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Approved 2-20-2008 6 Alice Gordon: Do they have any indication that corridor is available? Karen Lincoln: They own the whole corridor they are working in. They are looking at what would be necessary and reviewing all types of improvements that would be needed to add commuter rail service. Hillsborough is the one of the places they indicated they would like a stop but that doesn’t mean that would be done. Nancy Baker: This is not Amtrak? Karen Lincoln: No. This is North Carolina Railroad, which is a privately owned organization that is a subsidiary of the state of North Carolina. They contract with one rail service for passengers and one for freight. There is a high percentage of economic development that depends on the rail freight hauling. I think what they said instead of Amtrak, TTA regional railroad authorities would provide the commuter service. Paul Guthrie: What you are describing is very important. What it sounds like is that they are taking the first step of finding out what it will take to make the right of way available. Karen Lincoln: They have the right of way. Paul Guthrie: But they will need other items like signal systems. Karen Lincoln: They are also looking at the grade crossings. Nancy Baker: Will you keep us updated? Karen Lincoln: Yes. Bryn Smith: The crossing I think about is in Chapel Hill, at High School Road and middle school crossing. We need to keep it in the back of our minds. Sam Lasris: If you will look at page 23, there are the 12 qualifying activities for this group. Randy Marshall: Are there any recently designated scenic routes? Karen Lincoln: Old NC 86 and Arthur Minis, from I-40 to Arthur Minnis to Orange Grove Road, to Dairyland Road to Rocky Ridge Road back to Arthur Minnis and Old NC 86. Randy Marshall: The scenic routes should be high priority. Sam Lasris: Karen has been working on St. Mary’s Road for quite some time. Karen Lincoln: We have an enhancement grant for a scenic easement. This is now on the state study list for corridors. You have to designate where you want the easement. Choose several possibilities and work out an agreement with ERCD on one of these properties. Nancy Baker: What is the difference between a scenic byway, a scenic corridor and these easements? Karen Lincoln: The America Scenic Byways Program includes the North Carolina Program. It doesn’t protect the corridor for anything except that billboards are not allowed. But you do get the scenic byway signs. People will follow those signs because that road will show them something unique to the area. The local jurisdictions would have to take measures to protect the local areas.