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Home My WebLink AboutR-3430 Merger Screening Meeting PacketDRMP, INC. PRINCIPALS Wayne D. Chalifoux Donaldson K. Barton, Jr. Glenn J. Lusink Jon S. Meadows Mark D. Prochak Mark E. Puckett Lawrence L Smith, Jr. OO D R M■ 4235 South Stream Boulevard, Suite 150, Charlotte, North Carolina 28217 Phone:704.332.2289 � Fax:704.332.2294 R-3430 Merger Screening Meeting Widen to Multi-lanes SR 1001(Malcolm Blvd / Connelly Springs Road) from US 70 in Rutherford College to SR 1933 (Southwest Blvd) in Lenoir in Burke and Caldwell Counties April 15, 2019 @ 10:30 AM OFFICES Atlanta, Georgia Boca Raton, Florida Cary, North Carolina Charbtte, North Carolina Chipley, Florida Fort Myers, Florida Gainesville, Florida Jacksonville, Florida Lakeland, Florida Melbourne, Florida Mooresville, North Carolina Orlando, Florida Panama City, Florida Pensacola, Florida Tallahassee, Florida Tampa, Florida AGENDA 1) Introductions � 2) Project History/Overview 3) Project Overview 4) Schedule 5) Open Discussion 1.833.811.3767 www.DRMP.com PROJECT DATA SHEET STIP No. R-3430 Counties: Burke & Caldwell Federal- Aid No. N/A WBS No.: 34544.1.1 NCDOT Division(s): 11 & 13 Mer er Screenin Meetin Date: April 15, 2019 PROJECT DESCRIPTION: • Widen SR 1001 (Malcolm Blvd.)/ Connelly Springs Rd.) to multi-lanes, from US 70 in Burke County to SR 1933 (Southwest Blvd.) in Lenoir, Caldwell County, for a total project length of 10.0 miles. • General Project Need: Improve traffic flow and safety in the project area. • MPO/ RPO: Greater Hickory MPO • NEPA/ 404 Merger Candidate: To Be Determined • Feasibility Study Completed: Yes — February 14, 1996 DESIGN CRITERIA: Functional Classification: Minor Arterial Strategic Highway Corridor: N/A CTP/ Thoroughfare Plan Designation (Facility Type): Boulevard, Needing Improvement Horizontal Completion Malcolm Boulevard 2025 Year (Long Range Transportation Plan): Connelly Springs Road 2035 Typical Section in Compliance with Conformity Determination: Yes Air Quality Status: Maintenance — PM2.5 Existing: None Type of Access Control: Proposed: None Existing: Two-lane, undivided Roadway Typical Section: Three-lane, (C&G and shoulder Proposed: sections Existing: Varies: 60 to 80 ft (primarily 60 ft) Right-of-Way: Proposed: Varies: 70 to 90 ft Existing: 35 to 45 mph Posted Speed: Proposed: 35 to 50 mph 1 Bridge — Bridge #110010 over Structure Inventory (Bridges, RCBC, Walls, etc.) the Catawba River (Rhodhiss Lake) Other STIP Pro'ects in the Area STIP Project Description No. Right-of-Way Construction Scheduled to Scheduled to Be in Be in U-6033 US 64 (NC 18) and SR 1142 (Callico Road) - 2019 2020 Intersection Im rovements US 321 Alt. - From SR 1109 (Pinewood U-6034 Road) to SR 1106 (Duke Street) - Upgrade FY 2020 FY 2022 Roadway SR 1109 (Pinewood Road) - From US 321 to U-6036 SR 1931 (Bert Huffman Road) - Upgrade FY 2020 FY 2022 Roadwa Source: North Carolina Department of Transportation, State Transportation Improvement Program (2018- 2027 STIP - January 2019) TRAFFIC DATA (AADT): Year Traffic % % % Design TTST Dual DHV Standards Current Year 2018 Varies 9,800 to 14,600 1 4 9 Design Year 2045 Varies 11,800 to 17,000 1 4 g AASHTO COST ESTIMATES: Construction Ri ht-of-Wa Utilities Total Cost STIP Estimate $84,500,000 $38,000,000 $6,000,000 $128,500,000 Current Estimate -- -- -- -- PROJECT SCHEDULE: T e of Document Dates: Environmental Document (s): TBD October 2019 Right-of-Way Authorization Date: -- 2021 Let Date: -- 2022 INITIAL SCOPING COMMENTS: See attached Internal Scoping Meeting minutes. Preliminar Study Area Resources Invento Table . �.. .. . . � . General Project Information Lenc�th of Pro�ect a roximate in miles 10.0 Miles Crossing or Intersectin Roadwa s# 4— Crossin / 66 - Intersectin Railroad Crossin s None Cultural Resources 2— Determined Eligible (Arthur T. Abernathy NRHP (and Eligible Sites, Districts, other House, Elizabeth Bush House) Properties) (#) 1— Determined Eligible, Gone 1 — SHPO Stud List Human Environment Communit Resources # 8— Churches/ 2— Fire Stations/ 2— Town Halls Public Parks/ Section 4(f) Properties (#) 3— Rutherford College Municipal Park, Castle Brid e Boatin Access and Baton Ruritan Park Greenways, Game Lands, Land and Water Conservation Fund Properties, Bicycle Routes, None etc. # Residential Pro erties # Potentiall Affected TBD Business Pro erties # Potentiall Affected TBD High % Special Populations (Low-Income, Minority) Low-Income & Minority Natural Environment 2— Catwaba River/ Lake Rhodihiss. UT to Streams (# of Stream Crossings) Gunpowder Creek. Other UTs in Study Area but do not uali as crossin s. 10 streams total. Flood lain Crossin s 2 Wetlands Est. Acres 8 Total/ 0.44 acres. Im acts Unlikel Ponds (Est. Acres Connected to Jurisdictional None Waters Critical Water Su I Watersheds 1 Ri arian Buffer Rules A I Yes Outstandin / Hi h Qualit Resource Waters None 303 d Listed Streams None The USFWS List eh Following Protected Species: Both Counties — Bog Turtle, Northern Long-Eared Bat, Dwarf-Flowered Heartleaf (9 Populations in Study Area), Heller's Blazing Star Identified Critical Habitat/ESA Spp. (# Known) Burke Countv — Mountain Golden Heather, Small Whorled Pogonia, Spreading Avens, White Irisette, Rock Gnome Lichen Caldwell Countv — Carolina Northern Flying Squirrel, Virginia Big-Eared Bat, Spruce-Fir Moss S ider, Roan Mountain Bluet Physical Environment Hazardous Materials # Sus ected/ Known Sites 13 USTs/ 1 Hazardous Site Utilities TBD Active A riculture Volunta A ricultural District NO VADs Present FEMA Bu out Pro erties None Antici ated NOTES: This table is intended to be used in conjunction with the Environmental Features Map DRMP, INC. PRINCIPALS Wayne D. Chalifoux Donaldson K. Barton, Jr. Glenn J. Lusink Jon S. Meadows Mark D. Prochak Mark E. Puckett Lawrence L. Smith, Jr. OFFICES Boca Raton, Florida Charlotte, North Carolina Chipley, Florida Fort Myers, Florida Gainesville, Florida Jacksonville, Florida Lakeland, Florida Melbourne, Florida Orlantlo, Florida Panama City, Florida Pensacola, Florida Raleigh, North Carolina Tallahassee, Florida Tampa, Florida �y ' ■ �I � 1 Memorandum 5950 Fairview Road, Suite 320, Charlotte, North Carolina 28210 Phone:704.332.2289 � Fax:704.332.2294 DRMP Job #: 16-0264.006 Date: To: Internal Scoping Meeting Participants From: Carl Gibilaro August 23, 2018 Subject: Internal Scoping Meeting Summary for the proposed widening of SR 1001 (Malcolm Blvd / Connelly Springs Rd) to multi-lanes from US 70 in Burke County to Southwest Blvd in Lenoir, Caldwell County, North Carolina. WBS 34544.1.1, STIP No. R-3430 An Internal Scoping Meeting for the subject project was held on August 23, 2018, at 8:00 am in the Structure Design Conference Room located in the Century Center. The following people were in attendance: Theresa Ellerby Roger Garrett Michael Bright Donald Hampton William Akabi-Davis Tatia L. White Carla Dagnino Pam Cook David Stutts Pat Tuttle John Jamison Craig Lee Harrison Marshall Shawn Blanchard Carl Gibilaro Chandler Hagen Via Skype Meeting: Beverly Robinson Ramie Shaw Trent Beaver Kevin Moore Nathan Moneyham Brendan Merithew Randy McKinney Steve Cannon Chris Blanton Mike Reese Hanna Cockburn Brian Murphy Averi Ritchie Brian Horton Project Delivery Team WZTC (Work Zone Traffic Control) Utilities Utilities Roadway Roadway EAU (Environmental Analysis) TPD (Planning) SMU (Structures) L&S (Location & Survey) EPU (Environmental Policy) Hydraulics PICSViz DRMP DRMP DRMP Div. 7-10 — Project Manager Div. 11 — Project Manager Div. 11 — Construction Engineer Div. 11-14 — Project Manager Div. 13 - Resident Engineer Div. 13 — Project Team Lead Div. 13 — Construction Engineer Div. 13 — Project Dev. Engineer Div. 13 — Transportation/Logo Congestion Management Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Planning Division Greater Hickory MPO Greater Hickory MPO tellerby(�ncdot.qov rmgarrett .ncdot.gov mbriqht .ndcdot.qov dehampton(a�ndcdot.qov wakabidavis(a�ncdot.gov tlwhite(c�ncdot.qov cdaqnino(c�ncdot.qov prcook(a�ncdot.qov dstutts(a�ncdot.qov ptuttle(a�ncdot.qov johnlamison(a�ncdot.qov cjlee ncdot.gov hmarshall(c�ncdot.gov sblanchard(c�drmp.com cqibilaro .drmp.com cha�c en drmp.com brobinson(a�ncdot.qov rashaw(a�ncdot.qov tbeaver(a�ncdot.qov kmoore ncdot.gov nsmoneyham ncdot.gov bwmerithew(a�ncdot.gov mckinney�a ncdot.gov slcannon(a�ncdot.gov cblanton(a�ncdot.gov mikereese(r�ncdot.qov jcockburn(a�ncdot.qov bqmurphy(a�ncdot.qov averi. ritch ie(cr�.wpcoq.orq brian.horton(a�wpcoq.orq The purpose of this internal scoping meeting for R-3430 was to receive input and identify issues of concern that should be investigated as part of the environmental planning activities. The meeting began with introductions and a project overview. A slide presentation provided a review of the 1.833.811.3767 www.DRMP.com �y ' ■ � 1 August 29, 2018 Page 2 of 6 information included in the project data sheets which are attached to these minutes. It was noted during the presentation that the project limits as described, are consistent with the Draft STIP which is pending future approval. The pertinent information relayed to the project team by each group is provided below: Greater Hickory MPO Requested bicycle and pedestrian facilities be included along project segments in the Town of Rutherford College and Lenoir. The type of facility should depend on the location. MTP amendments can be proposed at any time; the process takes three months once submitted to the Technical Coordinating Committee (TCC) and the Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC), allowing time for comments. The new STIP was recently adopted. Town of Rutherford College is under the impression that the only study underway between US 70 and the Catawba River is a Feasibility Study being prepared by NCDOT. The Town is concerned about widening Malcolm Blvd to four lanes based on building impacts. They would prefer a two-lane, undivided or new alignment that takes the community in to consideration. Division 11 • No comments Division 13 • Coordinate with Div. 13 Project Development Engineer, Steve Cannon, to set up any meetings with Town of Rutherford College. • Can the project limits be revised to begin at Lovelady Road instead of US 70? • Keeping the bridge open during construction is important • Noted the potential use of barges Noise and Air • The following comment was submitted by the Noise and Air Group prior to the meeting. If Minimum Criteria Determination Checklist (MCDC) is prepared, traffic noise analysis will not be required. If a MCDC or Categorical Exclusion is prepared, an air quality report will not be required. Public Involvement, Communitv Studies & Visualization (PICSViz) • Potential for land use "do-over." • There is the potential for wide paved shoulders or shared-use lanes near the Town of Rutherford College or a path system north of the Town for bicycle and pedestrian use. • Terminating at Lovelady Road (SR 1546) may be a viable option to a potential Rutherford College Bypass. • Recommended outreach to find out what the Town of Rutherford College would like to see happen as part of this project. • The project spans two counties so there may need to be one meeting for each county, but they could possibly be combined. The north, river and south ends of the corridor have the concentration of residential communities. Previous public outreach in the area has indicated handouts and notices to be bilingual in communication. No decision at this time as to if an interpreter will be needed. Historic Architecture • Representative not present o�RnnP Archaeoloqv • Representative not present Natural Environment August 29, 2018 Page 3 of 6 • Noted although the presentation mentioned only the two stream crossings there are ten (10) streams total in the study area and all the streams will need to be considered for potential project impacts. Email provided to the study team prior to the Internal Scoping Meeting determined that while there are ten (10) streams total, only two are likely to be considered crossings. • There are nine dwarf-flowered heartleaf populations in the study area, five in Burke County and four in Caldwell County, Draft NRTR has an unresolved Biological Conclusion and will be completed in August. The decision to have a formal or informal review depends on if the project touches or is in proximity of the plant population, respectively. The project design is needed before submitting to USFWS. • DOT will initiate conversations with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to find out what materials are necessary for submission for the FERC Conveyance Permit and incorporate the process into the project schedule. The FERC Conveyance Permit will be requested by the Natural Environmental Unit following receipt of the projects 404 Permit. • FERC documentation has begun as part of bridge coordination and application of the FERC Conveyance Permit for the upcoming bridge rehabilitation project. This application included a Boat Safety Plan and may be required for this project. It was suggested to the group that the Project Team reach out to Chris Medlin, Division 13 Bridge Program Manager. Environmental Policv Unit Wait for receipt of the traffic forecast to update Purpose and Need (P&N), but if the predicted volumes don't support a widening recommendation, the P&N will need to be revisited. There is potential this project will qualify for Merger and the next step should be to begin merger screening. Theresa Ellerby agreed and noted this is typically how PMU proceeds. Natural Environment would like to wait until limits are finalized before moving forward. DRMP also recommended waiting until after the discussion with the Town of Rutherford College. Transportation Planning Division • Future traffic is expected to be lower as there is no substantial growth in the area TPB/TIP (Pam Cook of TPD attended, see note above) • Representative not present Roadwav • No Comment Bicvcle and Pedestrian • Representative left meeting early. DRMP will circle back with them. Hydraulics • Existing piers will impact the placement of the bridge. Will likely need to address them. Structure Desiqn • Need to review and coordinate bridge permitting with FERC. �y ' ■ � 1 August 29, 2018 Page 4 of 6 • It will need to be determined how the bridge will be replaced and if detours will be necessary. The detour length is extensive and was a point of contention at recent public meetings. Onsite maintenance is recommended. • Project 41665.5D is a maintenance project which will repair the super-structure of the existing bridge over the Catawba River. This project will Let in September 2018. • Public priority is to keep bridge open during construction until the replacement bridge is ready to open. There is no work bridge permitted for the project and barge access is unlikely. • Depending on outcome of the traffic forecasts, the bridge could be modified to a two-lane bridge with bicycle and pedestrian facilities. • Previous scoping discussions included considerations of building a new structure parallel to the existing bridge. • If new parallel bridge is constructed, it and the replacement bridge should be constructed under the same contract. This would minimize impacts within the river. • Staged construction plans for the bridges will be required for the FERC permit. Will likely need a temporary work bridge and barges for bridge construction work. An easement with a property owner on the south side of the river was previously obtained to complete the maintenance project with the use of barges. • If traffic volumes are low enough, a bridge with only two lanes and bicycle and pedestrian accommodations may be acceptable. If four lanes are required, a single structure is preferred because it would require less piers in the water. The Division agrees with the preference for a single structure. Conqestion Manaqement • There are some sections along the project corridor that are three-lane and may not need to be widened. • It was suggested that the Project Team pursue locations where access management can be implemented along the project corridor. • Three-lane sections through rural areas are not preferred. Traffic Safetv If traffic volumes do not carry the need for the project the safety data will need to be examined to see if it will support a safety purpose. The safety data along this section has not been analyzed but the work is scheduled. If it is determined that safety is to be pursued as a purpose and need of the project, the Project Team should involve Traffic Safety in those discussions early on. Highway Safety noted a concentration high accident totals near the north end of the project was identified on the 2018 Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) listing. Roadside Environmental • No Comment Geoenvironmental • None present Geotechnical • Noted there is a rock formation approximately 20-30 feet high along Cajah Mountain Rd that will require additional expenses when widening. Utilities • Transmission towers and pump stations should be avoided if possible. �y ' ■ � 1 August 29, 2018 Page 5 of 6 • There is both a gas and a telephone line attached to the bridge, but they were in the process of being relocated during a current project. It is unclear if it was a permanent or temporary relocation. • Wider right of way (ROW) widths and the increase in elevation will make utility relocations difficult. Location and Survevs Scoped north of Catawba River into Lenoir. Division 13 surveyed for existing ROW impacts to FERC areas and a plat for a bridge rehabilitation project, but the bridge has not been surveyed. An updated plat is needed for Duke Energy, once the design is approved Duke Energy will submit to Federal and ROW impacts will determine the type of permit needed. Designs will need to be approved prior to surveying for FERC limits. Riqht of Wav • Representative not present OPEN DISCUSSION The extension of the southern project limits to US 70 in Burke County. o In the current STIP, R-3430's southern terminus is the Catawba River. The new project limits are anticipated to be included in the next Draft STIP. Although there is no funding for the extension, the project study area includes the new limits. o Division 13 noted the current Feasibility Study proposes the extension to US 70 but there is currently no approved project south of Catawba River. The Town of Rutherford College has expressed concerns to widening the roadway to four lanes. o Greater Hickory MPO requested conversations with the Town of Rutherford College be handled carefully and requested alternative designs be offered in consideration of the community context. Steve Cannon is the Division 13 contact to coordinate the meeting. o DRMP explained the new project limits were an outcome of the kick-off ineeting in March. Because of the need to replace the bridge over the Catawba River, it was decided to investigate if it can be included with R-3430. Determination was made to include the bridge with R-3430 but because of logical termini requirements, the limits were extended southward to US 70. o A"no-build" alternative is one option for the section south of Catawba River. o Another option is to widen the section of roadway south of the bridge but cease the widening before downtown. One recommendation was the intersection of Lovelady Road (SR 1546), which was recently widened to three-lanes and is also the location of the historical feature, the Abernathy House. o It is expected that the new traffic forecasts will show much lower numbers than previous predictions which could change the recommendations of this project, by reducing the number of new lanes added or using access management instead of widening to address traffic patterns. o Additional meetings and complete traffic forecasting will be necessary before confirming the new southern project limit. ACTION ITEMS 1. DRMP will follow-up with Derrick Lewis to determine the status of the Feasibility Study for Horizon Year 2025. (completed 8/27) 2. DRMP (Carl) and Division 13 (Steve Cannon) will coordinate a meeting with the Town of Rutherford College. 3. Brendan Merithew (Division 13) will contact Chris Medlin, Division Bridge Program Manager for more information on bridge rehabilitation. �y ' ■ � 1 August 29, 2018 Page 6 of 6 4. DRMP will load project documents on to ETRACS and request Historic Architecture and Archaeology screenings. (completed 8/23) 5. Draft NRTR complete, Biological Conclusion is still unresolved at this time. (completed 8/22)