Greenville, Pitt Co. N Rail Connector

Carolina Department of Transportation

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PROPOSED GREENVILLE, PITT COUNTY NORTHERN RAIL CONNECTOR

AND NORTHERN RAIL SIDING
TIP PROJECT NO. P-3309 AA-AB, GREENVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA
Issue No.1 CITIZENS INFORMATIONAL WORKSHOP July 2008

What Improvements Are Being Public Hearing: A Public Hearing will
Studied? The purpose of the two projects is to be held at the end of the project
The North Carolina Department of 1) provide a direct north-to-east planning process to provide citizens
Transportation (NCDOT) Rail Division connection for rail traffic in downtown an opportunity to comment on the
proposes to add a north-east railroad Greenville; and ,2) to relocate the project for the public record.
track connection (a wye) joining the existing CSXT switchiiig operation What's Been Done So Far?
CSX Transportation line with the from downtown Greenville, improving In May 2005, representatives from
Carolina Coastal Railway line near the movement of freight and traffic CSX Transportation, the City of
Beatty Street and Fourteenth Street in through the city` 'The project will Greenville Public Works Department,
downtown Greenville, North Carolina. improve safety for motorists and train and the North Carolina Department of
A related project involves the addition crews by reducing prolonged waiting Transportation Rail Division met to
of two yard tracks and a repair track periods and by eliminating difficult discuss the Rail Improvements Study
along approximately 4,400 feet of maneuvering conditions between for the CSXT/NS Interlocking in
North Carolina Railroad / CSX Arlington Boulevard and Howell downtown Greenville. The purpose
Transportation rail bed north of Street. and need for the project were defined
Greenville. The new tracks would at that time, and locations for the new
begin north of the NC 903 / NC 11 What Is The Study Process? wye and yard track were established.
juncture, just north of Greenville, and The proposed improvements are In February 2008, a public meeting
will extend to a point south of the being studied in accordance with the was held at which no major comments
Staton Mill Road crossing. A CSXT National Environmental Policy Act were received. In March 2008,
office building would also possibly be (NEPA) in order to determine the wetlands, streams, and endangered
relocated from 10th street in potential impacts of the new roadway species studies were conducted.
downtown Greenville to the project to the human and natural
site. environments. What Alternatives Are Being
Why Are Improvements Purpose and Need: The initial step is Considered?
Needed? to clearly define the purpose of and The addition of the new siding tracks
At issue is the movement of need for the proposed project. north of NC 903 is being considered
southbound CSXT rail traffic to points Environmental Assessment: The as a supplement to the new north-to-
results of the detailed studies are east connector. Together with the
east on the line, mainly to the PCT summarized in an environmental relocation of a CSXT office building,
Phosphate facility at Aurora. CSXT document. The document describes the project would improve rail and
breaks trains down and rebuilds them the potential impacts of each detailed automotive traffic in downtown
on sidings in downtown Greenville study alternative, ranging from Greenville and also greatly reduce
(one east and one west of the residential relocations to wetland and railroad operating and fuel costs. Due
mainline track) between Arlington stream impacts. to the surrounding development and
Boulevard and Howell Street. This Public Involvement: Public meetings the purpose-and-need, no detailed
often blocks the at-grade crossings at and small group meetings are held alternatives have been considered for
Fourteenth Street (SR 1703), Howell intermittently throughout the project the location of the new wye or yard
Street, Arlington Boulevard, and Pitt planning process to provide tracks.
Street (SR 1531). These switching information to local citizens and to Why Should I Attend The Public
operations often occur at peak travel provide the public an opportunity to Meeting?
times. express any concerns regarding the The study team is asking for your
proposed project. input regarding the rail improvement the Please plan attend Identification of Preferred Alternative. plans presented in this newsletter.
CITIZENS INFORMATIONAL The NCDOT will identify a Preferred
WORKSHOP on impacts on the Project team members will be present
Alternative based
Tuesday, August 26, 2008 human and natural environments and to answer questions and provide any
5:00 to 7:00 pm comments received from interested additional information you may need
Details on back a e citizens. about the project.