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10. REPORTS <br />a. Status of Hiah-Speed Rail Plannina Efforts on the Piedmont High-Speed Rail Corridor from <br />Charlotte to Washington. D.C. <br />The Board heard a report from the North Carolina Department of Transportation on the status of <br />planning efforts for a high-speed rail corridor between Charlotte and Washington, D.C. <br />Transportation Planner Slade McCalip introduced Mark Sullivan, Assistant Director of the Rail <br />Division of DOT. He explained how the rail division started and summarized their services. He gave a <br />regional perspective of the rail system. They are working on a rail plan that will run from Virginia to Florida. <br />They have completed a rail feasibility study for a high speed rail system that would be developed and provide <br />a 2-hour service between Charlotte and Raleigh and a 5-hour service between Raleigh and New York. Their <br />next step is to do an environmental impact statement. They want this to be a full public involvement process. <br />He said that they feel they need rail systems because there will not be enough land to support the roads that <br />it will take to transport the great influx of people coming into our area. <br />Chair Brown asked about the Triangle Transit Authority (TTA) and Mr. Sullivan said that they will <br />have dedicated tracks. They will try to use the same corridor and right-of-way but will not use the same <br />tracks that the TTA will use. He continued to answer questions from the County Commissioners. He said that <br />he will keep them informed of their progress. <br />b. Proposed Bicvcle Plan Component to the Transportation Element of the Comprehensive <br />Plan and Research on Innovative Non-motorized Planning in North Carolina Counties <br />The Board reviewed a draft Bicycle Transportation Plan, proposed to be included in the <br />transportation element of the Comprehensive Plan, and heard a report on research into non-motorized <br />transportation facilities in other North Carolina counties. <br />Transportation Planner Slade McCalip introduced members of the Bicycle Task Force. Chris <br />Selkirk, Chair of this committee summarized the report. Slade McCalip then outlined their recommendations <br />as included in the agenda. He asked the County Commissioners to provide him with written comments by <br />October 15th. <br />C. OWASA Strategic Plan <br />The Board received an update of OWASA's Comprehensive Water/Sewer Master Plan project. <br />Ed Kerwin, Executive Director of OWASA, asked that the County Commissioners provide him with <br />any comments they may have on how they feel the County is going to grow. They are trying to determine <br />what the service requirements will be in 15 or 20 years. They will be going through a 2-year study and he <br />asked that the County Commissioners give them feedback as they go through this process. Ed Kerwin <br />defined OWASA's service areas as Chapel Hill and Carrboro. <br />The Board received the report as information. <br />11. <br />The appointments in the agenda abstract were delayed until the next meeting. <br />12. MINUTES - NONE <br />13. CLOSED SESSION- NONE <br />14. ADJOURNMENT <br />With no further items for the County Commissioners to consider, Chair Brown adjourned the meeting. <br />The next regular meeting will be held on September 30 at 7:30 p.m. at the Government Services Center in <br />Hillsborough, North Carolina. <br />Margaret W. Brown, Chair <br />Beverly A. Blythe, Clerk