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20 <br /> Orange County & NCDOT Highway Luncheon <br /> Division 7 and District 1 <br /> August 18, 2021 12:00 p.m. <br /> B. US-70 Bridge Completion Follow-Up (OC Planning Staff and NCDOT) <br /> In mid-June 2021, NCDOT completed the US-70 Bridge (bridge 46) east of Hillsborough (B-4962) <br /> that was planned to include provisions for a multi-use trail under the bridge for Mountains-To-Sea <br /> Trail connectivity as well as provide a corridor for safe passage of wildlife. With the completed <br /> bridge project, however, neither of these provisions were present with the new bridge. Staff has <br /> reached out to NCDOT to resolve this matter by rebuilding access to the Mountains-To-Sea Trail <br /> and creating a passage for wildlife. <br /> Status: NCDOT to provide any updates on their ongoing efforts. <br /> - Renee: The bridge is done, but the bridge blocks the MST corridor. Where are we on this? <br /> - Chuck: The bridge project is open to traffic, and unfortunately, there were commitments that <br /> were made in the planning phase that did not make it into the construction documents. We're <br /> working primarily with state parks to figure out how to get that MST trail under the bridge. There <br /> are some constraints there. It's a work in progress, but we're still committed to make it happen. <br /> - Renee: I appreciate that. I've heard from folks in Hillsborough, so that would be much <br /> appreciated. <br /> C. Format of Luncheon Meetings for November 2021 (OC Planning Staff) <br /> Based on the changes to the State of Emergency during the COVID pandemic and recent updates <br /> in both the State of North Carolina and Orange County, Orange County Planning Staff would like to <br /> discuss the format of the November 10, 2021 luncheon. <br /> Status: OC Planning Staff to provide context, then discussion. <br /> - Lydia Lavelle: My thinking is regardless, this is a really efficient way to meet, and it fits well into <br /> a schedule. <br /> - Renee: It's probably more convenient. <br /> - Jamezetta Bedford: There's an MPO meeting that morning and virtual meetings are just <br /> preserving of time. <br /> D. Hillsborough Future Train Station Update (Hillsborough Staff) <br /> Hillsborough will share their status of their train station project. <br /> Status: Hillsborough staff to provide any updates. <br /> - Margaret Hauth: Stephanie Trueblood will be the one to bring this project forward, so we're <br /> introducing her now. We have our funding program in place. We will be releasing design <br /> services later this fall, and this is what we know right now. <br /> - Travis Myren: I know at one point, there was no assurance that we would have a train stop at <br /> the train station. Is there any way for someone to make that commitment? <br /> - Margaret: No, but in the TIP, there is a project to fix the curve alignment. I take that as a <br /> positive step, but we have not yet identified a person to give us that assurance. <br /> - Jamezetta: I remember seeing that Phase B; I think it was in three phases. <br /> - Margaret: Funding is split three ways: the state, GoTriangle and the local Hillsborough money. <br /> The Phase B project is all state money to address the curve. <br /> - Jamezetta: Are there decision points or scenarios for what happens if we don't have a train <br /> stop? <br /> - Margaret: Before we put in the funding request, we had a meeting with NC Railroad. We got <br /> really lucky that it was in a place that Hillsborough owns 20 acres. You won't find an <br /> engineering constraint, but a competition constraint. Norfolk Southern leases the rail lines, and <br /> they prefer freight. If freight continues to escalate, it may not come until there is a second rail <br /> 2 <br />