Chesterfield County Project Update

Transcription

1 Chesterfield County Project Update SOUTHEAST HIGH SPEED RAIL TIER II ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT RICHMOND, VA, TO RALEIGH, NC CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, VA OFFICIALS BRIEFING February 2013 Federal Railroad Administration

2 Background: Tier II EIS Richmond to Raleigh (R2R) Spring-Summer 2010 Tier II Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) published. 8 public hearings held. Over 1,800 individuals and agencies commented. Fall 2010-Spring 2011 Comments evaluated and tabulated. In response to comments, new rail alignments were designed in 3 project sections (Sections D, G, & V), and roadwork was re-designed in many sections. Additional data obtained in order to evaluate impacts to human and natural environments in areas with new designs. 2

3 Background: Tier II EIS R2R 3 Summer 2011 Project Update Meetings held to obtain comments on new rail alternatives in 3 project sections. Spring 2012 Recommended Preferred Rail Alternative Report was submitted to the Federal Railroad Administration. Began Series of Project Update Meetings in areas with revised roadwork designs (developed in response to public comments).

4 Background: Tier II EIS R2R 4 Post-DEIS Chesterfield County Coordination Summary May 11, County Administrator, select BOS representatives and DRPT Director Thelma Drake met to discuss Chesterfield County BOS August 2010 resolution regarding SEHSR. August 9, 2011 Chesterfield Transportation staff met with SEHSR consultant team, DRPT to review roadway design methodology. March 21, 2012 Web conference with Chesterfield Transportation staff and SEHSR consultant team, DRPT to review follow ups from previous meeting. January 31, Chesterfield Transportation staff, select BOS representatives, County Administrator, SEHSR consultant team, and DRPT met to review traffic analysis data that led to roadway design changes. Submitted technical memorandum to address Chesterfield s 2010 resolution in more detail. November 2012 DRPT submitted draft responses to Chesterfield County comments on the DEIS and discussed plans for Chesterfield public update meeting.

5 Early 2013 Update: Tier II EIS R2R Complete Project Update Meetings in areas with revised roadwork designs Early 2014 Complete Tier II Final EIS Summer 2014 Record of Decision Conduct Public Hearings 5

6 Design Changes in Chesterfield County, VA 6 Station Road DEIS showed closure of existing at-grade crossing with a new alignment & bridge over RR and old alignment to provide access to County wastewater treatment and cell tower east of RR, while maintaining access to Pella plant and Falling Creek warehouse on west side. County DEIS comments provided information about nearby planned Falling Creek Ironworks Park which would be impacted by project designs. This led to redesign for Station Road. A cost comparison of alternative conceptual designs was conducted to compare ROW & relocation costs to construction costs. Design for FEIS avoids impacts to planned park while maintaining same ROW impacts to the two businesses.

7 Station Road 7 7

8 Design Changes in Chesterfield County, VA 8 Chester Road Turn lanes were added for the intersection with Kingsdale Road and the extension of Park Road, and were also added to the Park Road extension at the intersection with Chester Road.

9 Chester Road 9 9

10 Design Changes in Chesterfield County, VA 10 Hopkins Road between Old Lane and Centralia In response to public comments and to help accommodate existing and predicted future traffic problems, improvements were developed for the intersection of Hopkins Road and Centralia Road. Hopkins Road was widened to allow the inclusion of a southbound turn lane; in addition, the alignment was shifted slightly westward to avoid impacts to the Ragland House historic resource. The designs for Centralia Road were extended westward and widened to accommodate an eastbound left turn lane at the intersection with Hopkins Road. To avoid impacts to the Ragland House, the Centralia Road alignment was shifted slightly to the south.

11 Hopkins Road and Centralia Road 11 11

12 Design Changes in Chesterfield County, VA 12 Chester Road South of Centralia Road In response to a request from the County to provide for northbound traffic movements for the businesses along the west side of Chester Road, a U-turn bulb was added near Centralia Road.

13 Chester Road (S. of Centralia) 13 13

14 Design Changes in Chesterfield County, VA 14 Curtis Street In response to a request from the County for improved pedestrian accessibility in the area, the curb and gutter section shown in the DEIS was extended to accommodate sidewalks.

15 Curtis Street 15 15

16 Design Changes in Chesterfield County, VA 16 West Street In response to a request from the County for improved pedestrian access in the area, a pedestrian bridge with stair towers was added.

17 West Street 17 17

18 Design Changes in Chesterfield County, VA 18 Woods Edge Road In response to comments from the public and from the County, the closure that was proposed in the DEIS was eliminated, and replaced with a new design for a bridge over the railroad.

19 Woods Edge Road 19 19

20 Design Changes in Chesterfield County, VA 20 Walthall Industrial Parkway Revised for the FEIS to provide a connection to the new Woods Edge Road alignment. The southward extension of Walthall Industrial Parkway shown in the DEIS that was designed to provide property access during construction of the Pine Forest Drive grade-separation was eliminated (because of revisions to Pine Forest Drive designs described next).

21 Walthall Industrial Parkway 21 21

22 Design Changes in Chesterfield County, VA 22 Pine Forest Drive Alignment shown in the DEIS was shifted southward to allow an onsite detour during construction. Because traffic will be maintained during construction, the eastward extension developed for an offsite detour via a Walthall Industrial Parkway extension was removed from the designs.

23 Pine Forest Drive 23 23

24 Next Steps: SEHSR Complete Environmental and Design Track improvements on existing segments Richmond, VA to Washington, DC Petersburg, VA to Richmond, VA Petersburg, VA to Norfolk, VA* Petersburg to Raleigh, NC Subject to funding Coordinate with FRA Amtrak Railroads Local Governments Property Owners *Advancing under Hampton Roads EIS 24

25 Chesterfield County Project Update THANK YOU! February 2013 Federal Railroad Administration