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STIP Project No. R-5709 Page 1 of 5
STIP Project R-5709
External Scoping – Meeting Summary
NC 211 Improvements
from US 15-501 in Aberdeen to SR 1244 (West Palmer St)-SR 1311 (Mockingbird Hill Rd) in Raeford
Moore and Hoke Counties, WBS No. 50205.1.1
Draft Distribution: April 27, 2016 (For Your Review)
Date (Time): April 21, 2016 (8:15am)
Location: Structure Design Conference Room, NCDOT Century Center Building A
Meeting Participants: Meeting Participants (continued):
Andrew Williams, US Army Corps of Engineers Bill Elam, NCDOT – Hydraulics
Gary Jordan, US Fish and Wildlife Service Craig Lee, NCDOT – Hydraulics
Brian Wrenn, NC Division of Water Resources Harrison Marshall, NCDOT – Community Studies
*Travis Wilson, NC Wildlife Resources Commission Twiana Cooper, NCDOT – PDEA
*Pam Graham, Town of Aberdeen Tanga Sampson, NCDOT – Utilities
Matt Day, Triangle Area Rural Planning Organization Tyler Stanton, NCDOT – NES
Brandon Jones, NCDOT – Division 8 *Mark Staley, NCDOT – Roadside Environmental
John Olinger, NCDOT – Division 8 *Rick Lakata, NCDOT – STIP
Rob Hanson, NCDOT – Project Development and Clarence Bunting, NCDOT – Cong. Management
Environmental Analysis (PDEA) Jamille Robbins, NCDOT – Public Involvement
Jay McInnis, NCDOT – PDEA Kristina Miller, RK&K – Planning
Greg Blakeney, NCDOT – PDEA Brandon McInnis, RK&K – Roadway
Tony Houser, NCDOT – Roadway Design Brian Peeler, RK&K – Traffic
Brad Bass, NCDOT – Right of Way
Please Note: Meeting attendees that participated via telephone are indicated with an asterisk (*).
Copied on this Summary: Copied on this Summary (continued):
Cynthia Van Der Wiele, US Environmental
Protection Agency
Mary Pope Furr, NCDOT – Historic Architecture Bruce Payne, NCDOT – Roadway Design
Matt Wilkerson, NCDOT – Archaeology Darius Sturdivant, NCDOT – Division 8
Greg Smith, NCDOT – Air & Noise Tris Ford, RK&K – Planning
Emily Murray, NCDOT – Structures Frank Vick, RK&K – Planning
Jim Harris, NCDOT – Rail Division
Mike Stanley, NCDOT – STIP
John Pilipchuk, NCDOT – Geotechnical
Meeting Materials:
The following materials were discussed during the meeting: project information sheets and the
environmental features map. In addition, the meeting handout included photographs along NC 211
within the project limits.
STIP Project No. R-5709 Page 2 of 5
MEETING OBJECTIVES:
Orient attendees to the project. Define the project study area.
Understand the need for the project. Identify constraints and any red flags.
Discuss the purpose of the project. Discuss possible typical sections.
Discussion:
Greg Blakeney opened the meeting, participants introduced themselves, and Kristina Miller
reviewed the project information sheets and the environmental features map. A summary of
the discussion that followed the initial presentation is outlined on the following pages.
\[Please Note: Italic text in brackets within this summary indicates additional detail to
supplement the meeting discussion.\]
State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) & Prioritization
With right of way acquisition scheduled to begin in 2020, the proposed project should
not require reprioritization.
The draft of the new STIP will be available in December 2016/January 2017.
The project is state-funded.
Rick Lakata stated that he would like to update the STIP with revised cost estimates and
asked when the study team would have the updated information. He noted that the
current costs included in the STIP are very preliminary. Jay McInnis explained that they
would be available after preliminary design is completed, in about a year.
The Let date has the potential to be accelerated from FY 2025 to FY 2022..
Tony Houser suggested that construction could be broken into segments of the project
with some starting sooner than others, depending on when funding is available. The full
project would still be delivered by the expected date.
Potential Controversy & Other Concerns
In addition to anticipated concern from the public regarding property acquisition and
relocations, potential impacts to study area churches and cemeteries may generate
particular concern. In addition to widening NC 211, the potential grade separation of the
rail crossing near Reservation Road is anticipated to raise concern from members of the
Ashley Heights Baptist Church.
Matt Day noted that there would be public controversy if the Bethesda Cemetery was
impacted by the project.
The red-cockaded woodpecker (RCW) mitigation site at the Calloway Community Nature
Park was discussed.
Tyler Stanton of the NCDOT Natural Environment Section explained that
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Calloway is a RCW mitigation site for the Fayetteville Outer Loop.
Gary Jordan of the USFWS referred to this area as the “heart of RCW habitat.”
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STIP Project No. R-5709 Page 3 of 5
While no RCW clusters are known within the project study area, Mr. Jordan
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explained there are substantial RCW populations nearby. There could be
unknown populations in the study area.
RCW survey requirements extend a half-mile to each side of the study corridor.
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NCDOT-Natural Environment Section (NES) Biological Surveys Group and/or their
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consultant will be conducting the RCW surveys. Similarly, surveys for other
federally-protected species will also be conducted.
Brian Wrenn noted the Division of Water Resources is concerned with sediment and
erosion impacts that could result from the project, particularly due to the number of
first-order streams in the study area. These are headwaters and are sensitive to storm
water flows. Mr. Wrenn referred to his written response to the scoping request (via an
April 18, 2016 Memo to NCDOT) and requested that alternatives include designs that
allow for treatment of storm water runoff through best management practices that
reduce flows as much as possible. \[Mr. Wrenn’s Memo includes a list of 26 general
project comments relative to avoidance/minimization of stream and wetland impacts.\]
Other Community Features
Meeting participants asked about the track shown in the environmental features map at
Fulford McMillian Road. Pam Graham noted that it was an active horse arena.
Potential Typical Sections & Other Design Considerations
Anticipated typical section details discussed at the meeting are outlined below.
NC 211 will be widened from the existing two travel lanes to four travel lanes
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with a median.
A 23-foot to 30-foot wide, raised grass-median with use of a curb and gutter
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section is anticipated through Aberdeen and Moore County where more
residential and commercial development is located close to the existing
roadway.
A 46-foot wide, depressed grass-median shoulder section is anticipated from the
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Moore/Hoke County line to the eastern project limit.
A bicycle lane along the outside travel lanes (for both directions of the proposed
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roadway) is anticipated with the curb and gutter section.
Superstreet concepts and access management will be considered along the project (e.g.,
use of right-in/right-out and consolidation of access points where access is also available
along another roadway or a second access point is located along NC 211, like where a
parcel may include a U-shaped driveway).
The median width would not be impacted by the superstreet concept. Superstreet
design features can be used with both typical sections (noted previously).
The potential for partial control-of-access will be considered (with the 46-foot median
section) for the project to reduce the potential for conflict points (enhancing safety).
STIP Project No. R-5709 Page 4 of 5
The two at-grade rail crossings were discussed. The existing exposure index warrants
consideration of grade-separating both crossings. \[Details regarding the grade
separation guidelines, bridge requirements, and the need for coordination with the
Aberdeen & Rockfish Railroad are summarized in an April 18, 2016 e-mail from Jim
Harris with the NCDOT-Rail Division.\]
Revisions to the Study Area Boundary
Near Bethesda Cemetery, the study area will expand slightly to the north so that the
study team may evaluate the potential for grade-separating NC 211 and the railroad.
The study area shown at the meeting provided room for consideration of a potential
grade-separation in the Ashley Heights area.
In the Ashley Heights area (at SR 1228 (Reservation Road) intersection with NC 211):
The study area boundary will be expanded so that the study team may evaluate
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the potential to split Reservation Road on each side of NC 211.
Along the north side of NC 211, potential realignment of Reservation Road may
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include it intersecting with NC 211 west of the railroad while along the south
side of NC 211, the potential realignment of Reservation Road may include it
intersecting with NC 211 east of the railroad.
This concept would eliminate Reservation Road’s current at-grade rail crossing.
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Input/Questions from the Town of Aberdeen
Bicycle Lanes – Ms. Graham asked if dedicated bicycle lanes were anticipated. Bicycle
lanes along the outside travel lanes (both directions) are anticipated to be part of the
improvements within Aberdeen with the curb and gutter section. Ms. Graham noted
that the Town would be in support of having the bicycle lanes.
Sidewalks – Ms. Graham noted that the Town of Aberdeen is interested in sidewalk
participation for the project \[e.g., cost-sharing and maintenance responsibilities\]. Ms.
Graham noted that while the Town is typically most happy with sidewalks along both
sides of new roadways, they understand that there could be constraints that result in
the need to only have them along one side.
Right of Way – Ms. Graham asked about the proposed right of way width and amount of
anticipated acquisition. The proposed right of way width and area of acquisition will be
determined in later stages of the planning process when we have developed preliminary
design.
Public Involvement – Ms. Graham noted that the Town would like to request that public
meetings for the project include a meeting location in Aberdeen and one in Hoke
County/Raeford rather than use of a single location near the middle of the project.
Jamille Robbins noted that NCDOT would be looking at public meeting locations near
each end of the project and that small group meetings would be a way to help enhance
community outreach.
STIP Project No. R-5709 Page 5 of 5
She believes that will help facilitate more public participation. She noted that
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there was an underserved population located south of NC 211 in Aberdeen.
Ms. Graham said that she will contact the Moore County Home Builders Facility
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(located off of NC 211 near the project) to ask if they would allow use of their
facility for public meetings. If they agree, she will provide NCDOT with the
contact information.
She believes they have capacity for about 100 people.
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Merger Process & Permits
Andrew Williams stated the project would need to proceed via the Merger Process but
that he would anticipate use of combined concurrence point meetings and that the
project could screen out of the Merger Process later in the planning process depending
on the results of the natural and cultural resource surveys.
Combined concurrence points (CP) may include CP 1 & 2. CP 2A may not be needed if
there are no proposed bridges or major culverts; however, other design refinements
may be discussed at the CP 2A meeting.
Mr. Williams noted that the project may be able to utilize a nationwide permit, an
individual permit, or General Permit (GP) 31.
GP 31 is only available for best-fit widening projects. For projects that follow the Merger
Process, they may have a maximum of 500 linear feet of stream channel impact and one
acre of wetland impact per crossing. Also, use of GP 31 depends on it being renewed as
a permit option, as it is about to expire.
\[Cynthia Van Der Wiele (USEPA) was unable to attend the meeting but noted via an
April 19, 2016 e-mail that she was very familiar with this stretch of NC 211 and she
recommended that the project follow the Merger Process due to the proposed widening
of NC 211, the number of streams/wetlands in the area and potential RCW concerns.\]
Action Items
The study area will be expanded at the two rail crossings, as detailed on page 4.
Ms. Graham will contact a representative of the Moore County Home Builders Facility to
ask if they would allow use of their facility for public meetings. If they agree, she will
provide NCDOT with the contact information.
Schedule
Public Meeting (Summer 2016)
State EA (Nov 2017)
State FONSI (May 2019)
Right of Way (SFY 2020)
Let (SFY 2025)