Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
JAMES B. HUNT JR. <br />GOVERNOR. <br />' e~~F~~ <br />~_ <br />•~aw,.i' <br />STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA <br />DEPART OF TRANSPORTATION <br />P.O. BOX 25201, RALEIGH, N:C. 27611-5201 <br />June 11, 1999 <br />DAVID MCCOY <br />AC1'II~G SECRETARY <br />Ms. Becky Heron, Chair <br />Transportation Advisory Committee <br />.101 City Hall Plaza <br />Durham, North Carolina 27701 <br />Deaz Ms. Heron: . <br />Thank you for your recent letter regarding the widening of I-40 from I-85 to <br />NC 147 (TIP No. I-3306A). <br />The planning and environmental studies for this project aze currently underway <br />and a Categorical Exclusion will be prepared. As noted in your letter, only the Durham <br />County portion of this project is currently funded.. The Categorical Exclusion must <br />include the Orange County portion in order to satisfy. a requirement of the Federal <br />Highway Administration that the environmental review cover logical termini. When the <br />..Orange County portion is funded, the Federal Highway Administration will determine <br />what type of reevaluation will be required. ~ . <br />To ensure that all interested citizens have an opportunity to provide input during <br />the planning process, a Citizens Informational Workshop was held on Apri119, 1999. <br />Although the workshop was held in Durham County, efforts were made to include <br />resider+~ of Orange County. A TCG representative provided the names of citizen <br />contacts, which were included on our mailing list.. Notices about the April workshop. <br />were distributed to everyone on the mailing list. The local media, including newspaper <br />advertisements, radio and television coverage also publicized the workshop. We have <br />received no complaints from Orange County residents regazding accessibility to the April <br />workshop. However, we can schedule another Citizens Informational Workshop in <br />Orange County if the DCHC MPO feels it would be helpful. A Design Public Hearing <br />will also be held sometime next year to provide another opportunity for public input. <br />A preliminary noise analysis has been performed and will be included in the <br />Categorical Exclusion. Based on the preliminary noise analysis, we did not identify any <br />.locations where noise walls would be recommended. A final noise analysis will be based <br />on more detailed design plans and completed prior to construction. The. final noise <br />analysis for the Orange County portion of the project may be postponed until funding is <br />5 <br /> <br />PHONE (919) 733-2520 FAX (919) 733-9150 <br />