% Newton� Ro i Lincolnton�,- 78 0 LN Ld N �i 2R O �4'G S0 `l0 Y �LO 2 3 0 ti 0 Q a �O Legend U-2530A Project Limits Creek/Stream Municipal Boundary 0 0.5 1 Miles NC 127 Widening STIP No. U-2530A Figure: 1 Widen NC 127 to Multiple Lanes from SR 1132 (Huffman Farm Road) to WBS: 34824.1.3 Project Vicinity Map a, Catawba County SR 1008 (Zion Church Rd) Division 12 July 2023 10 RE 0 AI, ' ��yyM,t�IView '� =� 1 El'ementary �! 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