High speed rail update
by David B. Foster, PE;
Keith Lewis, &
Larry Sams
NCDOT Rail Division
State and local government agencies in North Carolina and Virginia are working with local citizens in each county to identify the best location for a Trail Concept along the SEHSR corridor.
Four local public workshops have been scheduled in North Carolina (three local workshops were held in Virginia in February) to gather input. Meeting locations are as follows:
Location: Norlina Volunteer Fire Department Annex Building , 103 Center Street , Norlina , NC 27563
Location: Aycock Recreation Complex, 307 Carey Chapel Road , Henderson , NC 27537
Location: Youngsville Community Center, 115 East Main St , Youngsville , NC 27596
Location: Wake County Human Services, Northern Regional Center, 350 East Holding Avenue, Wake Forest, NC 27587
For questions or additional information, please contact Mr. Keith Lewis at 919.829.0328.
For your information, at the end of this article is a summary description of the Trail Concept that was prepared last summer.
Overall Project Information and Updates
I encourage you to continue following the project through our web site, www.sehsr.com. This web site continues to be one of your best sources of information on the project. We try to update it periodically as major changes occur and as major work elements progress.
If you have any questions, please feel free to call me at 919.733.7245 ext 266.
Update on Trail Concept (from July 2008)
We are excited to announce the evaluation of a parallel trail concept along the SEHSR project. This is another “first” for this project, and a unique opportunity to provide additional “value added” for all the towns and communities along the corridor.
The initial idea of a trail came from several Virginia communities in 2006. From that beginning almost two years ago we now have funding from each state to include the additional environmental assessments for a multi-use trail/greenway into the ongoing SEHSR project.
The trail concept would be a separate project, parallel to and outside the rail right of way, but within the Southeast High Speed Rail study corridor. As such, all environmental work being collected and analyzed for the rail project would be available for evaluation of the trail concept. That is what makes this such a unique opportunity.
Any construction project that uses public funds must have appropriate environmental documentation approved by the state and federal agencies. Clearing the environmental work at this time for the trail corridor represents a significant cost and time benefit over a piecemeal approach. This would allow trail proponents to apply for state and federal funds for the eventual completion of the trail.
The trail concept runs from just south of Petersburg, Virginia (at Burgess) to the north side of Raleigh at the Neuse River (approximately 116 miles), connecting all the cities and towns along the way. It could become an important link in the East Coast Greenway, a proposed trail that would traverse the eastern seaboard states from Maine to Florida .
The trail location would vary in proximity to the rail right of way, and would also cross from the east side to the west side as needed, using current or proposed grade separations (i.e. there will be no “at-grade” crossings of the trail and the main rail line).
For approximately 76 miles, where the proposed rail improvements will fall within the existing rail right of way, the trail concept is envisioned to be on a 30’ trail cross section on a 60’ right of way, completely outside the rail right of way. The minimum separation (between the tracks and the trail) would be 50-60 feet, and the average should be about 100 feet.
For the remaining 40 miles, where the rail alternatives are expected to go off of the existing rail right of way, the trail would likely use the old, inactive rail right of way.
The trail concept will follow the “preferred” rail alignment. As such, preliminary designs of the trail concept will not begin until after the preferred rail alignment is selected, following completion of the DEIS. Public involvement for the trail will be handled by the resource agencies in both states (VA Department of Conservation and Recreation, and the NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources).
Looks like I’m toast now! Thanks to Obama I’m going to be homeless it seems. Emminent domain will insure I am “screwed”! Thanks to Obama and his green initiative. This just may give me the ability to get out of this wondeful beautiful city life and get to the real country life and watch the grass grow and leaves fall. Cheaper taxes you know.
Comment by mudball — May 7, 2009 @ 1:46 am
I am in total support of the trail. Quality of life. It would help this community to think of itself in a positive light being part of a “bigger thing” along with VA, Wake and Franklin counties
Comment by live it — May 7, 2009 @ 6:50 am
Yeah, right, live it. Wait until you get mugged on your trail like several women I know did in Wake County and in Chapel Hill.
Comment by Long Time Resident — May 7, 2009 @ 8:03 am
Poo- people can get mugged anywhere
Comment by chandra_levy — May 7, 2009 @ 8:31 am
4. 10-4
Comment by inside man — May 7, 2009 @ 1:47 pm
A trail beside the tracks is a good idea. When the federal government finally goes bankrupt and the trains and commercial transport are gone, we can all walk to our destinations on the trails.
Comment by Obamarama — May 7, 2009 @ 1:51 pm
“Chicken Little” #3 and #6. Can you please relax once in awhile and think positive for a change. You can’t live your whole life in fear behind close doors.
Comment by live it — May 7, 2009 @ 2:04 pm
We can benefit with the rail system,or we can dry up as a town. If Europe and Japan can do it why can’t we. Think of the JOBS it will create. Maybe even add more businesses. We could even have a shuttle train to other parts of town, to doctors offices, Retail etc. The Germans have great trains and a U-bahn which is like a subway above ground it would be a good system to copy or go by. This is a better Idea than the Embassy Square. Henderson and Vance County needs some form of transport,because its citizens are getting older and can’t drive to well now. It may even provide more people to live here and maybe they can pay their Taxes since so many here can’t.
Comment by rleonidash — May 7, 2009 @ 7:20 pm
Its time to put money back into this country, and stop wasting it oversea.
Comment by rleonidash — May 7, 2009 @ 7:23 pm
We have transportation now and do not use it.
KARTS – they will pick you up in a big white van and take you wherever you need to go!! I see them in Granville, Franklin, Warren, Halifax & Wake Counties all the time. I even saw one in Northampton County about a year ago. Now that’s service…. You want get that in a rail car!
Comment by Did I Miss Something? — May 8, 2009 @ 8:52 am
KARTS cannot take you to Petersburg, Va for your job.
Comment by greensboro — May 8, 2009 @ 9:31 am
That Karts is the only form of transportation, You did miss something the van for brains. How in the world will Vance County ever grow an prosper with just Karts. Sometimes talking to the backwoods people on this sight is like talking to the mentally challenged.
Comment by rleonidash — May 8, 2009 @ 11:14 am
If this town is to survive we must have 21st century services, quality of life activities and employment opportunities. The speed rail provides the “If Muhammad won’t come to the mountain, the mountain will come to Muhammad.” philosophy. Folks won’t be stuck here unemployed due to lack of transportation. AND… they won’t have the excuse they can’t get there. I for one am also looking forward to the trail. I’ve used them before and it’s a great experience for families and adults alike.
Comment by live it — May 9, 2009 @ 1:57 pm