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