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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: September 15, 2009 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. 4 - 1 <br />SUBJECT: Resolution Supporting the North Carolina Department of Transportation's <br />Application for Funding for the Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor <br />DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections PUBLIC HEARING: (Y /N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />1. Resolution <br />2. Map of SEHSR Area Projects <br />3. NC Federal Delegation <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Karen Lincoln, 245 -2594 <br />Craig Benedict, 245 -2592 <br />PURPOSE: To consider approving a resolution supporting the application by the North <br />Carolina Department of Transportation ( NCDOT) for funding from both the American Recovery <br />and Reinvestment Act as well as from annual federal budgetary appropriations to implement the <br />Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor ( SEHSR). <br />BACKGROUND: The Federal Rail Administration is administering an $8 billion discretionary <br />grant program to provide capital assistance for high -speed rail corridors and intercity passenger <br />rail corridors. NCDOT has submitted several grant applications totaling more than $4 billion, <br />many of which include improvements in the Triangle area. The applications are: <br />• Piedmont Corridor Service 4th Frequency - includes track improvements in Durham County and <br />grade separation at Hopson Road <br />• Piedmont Corridor Service 5th Frequency - includes track improvements in Orange County and <br />grade separation at Buckhorn Road and NC 10 <br />• Planned Frequencies to Buildout - includes track improvements in Durham County and grade <br />separation of Glover Road and Ellis Road (south) <br />• Station Improvements - includes new Hillsborough train station <br />• Other Speed and Safety Improvements - includes track improvements in Durham County and <br />Orange County and grade separation at Ellis Road (north) <br />• Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor Raleigh to Richmond <br />• Congestion Mitigation <br />• Western and Southeastern Intercity Passenger Service Expansions <br />A total of $2.5 billion is requested for the Raleigh to Richmond high -speed rail corridor. This section <br />has a completed Tier II Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a project that would provide a <br />grade separated track that can accommodate trains up to 110 miles per hour. A parallel multi -use <br />trail is also being proposed for this section. The section from Raleigh to Charlotte is on existing <br />