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Home My WebLink AboutAgenda - 09-15-1998 - 10a1. ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: September 15, 1998 Action Agenda Item # 10. a SUBJECT: Status of High Speed Rail Planning Efforts on the Piedmont High Speed Rail Corridor from Charlotte, NC to Washington, DC. DEPARTMENT: Planning & Inspections PUBLIC HEARING: Yes _X_No BUDGET AMENDMENT REQUIRED: Yes _X—No ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Slade McCalip Extension 2595 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough -732-8181 Durham -688-7331 Mebane -227-2031 Chapel Hill -967-9251 PURPOSE: To receive a report from NC DOT staff on the Status of High Speed Rail Planning Efforts on the Piedmont High Speed Rail Corridor from Charlotte, NC to Washington, DC. BACKGROUND: The NC DOT Rail Division is two to three months away from beginning a major, three -year outreach effort on the proposed Piedmont High Speed Rail Project. This effort is designed to involve residents, communities, and local governments that may be affected by proposed rail plans. The Piedmont High Speed Corridor will connect Charlotte, Greensboro, Raleigh, Richmond, Washington, and New York and is one of the top new corridors in the nation for commercial feasibility. Interim improvements to reduce the trip from Raleigh to Charlotte from 3 hours 45 minutes to approximately 2 hours 50 minutes take place within the existing right of way. Engineering feasibility studies completed in late 1996 involved achieving 2 hour service between Raleigh and Charlotte and resulted in straightening of curves in Orange County. Alternate routes for faster service (2 hours from Raleigh to Charlotte and 5 hours to New York from Raleigh) will be developed through the public involvement stage of the environmental impact statement process, which begins in approximately three months. Accomplishment of these goals depends on how well the state and local agencies can respond to Governor Jim Hunt's and Transportation Secretary Norris Tolson's calls for a Balanced Transportation System. RECOMMENDATION: Receive the Report.