HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 04-01-2008-3aORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: April 1, 2008
Action Agenda
Item No. .~ ' q
SUBJECT: Turkey Farm Road Bridge Resolution
DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections PUBLIC HEARING: (YIN) No
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Turkey Farm Road Bridge Resolution . Karen Lincoln, 245-2594
New Hope Advisory Committee Letter Craig Benedict, 245-2592
Letter from BOCC Chair to NCDOT
Bridge Structural Elements Diagram
Current Picture of Turkey Farm Road Bridge
PURPOSE: To consider approving a resolution concerning the Turkey Farm Road bridge
replacement.
BACKGROUND: The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) plans to
construct TIP Project B-4218 (replace Orange County Bridge No. 108 on SR 1730, Turkey Farm
Road, over New Hope Creek) this year as scheduled in the 2007-2013 Transportation
Improvement Program (TIP). Bridge No. 108 has a sufficiency rating of 24.2 out of a possible
100 (for a new structure) and is considered structurally deficient and functionally obsolete. The
current structure is not safe for use by school buses or fire trucks. (For example, the current
structure, built in 1953, has a weight limit of 7 tons and a fire truck weighs about 20 tons.)
This area of New Hope Creek supports a unique community of fresh water mussels including
three State Endangered Species, two Federal Species of Concern, and several other
significantly rare species and species of special concern.
New Hope Creek Corridor Advisory Committee (NHCCAC) Resolution:
The NHCCAC has stated its concerns and desired actions regarding the bridge replacement in
the attached resolution, which the NHCCAC requests that the Board of County Commissioners
(BOCC) endorse.
The resolution requests that the NCDOT:
1. Ensure maintenance of high water quality, pristine habitat for aquatic species, passage for
terrestrial wildlife and adequate recreational access (raising the bridge height sufficiently to
accommodate an under bridge pedestrian trail) in the design and construction of the bridge.
2. Consult with the Advisory Committee in any decisions that may impact the New Hope Creek
natural corridor.
2
3. Conduct an environmental assessment process required for projects that may impact
species identified on the National Endangered Species list, including a field meeting with
qualified ecologists to ensure demolition, construction and final design of the bridge will have
no negative impacts on the high level of aquatic species habitat, water quality, and other
natural heritage features of the New Hope Creek area.
Bridge Design Revised:
The County has previously forwarded to NCDOT a letter outlining the concerns raised by the
NHCCAC. In response, the NCDOT has revised the design to remove interior bents and
associated 55-foot rip-rap causeway in the .streambed. The existing structure has two bents
(one of either side) at the stream edge. Bents for the new structure will be outside the water
channel on the dry bank area, which eliminates the need for rock causeway. The concrete piers
of the existing bridge will remain because removing those would cause disturbance of the
streambed.
Orange County's Transportation Advisory Committee member has also brought these concerns
to the attention of the NCDOT Division 7 Board of Transportation member at a meeting to
discuss the Transportation Improvement Program.
The following address the three requests stated in the resolution:
1. NCDOT Structure Design has considered a bridge that would allow for an under bridge
pedestrian trail. Such structure would require a bridge span in excess of 200-feet and would
add another span, doubling the cost of the project and extending completion of the project
two-three years because of additional studies needed for design and right-of-way
requirements. (The 2005 estimate for the bridge replacement was $737,000.) The New
Hope Corridor Open Space Master Plan, adopted in April 1991, calls for a wildlife corridor,
but does not propose a pedestrian trail along this part of the creek. The Master Recreation
and Parks Work Group recommendations, adopted by the BOCC in April 2000, calls for rural
trails links fora "North Chapel Hill/Rural Buffer corridor linking Booker Creek Greenway,
Northern Community Park, Duke Forest, New Hope Creek (including TLC lands and Duke
Forest) back to the New Hope Creek Corridor and the Durham County line."
NCDOT intends to replace the bridge with a 28-foot wide structure that includes two 10-foot
lanes with 4-foot offsets and bicycle safe rails, maintaining the low chord (approximately the
same roadway grade as the existing structure). The existing bridge is lower than the 100-
yearflood elevation. The Orange County Floodplain Administrator approved a "No Rise/No
Impact "certification for the bridge because the design called for the deck to be slightly
below the 100-year flood, but allowed more flood water to pass underneath. than does the
existing bridge due to the new design's increased transverse open area under the bridge.
There is no evidence that the existing structure causes floodwater to backup upstream, so
the proposed new structure should not cause floodwater to backup for the above stated
reason. To raise the bridge, the superstructure must clear the 25-year (design year) and
100-year (base flood) water surface elevations, and have much deeper foundations, more
land clearance and disturbance.
3
NCDOT has specified "Design Standards in Sensitive Watersheds", design standards giving
the highest level of erosion control measures NCDOT implements, to be used for this
project.
2. NCDOT sends Start of Study letters to federal, state and local officials requesting input
concerning projects. The letters are sent to the County Managers, who can enlist advisory
committee comments to forward to NCDOT.
3. For federal aid projects, such. as bridge replacements, the Federal Highway Administration
(FHWA) determines which type of Environmental Analysis (EA) is needed. The County may
request that the FHWA approve an environmental assessment process required for projects
that may impact species identified on the National Endangered Species list. If the FHWA
agrees to fund another EA, the study will, of course, delay the project in a similar fashion to
.redesigning the bridge so that the superstructure is above the 100-year flood elevation.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: NCDOT has not ruled out the requests for further environmental
analysis and bridge redesign, but would have to cover the costs by cutting some other project
unless the local jurisdiction(s) wish to provide matching funds to cover the increased casts.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board consider approving the
attached resolution from the New Hope Creek Corridor Advisory Committee.
4
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the natural corridor of New Hope Creek preserves invaluable recreational
and educational opportunities, open space, wildlife habitat, and other historic and natural
resources; and
WHEREAS, the preservation of the New Hope Creek Corridor is essential for
maintaining the health of Jordan Lake and the Cape Fear River Basin; and
WHEREAS, the section of New Hope Creek at Turkey Farm Road supports a unique
community of freshwater mussels already imperiled by drought and the impacts of urban
development, including two State Endangered Species and Federal Species of Concern
(Carolina Creekshell, Atlantic Pigtoe), one State Endangered Species (Brook Floater),
one State Threatened Species (Creeper), one State Special Concern Species (Notched
Rainbow), one State Significantly Rare Species (Eastern Creekshell), and additional rare
species that inay include a previously undiscovered species of Lcznapsilis mussel; and
WHEREAS, Orange County, Durham County, the Town of Chapel Hill, and the City of
Durham have continuously reaffirmed a commitment to the preservation of the New
Hope Creek corridor and its natural resources since the joint funding of the New Hope
Open Space Master Plan in 1989, adoption of the Master Plan in 1991; appointment of
the New Hope Creek Corridor Advisory Committee to advise on its implementation; and
the subsequent expenditure of five million dollars of local, state and private funds for
land protection pursuant to the Plan; and
WHEREAS, the North Carolina Department of Transportation has in the past
acknowledged the uniqueness of the New Hope Corridor and the value of the corridor to
the community by responding to concerns of the local jurisdictions and the public with an
expanded design for the bridge on US 15-501 over New Hope Creek to 300 feet with a
10-foot vertical clearance to enable safe wildlife passage and future greenway trails;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of
Commissioners respectfully requests that the North Carolina Department of
Transportation, North Carolina Division of Water Quality, and other involved state
agencies ensure the maintenance of high water quality, pristine habitat for aquatic
species, passage for terrestrial wildlife, and adequate recreational access in the design and
construction of the Turkey Farm Road Bridge at New Hope Creek.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners
respectfully requests that the North Carolina Department of Transportation and other
involved state agencies consult with the Advisory Committee in any decisions that may
impact the New Hope Creek natural corridor and its planned preservation as laid out in
the New Hope Corridor Open Space Master Plan.
5
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners
respectfully requests that the North Carolina Department of Transportation conduct an
enviromnental assessment pursuant to the North Carolina Enviromnental Policy Act and
a field meeting with qualified ecologists to ensure that proposed demolition, construction,
and final design of the Turkey Farm Road Bridge will have no negative impacts on the
high level of aquatic species habitat, water quality, and other nah~ral heritage features of
the New Hope Creek area.
Upon motion of Commissioner , seconded by Commissioner _
,the foregoing resolution was adopted this the 1St day of Apri12008.
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 April 1, 2008, 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 ,2008
Clerk to the Board of Commissioners
6
New Hope Creek Corridor Advisory Committee
P.O. Box 51537
Durham, NC 27717
Robert G. Healy, co-chair
Hildegard Ryals, co-chair
February 15, 2008
Orange County Commission
200 South Cameron Street
Post Office Box 8181
Hillsborough, North Carolina 27278
Dear Members of the Commission:
I am writing to bring to your attention the attached resolution concerning the
enviromnental impacts of the proposed replacement by the North Carolina Department of
Transportation of the Turkey Farm Road bridge, which was passed unanimously by the
New Hope Creek Corridor Advisory Committee at its meeting last night.
Although NCDOT has proposed to redesign the bridge so as to remove the in-stream bent
(pier), the agency has not consulted with this committee regarding the concerns expressed
in our December 20061etter to them. We still have concerns over the possible impacts of
bridge demolition and construction on the stream's exceptionally good water quality and
on the several species of rare mussels it contains. We also believe that NCDOT has not
given adequate attention to potential disruption of wildlife passage caused by lowering of
the replacement bride. As advisors to you and the other jurisdictions on New Hope Creek
issues, we feel it is our responsibility to be more directly involved in both the design and
execution of a project with potential for major disruption of a sensitive water (and
watershed) resource.
Millions of dollars of local, state and private funds have been spent on protection of the
New Hope in furtherance of the 1992 New Hope Creek Master Plan. This has included
continual support by Orange County and its County Commission. We hope that you will
endorse our effort to secure more scientific input into the design and construction of this
bridge; thorough convening of a field meeting of independent biologists, as called for in
our resolution.
With best wishes and thanks for your many years of support for New Hope Creek,
Robert G. Healy
7
BARRYJACOBS, CHAIR ORANGE GOUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
VALER/E P. FOUSHEE, VICE CHAIR POST OFFIGE BOX 8'I 8'I
MOSES CAREY, JR
ALICE M. GORDON 200 SOUTH CAMERON STREET
MIKE NELSON
HILLSBOROUGH, NORTH CAROLINA 27'278
December 12, 2007
Mr. William T. Goodwin, JR. PE
North Carolina Department of Transportation
Project Development and Environmental Analysis Branch
551 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1551
Re: TIP Project B-4218 Bridge No. 108 over New Hope Creek on SR 1730, Turkey Farm Rd.
Dear Mr. Goodwin:
The County is gravely concerned about the potential impacts to New Hope Creek Aquatic Habitat that
may result from the design of TIP Project 8-4218, which is scheduled to be constructed in 2008. The
design calls for an interior bent and three associated 3.5-foot diameter drilled piers and placement of a
55-foot long rip rap causeway placed in the stream bed in a reach of New Hope Creek Stream that is
home to six species listed in the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program, three of which that program
lists as endangered.
Orange County governments and citizens have invested tremendous amounts of time and public funds
for efforts to protect the New Hope Creek corridor. Orange County, the Town Chapel Hill, the City of
Durham and Durham County adopted the New Hope Corridor Open Space Master Plan in 1991 to
preserve that open space as a natural asset, including preservation of critical environmental areas and
wildlife corridors. Since then the County has been actively engaged in accomplishing the
recommendations of that plan.
The County has no documentation of notice from the North Carolina Department of Transportation
regarding initial studies for this project in which local agencies are usually notified and invited to submit
environmental and cultural concerns regarding project impacts.
I respectfully request on behalf of Orange County that the NCDOT further review the design of the
bridge from an environmental perspective.
Yours truly,
Barry Jacobs, Ghair
Orange County Board of County Commissioners
WWW. CD. ORANGE. NC. US
PROTECTING AND PRESERVING -PEOPLE, RESOURCES, QUALITY OF LIFE
ORANGE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA -YOU COUNT./
(919) 245-2130 • FAJC (919) 644-0246
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