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Home My WebLink AboutAgenda - 09-15-2009 - 4iORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: September 15, 2009 Action Agenda Item No. 4 - 1 SUBJECT: Resolution Supporting the North Carolina Department of Transportation's Application for Funding for the Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections PUBLIC HEARING: (Y /N) No ATTACHMENT(S): 1. Resolution 2. Map of SEHSR Area Projects 3. NC Federal Delegation INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Lincoln, 245 -2594 Craig Benedict, 245 -2592 PURPOSE: To consider approving a resolution supporting the application by the North Carolina Department of Transportation ( NCDOT) for funding from both the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as well as from annual federal budgetary appropriations to implement the Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor ( SEHSR). BACKGROUND: The Federal Rail Administration is administering an $8 billion discretionary grant program to provide capital assistance for high -speed rail corridors and intercity passenger rail corridors. NCDOT has submitted several grant applications totaling more than $4 billion, many of which include improvements in the Triangle area. The applications are: • Piedmont Corridor Service 4th Frequency - includes track improvements in Durham County and grade separation at Hopson Road • Piedmont Corridor Service 5th Frequency - includes track improvements in Orange County and grade separation at Buckhorn Road and NC 10 • Planned Frequencies to Buildout - includes track improvements in Durham County and grade separation of Glover Road and Ellis Road (south) • Station Improvements - includes new Hillsborough train station • Other Speed and Safety Improvements - includes track improvements in Durham County and Orange County and grade separation at Ellis Road (north) • Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor Raleigh to Richmond • Congestion Mitigation • Western and Southeastern Intercity Passenger Service Expansions A total of $2.5 billion is requested for the Raleigh to Richmond high -speed rail corridor. This section has a completed Tier II Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a project that would provide a grade separated track that can accommodate trains up to 110 miles per hour. A parallel multi -use trail is also being proposed for this section. The section from Raleigh to Charlotte is on existing N North Carolina Railroad tracks used for freight and passenger service. An EIS is not required for improvements on this section and a multi -use trail is not proposed for this section. Attachment 2 is a map of the high speed rail corridor improvements in the region. FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact to the County for this action item. RECOMMENDATION (S): The Interim Manager recommends the Board: 1. Approve the resolution supporting the North Carolina Department of Transportation's application for funding from both the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as well as from annual federal budgetary appropriations in order to accelerate the planning, land acquisition and construction investments needed to help further the full implementation of the Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor; and 2. Direct the Clerk to forward the resolution to: • North Carolina's United States Senators; • United States Congress members representing the Triangle region; and • United States Congress members from North Carolina serving on the US House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. RFS' A009 " (,),° Attachment 1 3 RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE APPLICATION BY THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR FUNDS UNDER THE AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT AND ANNUAL FEDERAL BUDGETARY APPROPRIATIONS TO ACCELERATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SOUTHEAST HIGH SPEED RAIL CORRIDOR WHEREAS, the United States Department of Transportation designated the Washington- Richmond - Raleigh- Charlotte rail corridor for future high -speed rail development in 1992; and WHEREAS, a system of corridors have been designated nationally by the United States Department of Transportation, one being the Southeast Corridor, as the above described system is known; and WHEREAS, extraordinary economic and population growth in the Southeast region requires a comprehensive, multi -modal transportation system; and WHEREAS, high speed rail service will provide business and leisure travelers with a competitive alternative to air and automobile for trips between 100 and 500 miles; and WHEREAS, much existing rail right of way is already in place which could accommodate improvements to passenger rail service; and WHEREAS, construction of a high speed rail corridor between Washington, DC and Charlotte, NC through the Triangle region will provide transportation options, ease the rate of congestion growth in the corridor, improve safety and energy effectiveness, improve air quality and improve transportation efficiency while minimizing impacts; and WHEREAS, an adjacent multimodal trail that would be constructed in conjunction with the Southeast Corridor north of Raleigh will create an additional multimodal travel option; and WHEREAS, the North Carolina Department of Transportation has been actively planning for and investing in the proposed Southeast Corridor in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Transportation and other partners; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED the Orange County Board of Commissioners supports the application by the North Carolina Department of Transportation for funding from both the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as well as from annual federal budgetary appropriations in order to accelerate the planning, land acquisition and construction investments needed to help make the full implementation of the Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor a reality. Attachment 1 4 Upon motion of Commissioner , seconded by Commissioner 2009. the foregoing resolution was adopted this the day of , I, Donna Baker, Clerk to the Board of Commissioners for the County of Orange, North Carolina, DO HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing is a true copy of so much of the proceedings of said Board at a meeting held on September 15, 2009, as relates in any way to the adoption of the foregoing and that said proceedings are recorded in the minutes of said Board. WITNESS my hand and the seal of said County, this day of , 2009 Clerk to the Board of Commissioners — 'Mebane NCDOT ARRA Rail Projects i N Qi�' /• i . t „Hillsborough i r •,� ;r r� �f a r � � X k r t., , .r 4� ,.• . ,4 � r' Durham ham T. NVI ♦ r �y �_ :. .� . .• � l �S -- '._ s :ice`"} �� f'F„�(. e - .. 7 -_ i, 1 r 1 Chapel Hi l�fk �=k� $y+ a , Try� • � l T n a- car rboro , .' t Ja , - Iv .s r � - ® Crossing Closing - - Rail Improvement t O Rail Separation Existing Rail L, Proposed Station Street Centerline 1s , ' r 0 05 1 2 3 4 MPO Boundary Miles Attachment 3 6 Federal Delegation Contact Information Senators representing North Carolina Senator Richard Burr 217 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Fax: (202) 228 -2981 Senator Kay Hagan 521 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Fax: (202) 228 -2563 Congressmen representing the Triangle region of North Carolina Representative David Price 2162 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Fax: (202) 225 -2014 Representative Bob Etheridge 1533 Longworth House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Fax: (202) 225 -5662 Representative Brad Miller 1127 Longworth House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Fax: (202) 225 -0181 Congressmen from North Carolina serving on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Representative Howard Coble 2468 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Fax: (202) 225 -8611 Representative Heath Shuler 422 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D:C. 20515 Fax: (202) 226 -6422