October 2, 1998

Memorandum To: James A. Smailes, P.E., Federal Railroad Administration

From: Mitch Eaton, Highway/Railroad Traffic Separation Engineer

Subject: Quarterly Report # 9, North Carolina Sealed CorridorProject: TIP Project No. P-3419; Next Generation High Speed Rail Grant

• The North Carolina Department of Transportation has completed the following tasks as part of the Sealed Corridor project since our last report to you in July, 1998:
• Qwick Kurb portable median barriers were installed at fourteen locations along the rail corridor during the month of July. The NCDOT Highway Divisions 9 and 10 have agreed to assist with the maintenance of the median barriers.
• The ticketing phase of the CLEAR Violations Video Ticketing System on the Henderson Street crossing in Salisbury, Rowan Co., was started on August 17, 1998, and will run for a duration of twenty weeks. The installation of the "Photo Citation Enforcement" signs and notification to the media about the ticketing project were conducted the previous week before the testing began. To date, there has been one citation issued.
• The Traffic Engineering & Safety Systems Branch’s Traffic Safety Systems Management Unit and the Norfolk Southern Communications and Signals Department are still designing the two preemption phasing alternatives for railroad and highway signals at required four-quadrant gate locations. The Traffic Engineering & Safety Systems Branch is proceeding with the installation of four-quadrant gates at the locations that do not require traffic signal preemption.
• The final site inspection of locations to receive long gate arms is currently underway. The site inspections will determine which locations should receive the long gate arms, articulated gate arms, and if any other locations can also be treated with median barriers. Due to slightly higher maintenance necessary on the articulated gate arms, the number of locations requiring articulated gate arms will be kept minimal.
• The engineering firm of Gannett-Fleming is still negotiating with the participating municipalities on the recommendations from the Traffic Separation Study to consolidate crossings between 36th Street in Charlotte and Liberty Street in China Grove. The City of Kannapolis approved their Traffic Separation Study recommendations on September 28, 1998. Meetings on the recommendations of the study for the cities of Concord and China Grove are scheduled for the month of October.
• The engineering firm of Carter-Burgess is working with the NCDOT Planning and Environmental Branch to complete the environmental documentation necessary for the proposed connector road and grade separation that will enable the elimination of three redundant at-grade crossings in Greensboro. The NCDOT is currently negotiating with the City of Greensboro to have the connector road designed and constructed by the City with funding for construction provided by NCDOT. Current estimates are for the connector road to be constructed in late 1999. The grade separation will be constructed at a later date.
• The NCDOT has authorized Norfolk Southern to begin the removal of the older GRS gate mechanisms and the replacement with new, standard gate mechanisms and appropriate equipment as part of the Sealed Corridor project. A total of eight locations have been identified for replacement.
• The "Stop Here When Flashing" signs to be placed at the stop bars of the treated crossings have been manufactured and are awaiting installation. The NCDOT Rail Division and Norfolk Southern are currently working on a design for the "1-800" emergency phone number signs to be used in conjunction with the "Stop Here When Flashing" signs.
• The City of Salisbury closed the "D" Avenue crossing on July 7, 1998. The crossing was closed in accordance with recommendations from the Traffic Separation Study completed in June, 1994. A total of 4 crossings have been closed within the City of Salisbury.
  

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