PROJECT COMMITMENTS SUMMARY... S-1 1. Type of Action... S-1 2. Description of Action... S-1 3. Summary of Purpose and Need... S-1 4. Alternatives Considered... S-2 5. NCDOT Alternatives Carried Forward... S-3 6. Summary of Environmental Effects... S-3 7. Permits Required... S-4 8. Coordination... S-4 9. Contact Information... S-5 I. DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED ACTION.... 1 A. General Description... 1 B. Historical Resume and Project Status... 2 C. Cost Estimates... 3 II. PURPOSE AND NEED FOR PROJECT.... 5 A. Purpose of Project... 5 B. Need for Project... 5 C. Description of Existing Conditions... 6 1. Functional Classification... 6 2. Physical Description of Existing Facility.... 6 3. School Bus Usage.... 11 4. Traffic Carrying Capacity.... 11 5. Airports... 17 6. Other Modes of Transportation... 17 7. Crash Data... 20 8. Other Highway Projects in the Area... 21 D. Transportation and Comprehensive/Land Use Plans and Other Transportation Documents... 23 1. Transportation Plans... 23 2. Local Thoroughfare Plans.... 23 3. Land Use Plans... 23 4. Other Transportation Documents... 24 III. ALTERNATIVES... 25 A. Construction Method Alternatives... 25 1. Partial Closure Construction Alternative... 25 2. Full Closure Construction Alternative... 26 B. Preliminary Study Alternatives....27 1. No-Build Alternative... 27 2. Alternative Modes of Transportation... 28 i
3. Travel Demand Management (TDM) (e.g., ride sharing, park & ride, vanpooling)... 28 4. Mass Transit... 28 5. Transportation Systems Management (TSM) (e.g., HOV, hot lanes, etc.) 28 6. Improve Existing Facility... 28 C. Detailed Study Alternatives... 33 1. Alternative 1 - Cherry/Marshall (main access to downtown Winston-Salem) Shallow Cut... 33 2. Alternative 2 - Liberty/Main (main access to downtown Winston- Salem)Shallow Cut... 33 3. Alternative 3 - Liberty/Main (main access to downtown Winston-Salem) Deep Cut... 34 4. Alternative 4 - Cherry/Marshall (main access to downtown Winston-Salem) Deep Cut... 34 D. NCDOT Alternatives Carried Forward... 35 IV. PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS... 39 A. Functional Classification and Roadway Cross-section... 39 B. Horizontal and Vertical Alignment... 40 C. Right of Way and Access Control... 40 D. Design Speed and Posted Speed Limit... 40 E. Anticipated Design Exceptions... 41 F. Interchanges/Grade Separated Crossings... 41 G. Service Roads... 42 H. Railroad Crossings... 42 I. Structures... 42 J. Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities/Greenways... 44 K. Utilities... 46 L. Landscaping... 46 M. Project Enhancements... 46 N. Noise Barriers... 47 O. Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)... 47 P. Work Zone, Traffic Control and Construction Phasing... 47 Q. Lighting... 48 R. Off-Site Improvements... 48 1. Temporary (During Construction) Off-Site Intersection Improvements....48 2. Temporary (During Construction) Off-Site Roadway Improvements....49 3. Long Term (2021 Project Opening) Off-Site Intersection Improvements...49 4. Long Term (2040 Design Year) Off-Site Intersection Improvements....50 S. Future Traffic Volumes... 51 T. Future Level of Service... 56 1. 2040 Build Levels of Service Alternative 3....56 2. 2040 Build Levels of Service Alternative 4....57 U. Relocations of Residences And Businesses... 57 ii
V. Cost Estimates... 57 V. ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF PROPOSED ACTION... 59 A. Natural Resources.... 59 1. Physical Resources.... 59 2. Biotic Resources.... 60 3. Jurisdictional Issues... 62 B. Cultural Resources... 65 1. Historic Architectural Resources... 65 2. Archaeological Resources... 70 C. Section 4(f)/6(f) Resources... 71 1. Section 4(f) Resources... 71 2. Section 6(f) Resources... 72 D. Farmland... 72 E. Social Effects... 72 1. Neighborhoods/Communities... 72 2. Relocation of Residences and Businesses... 74 3. Environmental Justice... 75 4. Limited English Proficiency.... 76 F. Bicycle & Pedestrian Facilities.... 76 1. Bicycle Facilities... 76 2. Pedestrian Facilities... 77 G. Transit... 77 H. Recreational Facilities... 78 I. Other Public Facilities and Services... 79 J. Economic Effects.... 80 K. Land Use... 81 1. Existing Land Use and Zoning... 81 2. Future Land Use.... 82 3. Project Compatibility With Local Plans.... 84 L. Other Items of Concern.... 84 M. Indirect and Cumulative Effects.... 84 N. Flood Hazard Evaluation... 85 O. Project Enhancements... 85 P. Traffic Noise Analysis... 86 1. Traffic Noise Impacts and Noise Contours... 86 2. No Build Alternative.... 87 3. Traffic Noise Abatement Measures.... 87 4. Noise Barriers.... 88 5. Summary.... 90 Q. Air Quality Analysis... 90 1. Attainment Status... 90 2. Carbon Monoxide Microscale Analysis.... 91 3. Mobile Source Air Toxics.... 92 iii
4. Conclusion.... 99 5. Summary.... 99 R. Hazardous Material... 99 VI. COMMENTS AND COORDINATION... 101 A. Public Involvement and Outreach... 101 1. Initial Outreach... 101 2. Current Outreach Efforts... 106 3. Newsletters and Press Releases....109 4. Project Website....111 5. Future Outreach Efforts....111 B. Citizens Informational Workshop....111 C. Public Hearing... 112 D. Project Coordination... 112 E. Agency Coordination... 112 VII. REFERENCES AND WEB SITES... 115 TABLES Table S1. Summary of Environmental Effects... S-3 Table 1. US 421/I-40 Business Rehabilitation Projects... 2 Table 2. US 421/I-40 Business Rehabilitation Projects Constructed... 2 Table 3. Functional Classification of Roadways... 6 Table 4. Existing Cross-sections and Right of Way of Roadways... 6 Table 5a. Existing Bridges... 9 Table 5b. Existing Bridges - Vertical Clearance... 10 Table 6. Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities on Existing Bridges... 10 Table 7. 2040 No Build Conditions Annual Growth Rates... 12 Table 8. 2011 Existing Conditions, 2021 and 2040 No Build Conditions Traffic Forecasts... 12 Table 9. WSTA Routes within the Project Study Area... 18 Table 10. PART Routes within the Project Study Area... 19 Table 11. City of Winston-Salem Bike Routes within the Project Study Area... 20 Table 12a. Crash Rate Comparisons (US 421/I-40 Business)... 21 Table 12b. Crash Rate Comparisons (NC 150 (Peters Creek Parkway))... 21 Table 13. Proposed Cross-sections and Right of Way of Roadways... 39 Table 14. Design Speed and Proposed Posted Speed Limits on Roadways... 40 Table 15. Proposed Grade Separated Crossings by Alternative... 42 Table 16a. Proposed Bridges by Alternative... 43 Table 16b. Proposed Bridges Vertical Clearance by Alternative... 44 Table 17. Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities on Proposed Bridges Alternative 3 and 4... 45 Table 18. Temporary Off-Site Intersections Improvements... 48 Table 19. Long Term Off-Site Intersections Improvements Alternative 3... 50 iv
Table 20. Long Term Off-Site Intersections Improvements Alternative 4... 50 Table 21. 2040 Build Conditions Alternative 3 and 4 Traffic Forecasts... 51 Table 22. Preliminary Cost Estimates... 57 Table 23. Soil Type in the Project Study Area... 59 Table 24. Water Resources within the Project Study Area... 59 Table 25. Physical Characteristics of Water Resources within the Project Study Area... 60 Table 26. Coverage of Terrestrial Communities within the Project Study Area... 61 Table 27. Characteristics of Water Resources within the Project Study Area... 62 Table 28. Anticipated Stream Impacts... 63 Table 29. Federally Protected Species Listed for Forsyth County... 64 Table 30. Historic Resources, Eligibility Statuses and Effects... 66 Table 31. Historic Resources - Temporary Off-Site Intersections Improvements... 68 Table 32. Section 4(f) Resources, Relation to Resource and Use... 71 Table 33. Predicted Traffic Noise Impacts by Alternative... 87 Table 34. Air Quality No-Build... 91 Table 35. Air Quality Build... 92 Table 36. Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT)... 96 Table 37. Known or Potentially Hazardous Materials Sites within Project Study Area... 100 Table 38. Survey Results... 105 Table 39a. Core Neighborhood Meetings... 106 Table 39b. Surrounding Neighborhood Meetings... 106 Table 40. Corridor-Wide Meetings... 107 Table 41. Stakeholder Meetings... 107 Table 42. Working Group Meetings... 109 Table 43. Newsletters and Update... 110 Table 44. Press Releases... 110 FIGURES Figure 1. Figure 2. Figure 3. Figure 4. Figure 5. Figure 6. Figure 7. Figure 8. Figure 9. Figure 9A. Figure 9B. Figure 10. Figure 10A. Figure 10B. Project Location Map Vicinity Map Existing Interchanges Existing Conflict Points 2011 Existing Conditions AADT Forecasts 2011 Existing Conditions Level of Service Level of Service (LOS) Highway Illustration 2040 Future - No Build Level of Service Section 1 Design Idea Location Map Section 1 Design Idea A Section 1 Design Idea B Section 2 Design Idea Location Map Section 2 Design Idea A Section 2 Design Idea B v
Figure 10C. Section 2 Design Idea C Figure 11. Section 3 Design Idea Location Map Figure 11A. Section 3 Design Idea A Figure 11B. Section 3 Design Idea B Figure 11C. Section 3 Design Idea C Figure 11D. Section 3 Design Idea D Figure 12. Section 4 Design Idea Location Map Figure 12A. Section 4 Design Idea A Figure 12B. Section 4 Design Idea B Figure 12C. Section 4 Design Idea C Figure 12D. Section 4 Design Idea D Figure 13. Alternative 1 & 4 Conflict Points Figure 14. Alternative 2 & 3 Conflict Points Figure 15. Alternative 3 - Liberty/Main (main access to downtown Winston-Salem) Deep Cut Figure 16. Alternative 4 - Cherry/Marshall (main access to downtown Winston- Salem) Deep Cut Figure 17a-c. Proposed Typical Sections Figure 18. Temporary Off-Site Intersections Improvements Figure 19. Long Term Off-Site Intersections Improvements Alternative 3 Figure 20. Long Term Off-Site Intersections Improvements Alternative 4 Figure 21. 2040 Future Build Conditions Alternative 3 AADT Forecasts Figure 22. 2040 Future Build Conditions Alternative 4 AADT Forecasts Figure 23. 2040 Future Build Conditions Alternative 3 Level of Service) Figure 24. 2040 Future Build Conditions Alternative 4 Level of Service Figure 25. Project Study Area Figure 26. Jurisdictional Features Figure 27. Historic Properties Figure 28. Neighborhoods within the DCIA Figure 29. Block Groups within the DCIA Figure 30. Community Context Map Figure 31. Existing Land Use within the DCIA Figure 32. Future Land Use Study Area Figure 33. Rendering - Traditional Rail with Stamped Brick Texture Figure 34. Rendering - Traditional Rail with a Limestone Texture Figure 35. Rendering - Cross Street with a Traditional Green Rail Figure 36. Rendering - Cross Street with a Decorative Green Rail Figure 37. Traffic Noise Figure 38. National MSAT Emission Trends 1999 2050 Figure 39. Known or Potentially Hazardous Materials Sites Figure 40. Core and Surrounding Neighborhoods vi
APPENDICES Appendix A NCDOT Relocation Assistance Program/Relocation Reports... A-1 Appendix B Historic Properties Effects Forms and Letters... B-1 Appendix C Comments Received... C-1 Appendix D External Scoping Meeting Minutes... D-1 Glossary... G-1 vii
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