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 <br />WBS0103M <br />RequesttoModifytheLocationoftheGatewayDͲOLRTStation. <br />InthebaselinescopeoftheDͲOLRTProjectasdefinedintheRecordofDecision(ROD)and <br />AmendedRODissuedbytheFederalTransitAdministration(FTA)inFebruary2016andDecember <br />2016,respectively,theGatewayLRTStationislocatedjustwestofIͲ40neartheintersectionof <br />OldChapelHillRoadandPopeRoad.Theproposedchangewouldshiftthestationapproximately <br />600feet,awayfromIͲ40andclosertotheOrangeCountyLine. <br /> <br />Thisdesignchange,whichfallswithinCategory2duetotheadditionalrightͲofͲwayrequired, <br />requiresapprovalbytheGoTriangleBoardofTrustees.AspartoftheBoardreviewandapproval <br />process,GoTrianglestaffwillprovidetheDurhamandOrangeBoardsofCountyCommissioners <br />andtheDCHCͲMPOPolicyBoardwiththeopportunitytoreviewandprovideinputonthischange <br />priortobringingthechangetotheGoTriangleBoardofTrusteesforfinalapprovalattheDecember <br />BoardMeeting. <br /> <br />Followingaresomeofthekeyissuesrelatedtothisproposedchange. <br /> <br />Whyisstaffrecommendingthischange? <br />x AspartofGoTriangle’sTransitͲOrientedDevelopment(TOD)grant,GoTriangleheld <br />meetingswithstakeholderstobetterunderstandtheoptimaldevelopmentpotentialinthe <br />areaaroundthetransitstations. <br />x ItwasdeterminedthattheexistingGatewayStationlocationdidnotmaximizethe <br />potentialeconomicdevelopmentopportunitiesforbothDurhamandOrangeCounties. <br />Quantitativeanalysisofthedevelopmentpotentialisincludedintheattachedmemofrom <br />theTODConsultantteam. <br />x Asaresultofthisprocess,itwasrecommendedtoshiftthestationandthelightrail <br />alignmenttoimprovetheoverallopportunitiesforDurhamandOrangecounties. <br /> <br />Whatarethebenefitsofchangingthestationlocationandalignment? <br />x Thenewlocationwouldincreasepotentialeconomicdevelopmentbenefits. <br />x Thenewsitelayoutismoreconducivetourbanredevelopment. <br /> <br />Theproposedchangestothealignmentandstationlocationwouldresultintheneedtofully <br />acquireeightparcelsinadditiontothesevenparcelsplannedtobeacquiredinthepreliminary <br />design.Also,theproposedchangeswillrequirethepartialacquisitionofeightparcels,anincrease <br />oftwoparcelsoverthepreliminarydesign.Theacquisitionandrelocationprocessaswellasthe <br />relocationofanydisplaceduseswillbeconductedinaccordancewiththefederalUniform <br />RelocationAssistanceandRealPropertyAcquisitionPoliciesActof1970,asamended. <br /> <br />Theproposedchangestothealignmentandstationlocationwouldrequireadditionalconsultation <br />withtheStateHistoricPreservationOfficeandtheFTAregardingpotentialeffectstotheRuthͲ <br />SizemoreStore,aresourcethatiseligibleforlistingontheNationalRegisterofHistoricPlaces.The <br />StoreislocatedatthecornerofOldChapelHillRoadandN.WhiteOakDrive.Thepriordesign <br />resultedinafindingofNoAdverseEffect;thisdeterminationwouldneedtobereconfirmed. <br /> <br />Page 8 of 25 <br />8