HomeMy WebLinkAboutU-5706ESMsummary.pdfMEETING SUMMARY
External Scoping Meeting
TIP No. U-5706
Eastern Rockingham Corridor Study, Richmond County, NC
Date .....................June 16, 2016 �! '
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Time .................... 8:30 AM :
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Location ..............Century CenterA, tructure Design Conference Room
Purpose ..............Introduce the projec ��to NCDOT's external partners
Attendees:
Name Organization Email Address
Gary Jordan USFWS garyJordan@fws.gov
Brian Wrenn NCDWR brian.wrenn@ncdenr.gov
Jay Mclnnis NCDOT — PDEA jmcinnis@ncdot.gov
Joseph Miller NCDOT — PDEA josephmiller@ncdot.gov
Drew Joyner NCDOT — HES djoyner@ncdot.gov
Deanna Riffey NCDOT — NES driffey@ncdot.gov
Liamcy Hogan NCDOT — PDEA - TEA Ihogan-rivera@ncdot.gov
Braden Walker NCDOT — PDEA - TEA bmwalker1 @ncdot.gov
Darren Scott NCDOT — Division 8 dscott@ncdot.gov
Tony Houser NCDOT — Roadway Design thouser@ncdot.gov
Jeffrey Teague NCDOT — Roadway Design jlteague@ncdot.gov
Emily Murray NCDOT — Structures Management emurray@ncdot.gov
David Bissette NCDOT — WZTC dwbissette1 @ncdot.gov
Nick Lineberger NCDOT — Congestion Management nclineberger@ncdot.gov
Kyle Pleasant NCDOT — Utilities kpleasant@ncdot.gov
Cheryl Collins NCDOT — Rail Division cjcollins@ncdot.gov
Kristin Maseman Lochner kmaseman@hwlochner.com
David Martin Lochner dmartin@hwlochner.com
Kenny Smith Lochner ksmith@hwlochner.com
Joining Via Conference Call:
Name Organization Email Address
Andy Williams USACE andrew.e.williams2@usace.army.mil
Travis Wilson NCWRC travis.wilson@ncwildlife.org
Rick Lakata NCDOT — STIP rjlakata@ncdot.gov
Summary of Discussions
Lochner made the following items available for the meeting:
1. Meeting Agenda
2. Meeting Sign-In Sheet
3. Project Data Sheet including Vicinity Map and Environmental Features Map (attached)
4. Handout of the meeting's PowerPoint presentation (attached)
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MEETING SUMMARY
External Scoping Meeting
TIP No. U-5706
Eastern Rockingham Corridor Study, Richmond County, NC
Following opening remarks by Joseph Miller and introductions by attendees, Kristin Maseman provided
an overview of the project and elaborated on certain items using the PowerPoint presentation. Key points
of the meeting are:
1. Candidate Proiect for NEPA/404 Merqer Process — Jay Mclnnis noted that NCDOT PDEA
believes this project should progress under the Merger guidelines. Andy Williams and Gary
Jordan agreed.
2. Purpose and Need — Initial thoughts are that the project is needed to provide direct connectivity
between US 74 Business and US 1 along the eastern side of the study area, thereby improving
north-south mobility between northeastern and southeastern Rockingham. It was also noted that
a new connector would divert traffic from the segment of Long Drive between US 74 Business
and US 1. This diversion of traffic would be desirable due to the substantial existing traffic
congestion on Long Drive and the high crash rate on that segment. It was also noted that any
widening of Long Drive will likely have considerable residential property impacts, particularly
through a neighborhood with a high percentage of minority population residents.
Jay Mclnnis cautioned that we are in the early stages of the study and the project's purpose and
need is still being evaluated.
The project team explained that the original southern project limit has been shifted from Mill Road
to US 74 Business because the segment from Mill Road to US 74 Business would not address
the project needs. By excluding this segment from the project, the project would not need to
cross the CSX rail line and South Prong Falling Creek.
Andy Williams stated that USACE typically prefers widening an existing road rather than
constructing a new location route if the widening alternative meets the project purpose and is
otherwise feasible.
Andy Williams questioned how a new location alternative would address the congestion and
safety issues on Long Drive. He also noted that potential environmental justice issues wouldn't
preclude widening of Long Drive, but may require mitigation.
Brian Wrenn asked if truck restrictions could be placed on Long Drive. It was explained trucks
need to access a Perdue Plant located on Long Drive.
Andy Williams also noted that since the project's purpose and need isn't finalized, then
construction of improvements on Wiregrass Road shouldn't automatically be eliminated as an
alternative.
Drew Joyner mentioned that the proposed route for US 1 Bypass is in the vicinity of the proposed
project. He suggested the purpose and need documentation for the proposed project include a
discussion of why the purpose and need of the two projects do not overlap.
3. Water Qualitv — Brian Wrenn noted the eastern half of Falling Creek is a WS-III water supply
critical area and any construction in that segment of the watershed will require hazardous spill
catch basins. He also expressed concern about the potential for secondary and cumutative
impacts associated with a new location alternative. Mr. Wrenn said a higher level of secondary
and cumulative impacts analysis may be needed for the project.
4. Control of Access — Limited control of access is proposed for portions of the project on new
location. Tony Houser noted that limited control of access might require construction of service
roads to provide access to several large parcels.
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MEETING SUMMARY
External Scoping Meeting
TIP No. U-5706
Eastern Rockingham Corridor Study, Richmond County, NC
5. Proiect Schedule
■ Concurrence Point 1(Purpose and Need) — November 2016
■ Public Meeting — Early 2017
■ Concurrence Point 2(Alternatives Carried Forward) — April 2017
■ State Environmental Assessment — September 2018
■ State FONSI — April 2020
■ Right-of-way Acquisition — 2020
■ Project Let - 2021
Action Items
1. Lochner will prepare and distribute a Meeting Summary.
2. Lochner will distribute a pdf of the meeting PowerPoint along with the Meeting Summary.
(Meeting Summary Prepared By: Kenny Smith, 06/29/2016 and Updated 07/22/2016)
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