HomeMy Public PortalAbout02-21-2002 Special Session
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MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING
February 21,2002
PRESENT:
STAFF:
Mayor Joe Phelps, Ken Chavious, Frances Dancy, Mike Gering, Evelyn Lloyd
Demetric Potts and Margaret Hauth
Mayor Phelps called the meeting to order. He turned the meeting over to the five NCDOT staff present to
discuss the options for closing a railroad crossing in West Hillsborough. Nancy Horne with the state rail
division introduced Ann Steedly from the public information office, Doug Walters from her division, and
Patty Eason and Mike Mills both from the Division office in Greensboro. About 20 residents were present.
Horne thanked everyone for coming and stepped through the three options available. Horne said the reason
for closing a crossing would help increase speeds for passenger rail traffic up to 79 mph.
Option 2 - Close West Hill Avenue crossing, add longer gates and improve the signal at Bellevue, study the
drainage issue under the tracts, conduct a feasibility study for improving the trestle, and add turn lanes on
Dimmocks Mill to accommodate the additional traffic.
Option 1 - Close Bellevue crossing, make the improvements and studies listed above, improve the hump at
West Hill Ave to accommodate truck traffic.
Option 3 - Do nothing. Horne noted that closing a crossing is not mandatory, but it does make funding
available to do the other improvements. No improvements are planned without closing a crossing.
Linwood Brown spoke. He said that if West Hill Avenue is closed, two cars could block the intersection and
traffic. He said both should remain open.
Evelyn Hicks spoke. She asked where the sensors are that activate the gates (20 seconds away). She asked
about closing private crossings, which seem more dangerous. Horne said private closings are handled
through a different procedure. Hicks asked if the 79 mph speed would be maintained through town. Horne
said speed is dependent on adjacent uses and the tracks. Hicks said she did not think the neighborhood
should be disrupted for the convenience of travelers. Hicks ~ked what the purpose of longer arms are.
Horne said the longer arms help limit the possibility of a car sneaking through the crossing after the arms have
lowered. She added that neither intersection is particularly accident-prone and they each serve about 1700
vehicle crossings each day.
A representative of Southern Season spoke. She said they route their trucks out the 1-85 via Dimmocks Mill
and Ben Johnston Roads. She added that West Hill Ave and the trestle are not viable options for truck traffic
and that the operation receives about 11 deliveries a day.
Laura Oaks asked that consideration also be given for pedestrians who routinely cross the tracks as well.
Robert Patterson said there is currently inadequate signage on both the Town and DOT street systems to alert
drivers to options and limitations. Carolyn Norris said the volume of truck traffic is too great to close either
crossing and shift the traffic burden.
Brown expressed concern about fire vehicle access and use of the crossings. Other options including TIP
project requests and Town-funded improvements on the Town street system were discussed. Commissioner
Chavious asked for confirmation that without closing a crossing, NCDOT will not be funding any
improvements at this time. Horne confirmed that saying the funds come from a Federal source meant to
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mitigate the impact of closing a crossing.
Brown asked for a show of hands for the people opposed to closing either crossing. A clear majority of the
attendees raised their hands.
Mayor Phelps thanked everyone for coming out and for their opinions. He adjourned the meeting at 7:45
PM.
Respectfully submitted,
~MJ-A-,WL-.
M garet A. Hauth, Secretary