DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

INTERSTATE ACCESS ADDITION TO I-485 AT WEDDINGTON ROAD (SR 3468)

WBS Number 34331.1.1.7 TIP PROJECT R-211EC

Mecklenburg and Union Counties

Combined Public Hearing Informal Session 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM Formal Session 7:00 PM

Matthews Community Center

August 20, 2007 PURPOSE OF PROJECT

The purpose of this project is to improve access to from Weddington Road (SR 3463) and the surrounding communities in Weddington, Matthews, and Charlotte City limits. Currently, Weddington Road is not directly accessible from Interstate 485. The John Street and NC 16 interchanges provide access to Weddington Road by way of McKee Road and Trade Street or Pleasant Plains Road. The proposed , located between John Street and NC 16 interchanges, provides a closer and improved route from Interstate 485 to the project area. The addition of this interchange will redirect some of the traffic from the NC 16 and John Street interchanges, thereby improving the level of service for all of the involved roadways.

Level of Service (LOS) for a highway is a qualitative measure of a road’s operating conditions. It is a standard measurement used by transportation officials which reflects the relative ease of traffic flow on a scale of A to F. LOS A is a free-flow with no delays while LOS F reflects congestion and significant delays.

PURPOSE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Today’s hearing is an important step in the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s (NCDOT) procedure for making you, the public, a part of the project development process. The purpose of the hearing is to obtain public input on the location and design of the proposed project.

Planning and environmental studies on this highway project are provided in the environmental report – Environmental Assessment (EA) and the Interchange Justification Study. Copies of this report and today’s hearing map displaying the location and design have been available for public review at the Mecklenburg-Union Metropolitan Planning Organization (MUMPO), 600 E. Forth Street, 8th Floor, Charlotte and at the NCDOT Resident Engineer’s Office located at 12033-C East Independence Boulevard, Mathews.

YOUR PARTICIPATION

Now that the opportunity is here, you are encouraged to participate by making your comments and/or questions a part of the public record. This may be done by having them recorded at the Formal Public Hearing or by writing them on the attached comment sheet. Several representatives of the North Carolina Department of Transportation are present. They will talk with you, explain the design to you and answer your questions. You may write your comments or questions on the attached comment sheet and leave it with one of the representatives or mail them by September 24, 2007 to: Mr. Ed Lewis, NCDOT - Human Environment Unit, 1583 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1583, or e-mail: [email protected]

Everyone present is urged to participate in the proceedings. It is important, however, that THE OPINIONS OF ALL INDIVIDUALS BE RESPECTED REGARDLESS OF HOW DIVERGENT THEY MAY BE FROM YOUR OWN. Accordingly, debates, as such, are out of place at public hearings. Also, the public hearing is not to be used as a POPULAR REFERENDUM to determine the location and/or design by a majority vote of those present.

STATE-FEDERAL RELATIONSHIP

This proposed project is a Federal-Aid Highway Project and thus will be constructed under the State-Federal Aid Highway Program. Financing of this project will be 80% Federal Funds and 20% State Funds. The Board of Transportation is responsible for the selection and scheduling of projects on the Federal Aid System, their location, design and maintenance cost after construction. FHWA is responsible for the review and approval of the previously mentioned activities to ensure that each Federal Aid Project is designed, constructed and maintained to Federal Aid Standards.

WHAT IS DONE WITH THE INPUT?

A post-hearing meeting will be conducted after the comment period has ended. NCDOT staff representing Planning, Design, Traffic, Division, Right of Way, Public Involvement & Community Studies and others who play a role in the development of a project will attend this meeting. The project will also be reviewed with federal agencies such as the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) as well as state agencies such as the NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources. When appropriate, local government officials will attend.

All spoken and written issues are discussed at this meeting. Most issues are resolved at the post-hearing meeting. The NCDOT considers safety, costs, traffic service, social impacts and public comments in making decisions. Complex issues may require additional study and may be reviewed by higher management, Board of Transportation Members and/or the Secretary of Transportation.

Minutes of the post-hearing meeting are prepared and a summary is available to the public. You may request this document on the attached comment sheet.

NEED FOR THE PROJECT

The project need is based on increasing accessibility and improving the flow of traffic between Interstate 485 and the town of Weddington, southeast Charlotte, and the town of Matthews.

This subject part of Interstate 485 is classified as an interstate in the Statewide Functional Classification System and is pat of the National Highway System. This roadway is the primary route for interstate travel between northern and southeastern North Carolina. Locally, this roadway functions as a major thoroughfare in the mutually adopted Thoroughfare Plan for the City of Charlotte. Weddington Road is classified as a minor collector in the Statewide Functional Classification System. The subject project is shown on the 2004 MUMPO Thoroughfare Plan as a proposed interchange.

The proposed interchange will reduce the number of motorists using the adjacent interchanges.

Within the proposed interchange area, wider travel lanes will be constructed along Weddington Road to reduce the potential for vehicles to run off the road. The project will also enhance safety at the adjacent John Street and NC 16 (Providence Road) interchanges by reducing the volume of traffic using these interchanges.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

It is proposed to provide a half-clover interchange between Interstate 485 and Weddington Road that will provide loop/ramp combinations in the northeast and southeast quadrants. The intersection of the loop/ramp combination in the northeast quadrant will be aligned with Plantation Road. The loop/ramp combination in the southeast quadrant will provide an offset intersection at Plantation Center Drive. The proposed typical section for Weddington Road is five lanes with curb and gutter with the additional widening proposed to be to the east side of the existing roadway. The existing bridge over Interstate 485 will also be widened to the east to carry the added lanes. Sidewalk is proposed for both sides of Weddington Road.

There are three alternatives to providing access to a large property located in the northeast interchange quadrant. Access Alternative 1 would provide access off of Oxborough Drive. Access Alternative 2 would provide access off of Wilrose Place at Bumblebee Drive. Access Alternative 3 would provide no access to this property. Access Alternatives 1 and 2 would each require the purchase of a residential lot. Direct access to Weddington Road from this property is not an option.

PROPOSED PROJECT INFORMATION

Length (Miles): 0.84

Typical Section: Five-lane with curb and gutter and sidewalk on both sides (See Figure)

Right of Way: Existing along Weddington about 60 feet. Proposed along Weddington varies from 100 feet to 120 feet.

Access Control: No Control of Access except in the interchange area.

Relocatees: Residences: 1 Businesses: 0

Estimated Cost: Right of Way Cost: $ 6,275,000 Construction Cost: $ 11,800,000 Total: $ 18,075,000

Tentative Schedule: The tentative schedule is shown below. A number of factors can affect a project schedule, so schedules are subject to change.

Right of Way Acquisition: April 2009 Construction: April 2011

Weddington Road

Half cloverleaf interchange, B configuration, with Interstate 485 passing under Weddington Road

RIGHT-OF-WAY PROCEDURES

After decisions are made regarding the final design, the proposed right-of-way limits will be staked in the ground. If you are an affected property owner, a Right-of-Way Agent will contact you and arrange a meeting. The agent will explain the plans and advise you as to how the project will affect you. The agent will inform you of your rights as a property owner. If permanent right-of-way is required, professionals who are familiar with real estate values will evaluate or appraise your property. The evaluations or appraisals will be reviewed for completeness and accuracy and then the Right-of-Way Agent will make a written offer to you. The current market value of the property at its highest and best use when appraised will be offered as compensation. The Department of Transportation must:

1. Treat all owners and tenants equally. 2. Fully explain the owner’s rights. 3. Pay just compensation in exchange for property rights. 4. Furnish relocation advisory assistance.

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE

If you are a relocatee, that is, if your residence or business is to be acquired as part of the project, additional assistance in the form of advice and compensation is available. You will also be provided with assistance on locations of comparable housing and/or commercial establishments, moving procedures, and moving aid. Moving expenses may be paid for you. Additional monetary compensation is available to help homeowners cope with mortgage increases, increased value of comparable homes, closing costs, etc. A similar program is available to assist business owners. The Right- of-Way Agent can explain this assistance in greater detail.

COMMENT SHEET

Interstate 485 and Weddington Road Interchange

Combined Public Hearing – August 20, 2007

TIP Project No. R-211EC Union-Mecklenburg Counties WBS No. 34331.1.7

NAME:

ADDRESS:

COMMENTS AND/OR QUESTIONS: (Please tell us what you think about the Access Alternatives 1, 2, and 3.)

Comments may be mailed by September 24, 2007:

Mr. Ed Lewis Public Involvement and Community Studies Supervisor NCDOT - Human Environment Unit 1583 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1583 Phone: (919) 715-1593 FAX: (919) 715-1501 Email: [email protected]