PROJECT COMMITMENTS. Research Parkway -- Winston-Salem. From Stadium Drive to Third Street. Forsyth County. WBS Element TIP Project U-4918

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3 PROJECT COMMITMENTS Research Parkway -- Winston-Salem From Stadium Drive to Third Street Forsyth County WBS Element TIP Project U-4918 In addition to State and local permit conditions to which Piedmont Triad Research Park (PTRP) will be required to adhere, the following special commitments have been agreed to by PTRP and NCDOT: PTRP & NCDOT Congestion Management Unit PTRP or its successor will prepare an updated traffic forecast and capacity analysis reflecting the most current Design Traffic prepared by NCDOT for TIP Project U-2925 (Salem Creek Connector) and any adjacent projects. The updated traffic studies will be prepared during or prior to Final Roadway Design and prior to commencing construction. The traffic analysis will be in a format and provide information acceptable to NCDOT PDEA Branch, Congestion Management Branch and Roadway Design Unit. PRTP & NCDOT Project Development and Environmental Analysis Historic Architecture Section PTRP will fulfill the conditions of the MOA between PTRP, FHWA and the N.C. State Historic Preservation Office (HPO). Further coordination between these parties and NCDOT s Human Environment Unit will be necessary to fulfill Stipulations I, II, and IV. Stipulation III (Additional Archaeological Investigations) has been completed and approved by HPO. PTRP, NCDOT Division 9, and NCDOT Roadway Design PTRP will provide final design plans to the District 2 Engineer in Division 9 and Roadway Design staff for their review prior to construction. Research Parkway Page 1 of 1 Project U-4918 October 2009

4 Type of Action SUMMARY Forsyth County, North Carolina Federal Aid Project No. TI-0918(45) TIP Project No. U-4918 WBS No This is a Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) (EA). Description of Action The proposed project involves the construction of a new, four-lane roadway from Stadium Drive to Third Street partially within a former railroad corridor southeast of downtown Winston-Salem. The total project length is 0.7 miles, with a southern terminus tying to existing Stadium Drive and connecting to the anticipated location of the Salem Creek Connector. The northern terminus of the project would tie to Linden Street at Third Street. The new roadway, designated Research Parkway (NCDOT TIP U-4918), would form an important connection within the existing street grid, provide a new roadway undercrossing of Interstate 40 Business (I-40B), and serve as a traffic reliever and/or alternate route for existing roadways in the surrounding area. A separate but related project will construct stormwater management facilities in the vicinity that will provide stormwater management for Research Parkway and the contributing watershed north of I-40B. The southern terminus of Research Parkway at Stadium Drive would be an extension of the proposed Salem Creek Connector. The Salem Creek Connector (NCDOT TIP project U-2925, sections A and B) would create a new roadway to tie Stadium Drive to a new interchange at US 52. Summary of Purpose and Need The purpose of the project is to improve connectivity and access to property between Stadium Drive and Third Street near the downtown Winston-Salem CBD. The existing north-south surface roadways in the Study Area do not provide continuity between areas north of Third Street and the Stadium Drive/City Yard area, which greatly limits the traffic circulation, connectivity and functionality of land uses proposed in the vicinity. With I-40B and railroad lines bisecting the Study Area, a new north-south roadway with a crossing of I-40B is necessary to provide a critical link in the street grid. Alternatives Considered All alternatives studied have a common grade-separated crossing of I-40B at the existing railroad underpass. This is the only feasible crossing of I-40B, as the rail lines have been moved and consolidated, creating room underneath the existing I-40B bridge. From Stadium Drive to I-40B, an alignment central to the Study Area is preferred in order to produce a perpendicular crossing of the NS rail line, avoid impacts to Bath Branch and connect at Stadium Drive opposite the anticipated northern terminus of the proposed Salem Creek Connector. North of I-40B, a central TIP U ES-1 - October 2009

5 alignment is preferred because western alignments conflict with active rail lines and/or impact a known National Register Historic Site (the Nissen Building). Two central alignments were given detailed consideration. Alternative 1 parallels the railroad corridor and connects to Third Street 75 feet east of the railroad bridge over Third Street. Alternative 2 bisects the Central District and ties to Third Street at the existing Linden Street intersection. Other alternatives were considered, including following existing rail corridors or making use of existing streets, but these were found to be less effective at meeting the purpose and need or were not feasible due to terrain and environmental impacts. A No-Build alternative would not address the core purpose and need of providing a transportation corridor through the Study Area that provides needed connectivity through an important part of downtown Winston-Salem. Recommended Alternative The Preferred Alternative avoids impacts to Bath Branch and active rail lines while maximizing connectivity by tying to existing Stadium Drive, potentially forming an extension of the anticipated Salem Creek Connector, and tying to Linden Street at its northern terminus. It utilizes a rail overpass that is currently under construction, while maintaining a sizable Central District development parcel between the railroad, 3rd Street, US 52 and I-40B. In addition, this alignment allows for an opportunity to improve water quality downstream of downtown by integrating new stormwater controls and by improving a portion of Bath Branch. The Site and its surroundings would benefit from this adaptive reuse approach whereas other sites outside of downtown would likely have resulted in a more typical consumptive development project. Summary of Environmental Effects Existing Conditions: The Study Area sits on the eastern edge of the Winston-Salem CBD adjacent to the interchange of Interstate 40 Business and US Highway 52, which is a major highway intersection in Winston-Salem. The current land use in the project vicinity is a mixture of active and former rail, commercial and industrial operations. The vast majority of the site has been considerably altered to accommodate past rail and other industrial uses. A stream (Bath Branch) forms from stormwater flows off of downtown and runs south through the Study Area and into Salem Creek. Salem Creek is listed as a 303(d) impaired stream due to fecal coliform and lack of biological integrity. Very few intact natural areas remain on-site due to its current and historical land uses. There is no potential habitat present for any Federally-listed protected species. The soils mapped on-site are all derivatives of urban land uses. Archaeological and historical investigations were conducted for the Central and South Districts. They identified a number of historic resources within the Area of Potential Effects (APE). Eligibility and Effects determinations have been made for these resources, and the C.M. Thomas coal trestle was the only resource to receive an Adverse Effect determination (Figure 4), resulting from the indirect effects from development expected to occur as a result of the Research Parkway construction. It is apparent that the coal trestle will have to be removed or demolished to accommodate the grading requirements of the proposed buildings and development within this portion of the Research Park. There is no use of the coal trestle site as a direct result of this project, so it was determined by FHWA that Section 4(f) did not apply. A Memorandum of Agreement between FHWA and HPO has been prepared to document the proposed mitigation strategy to be employed prior to construction. TIP U ES-2 - October 2009

6 Two potential archaeological resources may be present near the Research Parkway alignment, but neither is expected to be directly affected by the project (Robinson and Hartz 2008). Recent archaeological investigation has confirmed their absence within the footprint of Research Parkway (letter dated 7/10/2009). Stormwater controls will be implemented that meet or exceed the City s stormwater requirements. Much of the stormwater to be stored in the Central District s pond comes from off-site, which is originating on existing impervious surfaces that are not subject to stormwater controls. Also, by utilizing the Brownfields Program, soil or groundwater contamination that may be present on-site will be addressed; whereas, if the land were left in its present state this contamination would not likely be attended to in the near term. Research Parkway would help the Research Park serve as a bridge to link together the center of the city and residents who live east of downtown. The completed street network would improve the connection between nearby residential areas and employment centers. The majority of the surrounding neighborhoods are either minority or low-income populations, or both. PTRP has worked with the City to avoid any adverse impacts to minority or low-income populations, and the input PTRP received from various stakeholder groups has indicated that only positive effects are anticipated. In addition, by utilizing the Brownfields Program, the Research Park will help support cleaning up contaminated land that has been vacant or underutilized for many years. The Research Park will provide new job opportunities for existing community residents and for future graduates from nearby universities. PTRP is working with Winston-Salem State University, a historically-black public university, to incorporate their needs into the planning of the education-oriented South District, which is within 200 yards of their main campus. The project avoids displacing any residences, while only displacing a few active businesses who lease space from PTRP (PTRP owns all of the existing buildings within the Study Area). Additionally, the local neighborhoods in East Winston and the Goler/Depot Street area should see a net benefit as employment opportunities are created. Permits Required A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) has been negotiated to conclude the Section 106 consultation process; further coordination will be necessary to fulfill the specific stipulations in the MOA. Section 404/401 permits have already been issued for the stormwater improvements adjacent to the project. No encroachment into regulated floodplain is proposed for Research Parkway. Land quality permitting will be required. Other Highway & Non-Highway Actions The Piedmont Triad Research Park, which borders both sides of Research Parkway, is an ongoing non-highway project that will continually be developed over the next years. The Research Park encompasses a 185-acre area, which includes this project s 116-acre Study Area, and will involve many new buildings being constructed as well as the renovation/reuse of many historic structures in the proposed Tobacco Historic District north of the Study Area. Projects included in the TIP in the vicinity of Research Parkway include the aforementioned Salem Creek Connector (U-2925) and improvements to I-40B (U-2827B) and US 52 (U-2826). Salem Creek Connector is approximately one mile of mostly new alignment and would likely include removal of the existing US 52/Stadium Drive interchange. The I-40B TIP U ES-3 - October 2009

7 improvements include repaving the roadway, replacing bridges and improving entrance and exit ramps. The US 52 improvements include widening and upgrading the roadway and interchanges along 12 miles of US 52, including the segment of US 52 adjacent to the Research Parkway Study Area. Section A (2 bridge replacements over rail) construction is scheduled for FY Section B is 3.5 miles of roadway widening and upgrades from Stadium Drive, through the I- 40B interchange, to Akron Drive northeast of downtown. This project includes removal of the US 52 interchange ramps at Third Street and Fifth Street adjacent to the PTRP Central and North Districts; however, Maple Street (the road connecting the 2 ramps parallel to US 52) would remain. Coordination Local, state and federal agencies have been consulted about this project. Local officials, including staff of the City of Winston-Salem s stormwater, planning, engineering, transportation, and utilities departments have been involved in every step of the decision-making process regarding the Research Park. Government officials with the FHWA, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, NCDOT (including Division 9, PDEA, Roadway Design, Human Environment, etc.), DWQ, Division of Waste Management, Division of Land Resources, Wildlife Resources Commission, State Historic Preservation Office, Department of Commerce, and other agencies have reviewed various components of the project and their comments have been addressed. A public workshop describing the project was conducted on June 12, 2007 in downtown Winston-Salem. Attendance at this meeting was very small, with one member of the general public attending, six members of City staff and one member of County staff. PTRP had previously coordinated with local stakeholder groups and elected officials and thus the interest level was probably somewhat diminished due to previous communications and meetings. In addition, the Research Park has been well-covered by the local media for several years. The community has been very involved in planning the Research Park. A stakeholder group (the PTRP Community Advisory Committee) was established in 2002, which includes local religious, business, educational and community leaders. Contact Information Additional information concerning this project can be obtained by contacting the following: Clarence Coleman, P&E Director Chad Nolan, Director Federal Highway Administration Wake Forest University Health Sciences Preconstruction & Environment Office of Financial Administration 310 New Bern Avenue, Suite 410 External Agencies & Affairs for PTRP Raleigh, NC Medical Center Boulevard (919) Winston-Salem, NC (336) Gregory Thorpe, Ph.D., Manager North Carolina Dept. of Transportation Project Development and Environmental Analysis Branch Mail Service Center 1548 Raleigh, NC (919) TIP U ES-4 - October 2009

8 TABLE OF CONTENTS U Forsyth County, North Carolina 1.0 DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED ACTION PROJECT HISTORY & DESCRIPTION PROJECT STUDY AREA BOUNDARIES PTRP MASTER PLAN FUNDING & COST ESTIMATES PURPOSE AND NEED PURPOSE OF PROJECT NEED FOR PROJECT Land Use and System Linkage Economic Development Transportation and Access Need Other Highway Projects in the Area ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS NO-BUILD ALTERNATIVE RESEARCH PARKWAY ALTERNATIVE ALIGNMENTS PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE (ALTERNATIVE 2) PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS TRAFFIC PROJECTIONS AND CAPACITY ANALYSIS ROADWAY TYPICAL SECTION FUNCTIONAL CLASSIFICATION INDEPENDENT UTILITY AND LOGICAL TERMINI RIGHT-OF-WAY AND ACCESS CONTROL SPEED LIMIT DESIGN SPEED ANTICIPATED DESIGN EXCEPTIONS INTERSECTIONS/INTERCHANGES SERVICE ROADS RAILROAD CROSSINGS STRUCTURES BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN FACILITIES UTILITIES STORMWATER CONSTRUCTION PHASING PROBABLE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS & MITIGATIVE MEASURES LAND USE TOPOGRAPHY & FLOODPLAINS STREAMS & WETLANDS FLORA & FAUNA PROTECTED SPECIES GEOLOGY, GROUNDWATER & BROWNFIELDS SOILS PRIME OR UNIQUE AGRICULTURAL LANDS PUBLIC LANDS AND SCENIC, RECREATIONAL, AND STATE NATURAL AREAS TIP U i - October 2009

9 TABLE OF CONTENTS U Forsyth County, North Carolina 5.10 HISTORIC & CULTURAL RESOURCES AIR QUALITY NOISE UTILITIES COMMUNITY/SOCIAL EFFECTS (INCLUDING ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE) HAZARDOUS MATERIALS INDIRECT/CUMULATIVE EFFECTS REQUIRED PERMITS AGENCY COORDINATION AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT AGENCY COORDINATION PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT Public Informational Workshop Other Stakeholder Involvement REFERENCES CITED LIST OF TABLES Table 1 Preliminary Costs... 4 Table 2 Comparison of No-Build and Build Volumes and Level of Service Table 3 Research Parkway Lane Requirement Analysis Table 4 Proposed Structures Table 5 Federally Listed Species for Forsyth County LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1 General Study Area Location & Boundaries Figure PTRP Master Plan Figure PTRP Central District Master Plan Figure 4 Existing Conditions Figure 5 Existing and Future Average Daily Traffic Volumes Figure 6 Alternatives Figure 7 Existing Intersections and Levels of Service Figure 8 Design Year 2030 Proposed Intersections and Levels of Service Figure 9 Proposed Research Parkway Alignment Figure 10 Proposed Typical Sections Figure 11 FEMA FIRM Mapping (included within text, see p. 15) Appendix A Appendix B Appendix C Appendix D LIST OF APPENDICES Brief History of the Downtown Research Park Rail Improvements Categorical Exclusion Approval Letter from NCDOT Brownfields Correspondence, Application and Documentation 404/401 Permit Approvals TIP U ii - October 2009

10 TABLE OF CONTENTS U Forsyth County, North Carolina Appendix E Appendix F Agency Correspondence Table of State and Federal Regulations LIST OF ACRONYMS & TERMINOLOGY ACHP Advisory Council on Historic Preservation AMSL Above Mean Sea Level AQI Air Quality Index AST Aboveground Storage Tank CBD Central Business District, the downtown area in the immediate vicinity of the project City Yard City of Winston-Salem Maintenance Facility, south of Stadium Drive CWA Clean Water Act of 1972, as amended in 1977 CWMTF Clean Water Management Trust Fund, a state grant funding entity DWQ N.C. Division of Water Quality, a state regulatory agency that oversees 401 and state waters EA, a NEPA/SEPA planning document EAC Early Action Compact, a group of 11 counties and stakeholders in the Triad region East Winston predominantly African-American residential/commercial community east of US 52 and the Park EPA Environmental Protection Agency, a federal regulatory agency ESA Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency, a federal agency FHWA Federal Highway Administration, a federal agency under the U.S. Dept. of Transportation FSC Federal Species of Concern, a listing category under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 HDR HDR Engineering of the Carolinas, Inc., an engineering consulting firm HPO N.C. Historic Preservation Office, a state regulatory agency I-40B Interstate 40 Business, which bisects the Central and South Districts LRTP Winston-Salem Urban Area 2030 Long-Range Transportation Area Plan LUST Leaking Underground Storage Tank list, published by the N.C. Division of Waste Management MOA Memorandum of Agreement NCDOT North Carolina (N.C.) Department of Transportation, a state agency NCGS N.C. Geological Survey, a state agency NCNHP N.C. Natural Heritage Program, a state agency that coordinates protected species occurrences NEPA National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended NS Norfolk Southern Railroad Company OSA N.C. Office of State Archaeology, a state regulatory agency PAH Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, an organic pollutant, some of which are suspected carcinogens Research Park the North, Central, and South Districts of the 185-acre Piedmont Triad Research Park PTRP Piedmont Triad Research Park, a non-profit subsidiary of Wake Forest University Health Sciences SAFETEA-LU Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users SEPA North Carolina Environmental Policy Act of 1971, as amended Site the portions of the Central and Southern Districts that are the subject of this document (Sec. 1.2) Study Area the portions of the Central and Southern Districts that are the subject of this document (Sec. 1.2) TIP Transportation Improvement Program, a list of priority projects for the NCDOT Triad the region including Winston-Salem, Greensboro, High Point, and surrounding small towns USACE U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, a federal regulatory agency that oversees 404-regulated waters USDA U.S. Department of Agriculture, a federal agency USFWS U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, a federal agency that oversees protected species USGS U.S. Geological Survey, a federal agency UST Underground Storage Tank WFU Wake Forest University, a local academic institution WFUBMC WFU Baptist Medical Center, a local academic institution and integrated health care system WFUHS WFU Health Sciences, a subsidiary of WFUBMC, and the parent organization for PTRP WSSB Winston-Salem Southbound rail line TIP U iii - October 2009