GREATNC

Updates:

1)

Intermodal Transportation Center Project Update #4 - July 14, 2010

Staff efforts to gain final clearance and approval to acquire property in the City designated Intermodal Transportation Center project area continues. The regulatory process continues to be a significant element in that process. Below is a letter (sample) mailed to project area property owners.

As the sample letter indicates, staff, City consultants, and federal transportation representatives held a conference call meeting on July 13 to discuss the status of the regulatory process. The Section 4F document is the most significant element in that process. While a draft Section 4F document was submitted to the US Department of Transportation representatives several months ago, on-going recommended changes and revisions to the document have delayed final consideration of the document by the appropriate federal agencies. As the lead federal agency, the Department of Transportation’s feedback and advice on the document helps the City draft the document in such a way that it is more likely to gain final approval by the reviewing federal and state agencies.

Changes in federal transportation personnel have resulted in additional Section 4F requirements as fresh eyes have taken a slightly different interpretation to Section 4F requirements. City staff are encouraged that we are nearing the final stages of the Section 4F document production, which will ultimately become a chapter in the City’s more comprehensive Environmental Assessment document.

July 14, 2010

Subject: Greenville Intermodal Transportation Center Update #4
Dear Property Owner:

I am writing to update you on the Greenville Intermodal Transportation Center project. A lot of progress has been made since my last report to you on November 24, 2009. Unfortunately, the work accomplished is administrative in nature and not readily apparent to you.

City staff, working in conjunction with others, has completed the following required reports:

• Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA)

• Environmental Assessment (EA)

• Section 106 National Preservation Act

• Section 4F – United States Department of Transportation Act (DOT Act)

The Section 4F documentation has been the focal point of our energies since March 2010. The Section 4F report has been under the review of the United States Department of Transportation and other federal agencies, and all are providing feedback to staff on modifications, adjustments, and additional content.
In a conference call on July 13, 2010, the persons listed below and I discussed the Section 4F document and what changes are needed before it can be presented to the United States Department of Interior.

Department of Transportation officials complimented the work done thus far and acknowledged that drafting a Section 4F document is a difficult and tedious process.
How does this impact you? Staff recommends that you continue your business practices until such time that the City is notified of authorization to acquire property. I realize this process seems to be an unending one; however, we are close to finalizing the Section 4F document. We anticipate federal agencies will not issue the City permission to acquire property until later this year at best, or early 2011. This later-than-expected date is because of the ongoing discussions and changes required to the Section 4F report. City staff will continue to work hard to get acquisition approval as soon as possible.

If you have any questions about this letter, contact me at 252-329-4432.

Sincerely,

Thomas M. Moton, Jr., ICMA-CM
Assistant City Manager

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cc: Wayne Bowers, City Manager
Nancy Harrington, GREAT Transit Manager
Wes Anderson, Director, Public Works

2)

1/21/2010 - MOA Approved Signed by Historic Preservation Officer

3)

On October13, 2009, the City of Greenville, working with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office (NCSHPO), North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), and Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP), wrapped up the creation of a four-party agreement.  The agreement, or Memorandum of Agreement, was required by the federal statutes in the United States Historic Preservation Act’s Section 106, which requires the FTA to demonstrate that any federally funded project has attempted to mitigate any impact on historic properties. 

The Downtown Intermodal Transportation Center project contains historic properties within the federal government’s definition of the area of potential  effect.  Those properties include:

Jones–Lee House – 805 Evans Street - located in the project area;
A & B Auto – 103 W. 9th Street – across the street from project area; and
Greenville Art Museum – 802 S. Evans Street – across the street from the project area.

This agreement, and the work it requires to be accomplished, is a necessary step in the process for the City to get clearance from the FTA to begin purchasing properties.  The Greenville Historic Preservation Commission approved the agreement at its October 27, 2009, meeting.  Following the Historic Preservation Commission’s approval, the City Council approved the agreement at its November 9, 2009, meeting.

The Memorandum of Agreement requires the following measures be carried out:

Perform recordation work on all three properties;
Prepare local landmark designation on the museum and auto service center for the Greenville Historic Preservation Commission consideration;
Move and reuse the Jones-Lee House; and
Apply site layout and center design principles that route bus traffic away from the museum and auto service center and visually buffer them from the transit center.

Consultants from Moser Mayer Phoenix Associates and NFT Technologies will be undertaking the work listed in the agreement within the coming weeks.  I anticipate that work will be completed by mid-December and hope the City will get the FTA’s final approval in January 2010. 

Timeline:

City Council Approval of Acquisition of Parcels at ITC Project Site, October 8, 2008 Agenda Item

The City of Greenville has awarded the following contracts recently: