Appendix B

Public Involvement

B1. E-mail Updates

B2. Press Releases

B3. Public Update Meeting 

Summaries 
B1. E-mail Updates
June 03, 2010 

RE: Southeast High Speed Rail Update, Richmond to Raleigh

Note: Please do not reply to this email as it will not be seen. Thank you. 

GENERAL UPDATE – June 2010 

This update is going to everyone who has furnished emails to our project team. If it has reached you in 

error you may call our toll free number (1-800-749-7245) and ask to be removed (be sure to leave your 

email address and phone number with area code). 

Completion of Tier II Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), Richmond to 

Raleigh, and Schedule of Public Hearings 

North Carolina, Virginia, and the Federal Railroad Administration have released the 

DEIS. The press release is included below. 

The announcement includes the dates and locations for the eight public hearings that 

are scheduled in Virginia and North Carolina (four in each state). 

The entire document can be viewed at the project web site, www.sehsr.org, along with 

the detailed design maps that will be displayed at the public hearings. 

Following the public hearings, our next steps will be to recommend a preferred 

alignment in Fall 2010, conduct a Final EIS on that preferred alignment by mid-2011, 

followed by the Record of Decision by late 2011. The Record of Decision is a federal 

document that confirms the adequacy of the planning and design work done by the 

states, and allows the states to apply for federal funds to complete the project. 

Thank you for your continued interest in the SEHSR project. Please continue to visit the 

project web site, www.sehsr.org, for periodic updates on work progress. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to call the North Carolina Department of 

Transportation (NCDOT) or the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation 

(DRPT) project manager at the numbers below. 

Marc Hamel Christine Fix 

Interim SEHSR Tier II EIS Project Manager Rail Planning Coordinator 

NCDOT Rail Division DRPT

919-733-7245 ext 270. 804-786-1052
Date: June 3, 2010 Contact: Patrick Simmons NCDOT 919-733-7245 x 263 pbsimmons@ncdot.gov

Release No: Jennifer Pickett DRPT 804-786-7432 jennifer.pickett@drpt.virginia.gov 

North Carolina and Virginia to Hold Public Hearings for Southeast High Speed Rail 

Environmental Impact Statement analyzes high-speed passenger rail between Richmond, Va. and Raleigh, N.C. 

RALEIGH — North Carolina, Virginia and the Federal Railroad Administration announce the completion of a draft 

environmental statement that is a key step toward implementing high-speed rail service in the two states and the 

Southeast. The Tier II Draft Environmental Impact Statement covers the portion of the Southeast High Speed Rail 

(SEHSR) corridor between Richmond, Va., and Raleigh, N.C. 

The SEHSR project proposes to implement approximately 162 miles of high-speed rail as part of an overall plan to extend 

high-speed passenger rail service from the Northeast Corridor (Boston to Washington, D.C.) southward through Virginia 

to Charlotte, N.C. The Richmond to Raleigh portion includes nearly 100 new bridges/overpasses that, when combined 

with existing bridges/overpasses, will create a fully grade-separated system to ensure the safety of passengers and train 

crews, motorists and the surrounding community. 

“New high-speed rail service on the East Coast will provide people with more attractive travel choices and help manage 

traffic congestion on highways,” said Thelma Drake, agency director of DRPT. 

Patrick Simmons, director of rail for NCDOT, stated, “This document represents eight years of engineering and 

environmental work along with public involvement, and is a major milestone toward implementing high speed rail in 

North Carolina and Virginia. This portion of the corridor provides improved north/south service, and it will also facilitate 

important east/west connectivity.” 

“This is a significant step in completing the high-speed rail line from North Carolina to Washington, D.C.” said Federal 

Railroad Administrator Joseph Szabo. “We are very pleased with the multi-state cooperation and agreements with the 

freight railroads, which will serve as a model for other states in pushing high-speed rail beyond their borders.” 

A series of eight public hearings has been scheduled throughout the corridor during the month of July. These hearings 

will provide the public an opportunity to review and comment on the proposed designs and the associated environmental 

impacts. Based on input from the public and regulatory agencies, a recommendation report (recommending a preferred 

alternative) will be prepared, followed by a Final Environmental Impact Statement and final designs. 

Southeast High Speed Rail service would provide business and leisure travelers with an alternate transportation option for 

trips between 100-500 miles. The planned service would have top speeds of 110 miles per hour with targeted average 

speeds of 85-87 mph. 

North Carolina was recently awarded $520 million in federal recovery funds for improvements that will enable higher 

track speeds and increased frequencies along the corridor between Raleigh and Charlotte and $25 million for projects to 

improve reliability of existing service from Raleigh north to Virginia. Virginia was also awarded $75 million in federal 

recovery funds for improvements to the Richmond to Washington, D.C., part of the corridor. 

Dates and locations for the public hearings are listed below. An open house will be held from 5-7 p.m. followed by a 

formal public hearing at 7 p.m. Eastern Standard Time: 

Hearing for Warren County, N.C. 

c/o NC Department of Transportation Rail Division

1553 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1553

919-733-4713
July 13, 2010 

Northside Elementary School 

164 Elementary Avenue, Norlina 

Hearing for Brunswick 

and Mecklenburg Counties, VA 

July 15, 2010 

Southside VA Community College 

Christiana Campus 

109 Campus Drive, Alberta 

Hearing for Richmond, VA 

July 20, 2010 

Virginia DMV Cafeteria, 1st floor 

2300 W. Broad Street, Richmond 

Hearing for Chesterfield County, Colonial Heights, and Petersburg, VA 

July 21, 2010 

Union Station 

103 River Street, Petersburg 

Hearing for Dinwiddie County, VA 

July 22, 2010 

Sunnyside Elementary School 

10203 Sunnyside Road., McKenney 

Hearing for Wake County, N.C. 

July 26, 2010 

Raleigh Convention Center 

500 South Salisbury Street, Raleigh 

Hearing for Vance County, N.C. 

July 27, 2010 

Aycock Elementary School 

305 Carey Chapel Road., Henderson 

Hearing for Franklin County, N.C. 
July 29, 2010 

Franklinton High School Gym 

6948 N. Cheatham Street, Franklinton 

There are several options to provide comments on the document: 

 

 Sign up at a public hearing to publicly deliver verbal comments. Verbal comments are limited to three 

minutes per person and groups are requested to provide comments through one spokesperson whenever 

possible. 

 Provide verbal comments privately at a public hearing. 

 Provide written comments at a public hearing. 

 Provide written comments at any time during the public comment period using the online comment form at 

www.sehsr.org 

 Mail written comments at any time during the public comment period to: SEHSR Comments, NCDOT Rail 

Division, 1553 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1553 or SEHSR Comments, Public Information 

Office, DRPT, 600 E. Main St, Suite 2102, Richmond, VA 23219. 

Comments must be received or postmarked by August 30, 2010. For more information, visit www.sehsr.org

***NCDOT*** 

***DRPT*** 

Email correspondence to and from this sender is subject to the N.C. Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.

2

Date: August 24, 2010 Contact: Patrick Simmons NCDOT 919-733-7245 x 263 

pbsimmons@ncdot.gov 

Release No: Courtney Ware DRPT 804-225-3746 courtney.ware@drpt.virginia.gov 

SOUTHEAST HIGH SPEED RAIL PROJECT COMMENT PERIOD EXTENDED 

 Comments will be accepted until September 10 

RALEIGH – Due to the volume of comments received, North Carolina, Virginia and the Federal 

Railroad Administration (FRA) have extended the comment period on the Tier II Draft Environmental 

Impact Statement, which covers the portion of the Southeast High Speed Rail (SEHSR) corridor 

between Richmond, V.A. and Raleigh, N.C. Comments will be accepted on the document until 

September 10, 2010. The Richmond to Raleigh portion of SEHSR is an integral part of moving 

forward with the overall Washington, D.C. to Charlotte corridor. 

“While we received significant popular support for the project, we also learned a great deal from 

concerned property owners, business people and community leaders on how to improve the project,” 

said NCDOT Rail Division Director Patrick Simmons. “These meetings were a great way for us to 

hear what citizens along the corridor think about our plans.” 

Thelma Drake, agency director of DRPT, stated, “This document represents a key step toward 

implementing high speed rail service on the East Coast. The large public response confirms the 

importance of this project.” 

More than 2,200 people attended the eight public hearings, four in Virginia and four in North 

Carolina. Citizens had an opportunity to speak face to face with rail officials and make comments for 

the record. 

The deadline was extended from August 30. Comments should be mailed to: 

 

 SEHSR Comments 

 NCDOT Rail Division 

 1553 Mail Service Center 

 Raleigh, NC 27699-1553 

 SEHSR Comments 

 Public Information Office, DRPT 

 600 E. Main St 

 Suite 2102 

 Richmond, VA 23219 

c/o NC Department of Transportation Rail Division 

1553 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1553 

919-733-4713 
3

The public also can submit their comments electronically through the project web site at 

www.sehsr.org. 

After the comment period ends, the project team will meet to review all of the public and agency 

comments, and develop a recommendation report. Once the FRA reviews the recommendation 

report, the Tier II Final Environmental Impact Statement will be completed. Another series of public 

hearings will be scheduled after the FRA issues the Record of Decision for the project. A Record of 

Decision for the project means the federal government has granted approval to start acquiring right of 

way and begin the final detailed design that would lead to construction, subject to funding. 

The Richmond to Raleigh portion of the SEHSR would run approximately 162 miles. Existing rail lines 

and rail rights of way will be used as much as possible. The project will reduce traffic congestion, 

increase safety along the train corridor and serve long-distance business and leisure travelers 

between and beyond Virginia and North Carolina. 

***NCDOT*** 

***DRPT*** 

Date: August 24, 2010 Contact: Patrick Simmons NCDOT 919-733-7245 x 263 

pbsimmons@ncdot.gov 

Release No: Courtney Ware DRPT 804-225-3746 courtney.ware@drpt.virginia.gov 

Southeast High Speed Rail Project Comment Period Extended 

Comments will be accepted until September 10, 2010 

RICHMOND — Due to the volume of comments received, North Carolina, Virginia and the Federal 

Railroad Administration (FRA) have extended the comment period on the Tier II Draft Environmental 

Impact Statement which covers the portion of the Southeast High Speed Rail (SEHSR) corridor 

between Richmond, VA and Raleigh, NC. Comments will be accepted on the document until 

September 10, 2010. 

c/o NC Department of Transportation Rail Division 

1553 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1553 

919-733-4713 
4

“While we received significant popular support for the project, we also learned a great deal from 

concerned property owners, business people and community leaders on how to improve the project,” 

said NCDOT Rail Division Director Pat Simmons. “These meetings were a great way for us to hear 

what citizens along the corridor think about our plans.” 

Thelma Drake, agency director of DRPT, stated, “This document represents a key step toward 

implementing high speed rail service on the East Coast. The large public response confirms the 

importance of this project.” 

The SEHSR project proposes to implement approximately 162 miles of high speed rail as part of an 

overall plan to extend high speed passenger rail service from the Northeast Corridor (Boston to 

Washington, D.C.) southward through Virginia to Charlotte, NC. The Richmond to Raleigh portion 

includes nearly 100 new bridges/overpasses that, when combined with existing bridges/overpasses, 

will create a fully grade-separated system to ensure the safety of passengers and train crews, 

motorists and the surrounding community. 

A series of eight public hearings were held in Virginia and North Carolina in July to provide the public 

an opportunity to review and comment on the proposed designs and the associated environmental 

impacts. After the close of the public comment period, a recommendation report will be developed, 

based on input from the public and regulatory agencies, followed by a Final Environmental Impact 

Statement. Another series of public hearings will be scheduled after the FRA issues a Record of 

Decision for the project. A Record of Decision for the project means the federal government has 

granted approval to start acquiring right of way and begin the final detailed design that would lead to 

construction, subject to funding. 

The public may comment on the draft document by using the online comment form at www.sehsr.org

or by mailing comments to: 

SEHSR Comments 

NCDOT Rail Division 

1553 Mail Service Center 

Raleigh, NC 27699-1553 

SEHSR Comments 

Public Information Office, DRPT 

600 E. Main St 

Suite 2102 

Richmond, VA 23219 

Comments must be received or postmarked by September 10, 2010. For more information, visit 

www.sehsr.org 

***NCDOT*** 

***DRPT*** 

Email correspondence to and from this sender is subject to the N.C. Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.
1

Young, Craig

From: Solberg, Kristina L [klsolberg@ncdot.gov]

Sent: Tuesday, November 02, 2010 4:29 PM

To: Young, Craig

Subject: Southeast High Speed Rail Update, Richmond to Raleigh

November 02, 2010 

RE: Southeast High Speed Rail Update, Richmond to Raleigh

Note: Please do not reply to this email as it may not be seen. Thank you. 

GENERAL UPDATE – November 2010 

This update is going to everyone who has furnished email addresses to our project team. If it has reached you in error 

you may call our toll free number (1-877-749-7245) and ask to be removed (be sure to leave your email address and 

phone number with area code). 

Public Comments Now Under Review

The SEHSR planning and engineering team wants to thank all who attended one of our eight public 

hearings and/or one of the several public hearings held by local municipalities this summer, and the 

many of you who submitted comments through the public review process. 

We received over 1,800 comments from individuals and agencies in Virginia and North Carolina. We 

heard your comments, and are at work now compiling and analyzing the input and evaluating 

options. The public input will be considered along with other data and constraints in the selection of a 

recommended alternative. We anticipate this work to take several more months. 

We want to thank you again for your interest in this project and for your comments and suggestions. 

Please continue to visit the project web site, www.sehsr.org, for periodic updates on work progress. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to call the North Carolina Department of Transportation 

(NCDOT) or the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) project manager at the 

numbers below. 

Marc Hamel Christine Fix 

SEHSR Tier II EIS Project Manager Rail Planning Coordinator 

NCDOT Rail Division DRPT 

919-733-7245 ext 266 804-786-1052 

Email correspondence to and from this sender is subject to the N.C. Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.
From: Sams, Larry H

To: Young-Paiva, Diana

Subject: Update - Southeast High Speed Rail Project

Date: Monday, July 11, 2011 3:45:27 PM

Attachments: image001.png

July 11, 2011

RE: Southeast High Speed Rail Update, Richmond to Raleigh

Note: Please do not reply to this email as it may not be seen. Thank you.

GENERAL UPDATE – July 2011

This update is going to everyone who has furnished email addresses to our project team. If it has reached you in

error you may call our toll free number (1-877-749-7245) and ask to be removed (be sure to leave your email

address and phone number with area code).

Public Update Meetings Now Being Scheduled

Following is a press release for a Public Update Meeting being held on Thursday, July 14,

regarding two new rail alignments in Brunswick County, Virginia. Several additional update

meetings will be scheduled in Virginia and North Carolina in the coming months.

We want to thank you for your interest in this project. Please continue to visit the project web

site, www.sehsr.org, for periodic updates on work progress.

If you have any questions, please feel free to call the North Carolina Department of

Transportation (NCDOT) or the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT)

project manager at the numbers below.

Marc Hamel Emily Stock

SEHSR Tier II EIS Project Manager Manager of Rail Planning

NCDOT Rail Division DRPT

919-733-7245 ext 270 804-786-1052

Contact: Courtney Ware DRPT 804-225-3746 courtney.ware@drpt.virginia.gov 

Release No: 

Update Meeting for Southeast High Speed Rail Project

New rail alignments developed in Brunswick County for the Southeast High Speed Rail,

Richmond, Va. to Raleigh, NC Tier II Environmental Impact Statement

RICHMOND, Va. — In the summer of 2010, the Virginia Department of Rail and Public

Transportation (DRPT) and the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) held a series

of Public Hearings on a Draft Tier II Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Richmond, Va.

to Raleigh, NC portion of the SEHSR corridor. The SEHSR project proposes to implement

approximately 162 miles of high speed rail as part of an overall plan to extend high speed

passenger rail service from the Northeast Corridor (Boston to Washington, D.C.) southward through

Virginia to Charlotte, NC.

Over 1,800 individuals, local governments and agencies provided comments on the DEIS. In

c/o Department of Rail and Public Transportation

600 East Main Street, Suite 2102

Richmond, VA 23219
response to comments, new rail alignments have been developed in two of the project’s sections in

Virginia. The two areas affected are in Brunswick County, north of Alberta between the Nottoway

River and Flat Rock Road (project Section D), and south of Alberta, between Millville Road and the

Meherrin River (project Section G).

The new rail alignments will be presented to the public at a Project Update Meeting on Thursday,

July 14, 2011, at the Southside VA Community College, Christanna Campus, 109 Campus Drive,

Alberta, VA 23821. The meeting is an open-house style meeting, and the public is invited to stop by

anytime between 5:00 p.m. -8:00 p.m. 

Maps with the new designs are on the project website www.sehsr.org. Comments may be submitted

at the Project Update Meeting, on the web site, or by mail to SEHSR Comments, NCDOT Rail

Division 1553 MSC, Raleigh, NC 27699-1553. Comments must be submitted by August 15, 2011.

Public comments on the new alignments will be used in the evaluation of alternatives for the Final

Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS). All Section D and G alternatives are still under

consideration – no decisions have been made on recommended alternatives at this time.

A Project Update Meeting will be held in Raleigh, NC in late summer, to present a newly developed

rail alignment in downtown Raleigh. A series of smaller update meetings will be scheduled in

Virginia and North Carolina later in the fall to obtain comments on newly developed roadwork in

areas where the rail alternatives are on common alignment. 

A Recommendation Report is expected to be published this fall. The report will identify the DRPT’s

and NCDOT’s recommended preferred rail alternatives in each of the 26 project sections. Based

on federal concurrence, the preferred alternatives will be presented in the Tier II Final Environmental

Impact Statement (FEIS). The FEIS is projected to be published late 2012, followed by a Record of

Decision from the Federal Railroad Administration in 2013. 

***DRPT***

Email correspondence to and from this sender is subject to the N.C. Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.
From: Sams, Larry H

To: Young-Paiva, Diana

Subject: Southeast High Speed Rail Update

Date: Friday, September 23, 2011 12:20:45 PM

September 23, 2011

RE: Southeast High Speed Rail Update, Richmond to Raleigh

Note: Please do not reply to this email as it may not be seen. Thank you.

GENERAL UPDATE – September 2011

This update is going to everyone who has furnished email addresses to our project team. If it has reached

you in error you may call our toll free number (1-877-749-7245) and ask to be removed (be sure to leave

your email address and phone number with area code).

Public Update Meeting Scheduled for Raleigh

In the summer of 2010, the North Carolina Department of Transportation Rail Division

(NCDOT) and the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) held a

series of Public Hearings on a Draft Tier II Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for

the Richmond, VA, to Raleigh, NC, portion of the SEHSR corridor. The SEHSR project

proposes to implement approximately 162 miles of high speed rail as part of an overall

plan to extend high speed passenger rail service from the Northeast Corridor (Boston to

Washington, D.C.) southward through Virginia to Charlotte, NC.

Over 1,800 individuals, local governments and agencies provided comments on the

DEIS. In response to comments, a new rail alternative, “NC5”, has been developed for

downtown Raleigh, NC, between Whitaker Mill Road and W. Cabarrus Street (at the

Boylan Wye). The new alignment was developed to minimize impacts to communities

and to the freight operations within the Norfolk Southern and CSX rail yards.

The new alternative for downtown Raleigh will be presented to the

public at a Project Update Meeting on Tuesday, September 27, 2011, at

the Raleigh Convention Center, 500 S. Salisbury Street, Raleigh, NC

27601. The meeting is an open-house style meeting, and the public is

invited to stop by anytime between 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

Maps with the new designs are on the project website www.sehsr.org. Comments may

be submitted at the Project Update Meeting, on the web site, or by mail to: SEHSR

Comments, NCDOT Rail Division 1553 MSC, Raleigh, NC 27699-1553. Comments must

be submitted by October 27, 2011. Public comments on the new alignment will be used

in the evaluation of alternatives for the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS). All

alternatives in Raleigh are still under consideration – no decisions have been made on
recommended alternatives at this time.

A similar Public Update Meeting was held in Alberta in July regarding two new rail

alignments in Brunswick County, Virginia. A series of smaller update meetings will be

scheduled at other locations and municipalities throughout the corridor in early 2012 to

obtain comments on some newly developed roadwork. The new roadwork designs have

been developed in response to comments on the DEIS.

A Recommendation Report is expected to be published by the end of this year. The

report will identify NCDOT’s and VA DRPT’s recommended preferred rail alternative in

each of the 26 project sections. Based on federal concurrence, the preferr

alternatives will be presented in the Tier II FEIS, projected to be published in late 2012,

followed by a Record of Decision from the Federal Railroad Administration in 2013.

We want to thank you for your interest in this project. Please continue to visit the project

web site, www.sehsr.org, for periodic updates on work progress.

If you have any questions, please feel free to call the North Carolina Department of

Transportation (NCDOT) or the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation

(DRPT) project manager at the numbers below.

Marc Hamel

SEHSR Tier II EIS Project Manager

NCDOT Rail Division

919-733-7245 ext 270

Email correspondence to and from this sender is subject to the N.C. Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties.
1

Young, Craig

From: Sams, Larry H <lsams@ncdot.gov>

Sent: Monday, February 04, 2013 1:19 PM

To: Young, Craig

Subject: SEHSR General Update

 

February 04, 2013 

 

RE: Southeast High Speed Rail Update, Richmond to Raleigh

Note: Please do not reply to this email as it may not be seen. Thank you.

GENERAL UPDATE – February 2013

This update is going to everyone who has furnished email addresses to our project team. If it has reached you in error 

you may call our toll free number (1-877-749-7245) and ask to be removed (be sure to leave your email address and 

phone number with area code).

SEHSR Project Update Meeting – Chesterfield County, Virginia

Tuesday, February 26, 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Chesterfield County Public Safety Training Center, 6610 Public Safety Road, Chesterfield, VA 23832

The public is invited to attend a Project Update Meeting for the Southeast High Speed Rail Project. In 

response to comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), revisions have been 

made to proposed bridges and underpasses, rail crossing closures and other roadwork throughout 

the corridor, including modifications at the following locations in Chesterfield County, Virginia: 

 

 Station Road 

 Chester Road 

 Hopkins Road 

 Centralia Road 

 Curtis Street 

 West Street 

 Woods Edge Road 

 Walthall Industrial Parkway 

 Pine Forest Drive 

 

Below is the text of the Press Release announcing this meeting. Please note that maps showing the 

revised roadwork for Chesterfield County are on the project website www.sehsr.org. 
2

 

Four previous Public Update Meetings have been held since the Draft Environmental Impact 

Statement (DEIS) public hearings in 2010: Brunswick County/Alberta VA (July 2011), downtown 

Raleigh NC (September 2011), north Wake County/Wake Forest NC (May 2012), and Vance 

County/Henderson NC (September 2012). 

Thank you for your interest in this project. Please continue to visit the project web site, 

www.sehsr.org, for periodic updates on work progress.

If you have any questions, please feel free to call the North Carolina Department of Transportation 

(NCDOT) or the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) project manager at the 

numbers below. 

 

Marc Hamel Emily Stock 

SEHSR Tier II EIS Project Manager Manager of Rail Planning 

NCDOT Rail Division DRPT 

919-707-4705 804-786-1052

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 24, 2013 

Contact: Lynne McCarthy 

Phone: (804) 786-4443 

Email: Lynne.McCarthy@drpt.virginia.gov

 Transportation Officials to hold Southeast High Speed Rail Project Update 

Meeting for Chesterfield County, VA

Revisions to proposed roadwork presented at public meeting 

Richmond — On Tuesday, February 26, 2013 at the Chesterfield County Public Safety Training 

Center, the public will have an opportunity to learn about revisions to proposed bridges and 

underpasses, rail crossing closures and other roadwork in Chesterfield County, that are part of the 

Southeast High Speed Rail (SEHSR) project. 

Revisions were developed throughout the corridor in response to public comments following summer 

2010 public hearings on the Southeast High Speed Rail, Richmond, VA to Raleigh, NC Tier II Draft 

Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). The SEHSR project would implement nearly 162 miles of 
3

higher performance rail as part of an overall plan to extend higher speed passenger rail service from 

the Boston, MA to Washington, D.C. southward through Richmond, Virginia to Charlotte, NC. 

In May, 2012 the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) and the North 

Carolina Department of Transportation Rail Division (NCDOT) submitted the Southeast High Speed 

Rail Tier II Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Recommendation Report to the Federal Railroad 

Administration (FRA). The Recommendation Report identifies the two states’ recommendations to 

FRA for the preferred rail alternative for each of the 26 sections of the SEHSR corridor between 

Richmond, VA, and Raleigh, NC. In Chesterfield County, all rail alternatives follow the same 

alignment along the existing rail right-of-way. The preferred alternatives and associated road work 

will be presented in the upcoming Tier II Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), expected to 

be published in late 2013. That will be followed by a Record of Decision (ROD) from FRA and a 

second round of public hearings. 

At the February 26th Project Update Meeting, the public will be able to view maps of the preferred rail 

alternative and revised road work in Chesterfield County including modifications at these locations: 

 Station Road 

 Chester Road 

 Hopkins Road 

 Centralia Road 

 Curtis Street 

 West Street 

 Woods Edge Road 

 Walthall Industrial Parkway 

 Pine Forest Drive 

The Project Update Meeting will be held at the Chesterfield County Public Safety Training Center 

located at 6610 Public Safety Road, Chesterfield, VA 23832. A briefing for elected officials will be 

held at 4:00 p.m., followed by an open house meeting for the public from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. No 

formal presentations will be made at the open house meeting. 

Maps presenting the preferred alternative and revised roadwork for Chesterfield County are on the 

project website www.sehsr.org. 

 *** 

 
B2. Press Releases
Date: July 8, 2011 Contact: Courtney Ware DRPT 804-225-3746 courtney.ware@drpt.virginia.gov 

 

Update Meeting for Southeast High Speed Rail Project 

New rail alignments developed in Brunswick County for the Southeast High Speed Rail, Richmond, Va. 

to Raleigh, NC Tier II Environmental Impact Statement 

RICHMOND, Va. — In the summer of 2010, the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation 

(DRPT) and the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) held a series of Public Hearings on a 

Draft Tier II Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Richmond, Va. to Raleigh, NC portion of the 

SEHSR corridor. The SEHSR project proposes to implement approximately 162 miles of high speed rail as part 

of an overall plan to extend high speed passenger rail service from the Northeast Corridor (Boston to Washington, 

D.C.) southward through Virginia to Charlotte, NC. 

Over 1,800 individuals, local governments and agencies provided comments on the DEIS. In response to 

comments, new rail alignments have been developed in two of the project’s sections in Virginia. The two areas 

affected are in Brunswick County, north of Alberta between the Nottoway River and Flat Rock Road (project 

Section D), and south of Alberta, between Millville Road and the Meherrin River (project Section G). 

The new rail alignments will be presented to the public at a Project Update Meeting on Thursday, July 14, 2011, 

at the Southside VA Community College, Christanna Campus, 109 Campus Drive, Alberta, VA 23821. The 

meeting is an open-house style meeting, and the public is invited to stop by anytime between 5:00 p.m. -8:00 p.m. 

Maps with the new designs are on the project website www.sehsr.org. Comments may be submitted at the Project 

Update Meeting, on the web site, or by mail to SEHSR Comments, NCDOT Rail Division 1553 MSC, Raleigh, 

NC 27699-1553. Comments must be submitted by August 15, 2011. Public comments on the new alignments will 

be used in the evaluation of alternatives for the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS). All Section D and 

G alternatives are still under consideration – no decisions have been made on recommended alternatives at this 

time. 

A Project Update Meeting will be held in Raleigh, NC in late summer, to present a newly developed rail 

alignment in downtown Raleigh. A series of smaller update meetings will be scheduled in Virginia and North 

Carolina later in the fall to obtain comments on newly developed roadwork in areas where the rail alternatives are 

on common alignment. 

A Recommendation Report is expected to be published this fall. The report will identify the DRPT’s and 

NCDOT’s recommended preferred rail alternatives in each of the 26 project sections. Based on federal 

concurrence, the preferred alternatives will be presented in the Tier II Final Environmental Impact Statement 

(FEIS). The FEIS is projected to be published late 2012, followed by a Record of Decision from the Federal 

Railroad Administration in 2013. 

***DRPT*** 

c/o Department of Rail and Public Transportation 

600 East Main Street, Suite 2102 

Richmond, VA 23219 
Date: September 22, 2011 Contact: Marc L. Hamel NCDOT 919-733-7245 x 270 mhamel@ncdot.gov 

 

Transportation Officials to Update Plan for Downtown Raleigh Southeast High Speed Rail 

Project 

New alternative will be presented at public meeting 

RALEIGH — A new rail alternative for downtown Raleigh will be presented next week, resulting from public 

comments from the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s Rail Division (NCDOT) and the Virginia 

Department of Rail and Public Transportation (VADRPT) summer 2010 environmental public meetings. The 

series of public meetings, known as the Public Hearings on a Draft Tier II Environmental Impact Statement 

(DEIS), was held for the Richmond, Va. to Raleigh portion of the Southeast High Speed Rail (SEHSR) corridor. 

The SEHSR project would implement nearly 162 miles of higher performance rail as part of an overall plan to 

extend higher speed passenger rail service from the Boston, Mass. to Washington, D.C. southward through 

Virginia to Charlotte. 

Over 1,800 individuals, local governments and agencies provided comments on the DEIS. In response to 

comments, a new rail alternative, “NC5”, has been developed for downtown Raleigh between Whitaker Mill Road 

and the vicinity of the Amtrak station. The new alignment was developed to minimize impacts to the -resident 

and to the freight operations within the Norfolk Southern and CSX rail yards. 

The new alternative will be presented to the public at a Project Update Meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 27, at the 

Raleigh Convention Center, 500 S. Salisbury St., Raleigh, NC 27601. The meeting will be open house style, and 

the public is invited to stop by anytime between 4 p.m. and 7p.m. (when the meeting closes). 

Maps with the new designs are on the project website www.sehsr.org. Comments may be submitted at the Project 

Update Meeting, on the website, or by mail to: SEHSR Comments, NCDOT Rail Division 1553 MSC, Raleigh, 

NC 27699-1553. Comments must be submitted by October 27, 2011. Public comments on the new alignment will 

be used in the evaluation of alternatives for the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS). All alternatives in 

Raleigh are still under consideration – no decisions have been made on recommended alternatives at this time. 

A series of smaller update meetings will be scheduled at other locations and municipalities throughout the corridor 

later in the fall to obtain comments on some newly developed roadwork in response to comments on the DEIS. 

A recommendation for the rail alternative is expected to be published this fall. The report will identify NCDOT’s 

and VA DRPT’s recommended preferred rail alternatives in each of the 26 SEHSR project sections. Based on 

federal approval, the preferred alternatives will be presented in the Tier II FEIS. That is projected to be published 

late 2012, followed by a Record of Decision, which is the final environmental document, from the Federal 

Railroad Administration in 2013. 

***NCDOT*** 

c/o NC Department of Transportation Rail Division 

1553 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1553 

919-733-4713 
C/o NC Department of Transportation Rail Division 

 1553 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1553 

 

Date: May, 2012 Contact: Marc L. Hamel NCDOT 919-707-4705 

Southeast High Speed Rail Project Recommends Rail Alternatives to FRA 

Recommendation Report presents preferred rail alternatives between Richmond, VA., and Raleigh, NC 

Raleigh – The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) and the North Carolina 

Department of Transportation (NCDOT) have submitted the Southeast High Speed Rail (SEHSR) Tier II 

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Recommendation Report to the Federal Railroad Administration 

(FRA). The report is available to the public via the SEHSR website www.sehsr.org and DRPT’s website 

www.drpt.virginia.gov. 

The Recommendation Report identifies the two States’ recommendations to FRA for the preferred rail 

alternative for each of the 26 sections of the SEHSR corridor between Richmond, VA, and Raleigh, NC 

(R2R). The recommendations are based on public, local government, and agency comments received on 

the Draft EIS, which was published in May of 2010 and presented to the public in a series of meetings 

along the corridor in Virginia and North Carolina. Other inputs include assessment of community and 

environmental impacts, operability, constructability and costs. 

A draft of the Recommendation Report was made available to the public in February 2012. Based on new 

information received in response to the draft report, one change to a recommended alternative was made 

within a short section of the project in Wake Forest, NC. All other recommendations have been carried 

forward in the final report. North Carolina’s Board of Transportation concurred with the report on March 

8, 2012, and it was adopted by the Virginia Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) on March 14, 

2012. 

Once approved by FRA, the preferred alternatives identified in the Recommendation Report will be 

presented in the forthcoming Tier II Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), anticipated to be 

published in early 2013, followed by a Record of Decision (ROD) from FRA and a second round of 

public hearings. 

The 162-mile Richmond to Raleigh segment of SEHSR is an integral part the overall Washington, D.C., 

to Charlotte rail corridor. Existing rail lines and rail rights of way will be used as much as possible to 

accommodate recommended improvements. The project will reduce traffic congestion, increase safety 

along the train corridor and serve long-distance business and leisure travelers between and beyond 

Virginia and North Carolina. 

### 
 

Date: May 2012 Contact: Marc L. Hamel NCDOT 919-707-4705 

 Contact: Judith Gifford VA DRPT 804-371-6920 

Southeast High Speed Rail Project Recommends Rail Alternatives to FRA 

Recommendation Report presents preferred rail alternatives between Richmond, VA, and Raleigh, NC 

Richmond/Raleigh – The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) and the North 

Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) have submitted the Southeast High Speed Rail 

(SEHSR) Tier II Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Recommendation Report to the Federal Railroad 

Administration(FRA). The report is available to the public via the SEHSR website www.sehsr.org and 

DRPT’s website www.drpt.virginia.gov. 

The Recommendation Report identifies the two States’ recommendations to FRA for the preferred rail 

alternative for each of the 26 sections of the SEHSR corridor between Richmond, VA, and Raleigh, NC 

(R2R). The recommendations are based on public, local government, and agency comments received on 

the Draft EIS, which was published in May of 2010 and presented to the public in a series of meetings 

along the corridor in Virginia and North Carolina. Other inputs include assessment of community and 

environmental impacts, operability, constructability and costs. 

A draft of the Recommendation Report was made available to the public in February 2012. Based on new 

information received in response to the draft report, one change to a recommended alternative was made 

within a short section of the project in Wake Forest, NC. All other recommendations have been carried 

forward in the final report. North Carolina’s Board of Transportation concurred with the report on March 

8, 2012, and it was adopted by the Virginia Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) on March 14, 

2012. 

Once approved by FRA, the preferred alternatives identified in the Recommendation Report will be 

presented in the forthcoming Tier II Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), anticipated to be 

published in early 2013, followed by a Record of Decision (ROD) from FRA and a second round of 

public hearings. 

The 162-mile Richmond to Raleigh segment of SEHSR is an integral part the overall Washington, D.C., 

to Charlotte rail corridor. Existing rail lines and rail rights of way will be used as much as possible to 

accommodate recommended improvements. The project will reduce traffic congestion, increase safety 

along the train corridor and serve long-distance business and leisure travelers between and beyond 

Virginia and North Carolina. 

### 
Date: May 7, 2012 Contact: Marc L. Hamel NCDOT 919-707-4705 mhamel@ncdot.gov 

 

Transportation Officials to hold Southeast High Speed Rail Project Update Meeting for Wake 

Forest and north Raleigh 

Revisions to proposed roadwork presented at public meeting 

RALEIGH — The North Carolina Department of Transportation’s Rail Division will present information to the 

public on revisions to proposed bridges and underpasses, rail crossing closures and other roadwork in Wake 

Forest and north Raleigh on Tuesday, May 15 at the North Raleigh Hilton. The revisions highlight the area 

between Durant Road and Whitaker Mill Road along the Southeast High Speed Rail (SEHSR) corridor. 

Revisions were developed throughout the corridor in response to public comments following the NCDOT and 

Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (VADRPT) summer 2010 public hearing meetings on 

environmental issues, known as the Tier II Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). The SEHSR project 

would implement nearly 162 miles of higher performance rail as part of an overall plan to extend higher speed 

passenger rail service from the Boston, MA to Washington, D.C. southward through Virginia to Charlotte. 

NCDOT and VADRPT recently submitted the SEHSR Tier II Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 

Recommendation Report to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). The Recommendation Report identifies 

the two states’ recommendations to FRA for the preferred rail alternative for each of the 26 sections of the 

SEHSR corridor between Richmond, VA, and Raleigh. The preferred alternatives will be presented in the 

upcoming Tier II Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), expected to be published in early 2013. That 

will be followed by a Record of Decision (ROD) from FRA and a second round of public hearings. 

At the May 15th Project Update Meeting, the public will be able to view maps of the preferred rail alternative and 

revised road work in project sections U and V, including modifications at these locations in downtown Wake 

Forest and north Raleigh: Elm Avenue, Steeple Run Drive, Durant Road, New Hope Church Road, and Wolfpack 

Lane. The preferred rail alternative in Section U represents a change from the alternative put forth in the February 

2012 Draft Recommendation Report. The affected area is in the vicinity of Rogers Road in Wake Forest. 

The Project Update Meeting will be held at the North Raleigh Hilton located at 3415 Wake Forest Road, Raleigh, 

NC 27609. The meeting will be open house style, and the public is invited to stop by anytime between 4 p.m. and 

7 p.m. No formal presentations will be made. 

Maps presenting the preferred alternative and revised roadwork for sections U and V will be on the project 

website www.sehsr.org prior to the meeting. 

***NCDOT*** 

c/o NC Department of Transportation Rail Division 

1553 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1553 

919-733-4713 
Date: September, 2012 Contact: Marc L. Hamel NCDOT 919-707-4705 mhamel@ncdot.gov 

 

Transportation Officials to hold Southeast High Speed Rail Project Update Meeting for 

Henderson 

Revisions to proposed roadwork presented at public meeting 

RALEIGH — The North Carolina Department of Transportation’s Rail Division will present information to the 

public on revisions to proposed bridges and underpasses, rail crossing closures and other roadwork in Henderson 

on Tuesday, September 11th at the Aycock Recreation Center. The revisions highlight the area between Main 

Street and Nicholas Street along the Southeast High Speed Rail (SEHSR) corridor. 

Revisions were developed throughout the corridor in response to public comments following the NCDOT and 

Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (VADRPT) summer 2010 public hearing meetings on 

environmental issues, known as the Tier II Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). The SEHSR project 

would implement nearly 162 miles of higher performance rail as part of an overall plan to extend higher speed 

passenger rail service from the Boston, MA to Washington, D.C. southward through Virginia to Charlotte. 

In May, 2012 NCDOT and VADRPT submitted the SEHSR Tier II Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 

Recommendation Report to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). The Recommendation Report identifies 

the two states’ recommendations to FRA for the preferred rail alternative for each of the 26 sections of the 

SEHSR corridor between Richmond, VA, and Raleigh. The preferred alternatives will be presented in the 

upcoming Tier II Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), expected to be published in early 2013. That 

will be followed by a Record of Decision (ROD) from FRA and a second round of public hearings. 

At the September 11th Project Update Meeting, the public will be able to view maps of the preferred rail 

alternative and revised road work in Henderson, including modifications at these locations: Andrews Avenue, 

Nicholas Street, Belmont Drive, and a new roundabout at Beckford Drive, Garnett Street and Main Street. 

The Project Update Meeting will be held at the Aycock Recreation Center located at 307 Carey Chapel Road, 

Henderson, NC 27537. The meeting will be open house style, and the public is invited to stop by anytime 

between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. No formal presentations will be made. 

Maps presenting the preferred alternative and revised roadwork for Henderson will be on the project website 

www.sehsr.org prior to the meeting. 

***NCDOT*** 

c/o NC Department of Transportation Rail Division 

1553 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1553 

919-733-4713 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 24, 2013

Contact: Lynne McCarthy

Phone: (804) 786-4443

Email: Lynne.McCarthy@drpt.virginia.gov

 Transportation Officials to hold Southeast High Speed Rail 

Project Update Meeting for Chesterfield County, VA

Revisions to proposed roadwork presented at public meeting 

Richmond — On Tuesday, February 26, 2013 at the Chesterfield County Public Safety 

Training Center, the public will have an opportunity to learn about revisions to proposed 

bridges and underpasses, rail crossing closures and other road work in Chesterfield 

County, that are part of the Southeast High Speed Rail (SEHSR) project. 

Revisions were developed throughout the corridor in response to public comments 

following summer 2010 public hearings on the on the Southeast High Speed Rail, 

Richmond, VA to Raleigh, NC Tier II Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). 

The SEHSR project would implement nearly 162 miles of higher performance rail as part 

of an overall plan to extend higher speed passenger rail service from the Boston, MA to 

Washington, D.C. southward through Richmond, Virginia to Charlotte, NC.

In May, 2012 the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) and the 

North Carolina Department of Transportation Rail Division (NCDOT) submitted the 

Southeast High Speed Rail Tier II Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 

Recommendation Report to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). The 

Recommendation Report identifies the two states’ recommendations to FRA for the 

preferred rail alternative for each of the 26 sections of the SEHSR corridor between 

Richmond, VA, and Raleigh, NC. In Chesterfield County, all rail alternatives follow the 

same alignment along the existing rail right-of-way. The preferred alternatives and 

associated road work will be presented in the upcoming Tier II Final Environmental 

Impact Statement (FEIS), expected to be published in early 2013. That will be followed 

by a Record of Decision (ROD) from FRA and a second round of public hearings.

At the February 26th Project Update Meeting, the public will be able to view maps of the 

preferred rail alternative and revised road work in Chesterfield County including 

modifications at these locations:
• Station Road 

• Chester Road 

• Hopkins Road 

• Centralia Road 

• Curtis Street 

• West Street 

• Woods Edge Road 

• Walthall Industrial Parkway 

• Pine Forest Drive 

The Project Update Meeting will be held at the Chesterfield County Public Safety 

Training Center located at 6610 Public Safety Road, Chesterfield, VA 23832. A briefing 

for elected officials will be held at 4:00 p.m., followed by an open house meeting for the 

public from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. No formal presentations will be made at the open 

house meeting.

Maps presenting the preferred alternative and revised roadwork for Chesterfield County 

are on the project website www.sehsr.org. 

 ***
B3. Public Update Meeting 

Summaries 
Southeast High Speed Rail Richmond, VA to Raleigh, NC 

Tier II Environmental Impact Statement 

Project Update Meeting 

Sections D and G in Brunswick County, VA 

Thursday July 14, 2011 

Southside Virginia Community College, Alberta, VA 

4:00 pm – 5:00 pm Local Officials Briefing 

5:00 pm – 8:00 pm Public Update Meeting (open house format) 

Attendance: 60 

Comments: By the conclusion of the comment period, 14 comments were received: seven for 

Section D; six for Section G; three were for other sections or not specific to a section. 

 

Section D Section G 

5 in favor of VA4 3 in favor of VA4 

1 in favor of VA1 1 opposed to VA4 

1 undecided 

1 request for design modification to 

Rawlings Rd. alignment 

1 comment also relayed concern about future 

access to property and family cemetery. 

1 comment in favor of project, requesting that 

planning document enable eventual double track 

& electrification of corridor. 

Public Officials 

Eight public officials attended the meeting: Fletcher Hartsell (VA-NC High Speed Rail Compact), 

Hollis Ellis (Commonwealth Transportation Board), Melissa Parrish (Mayor of Alberta), Leslie 

Sullivan (Brunswick County Planning), Marc Finney and Bernard Jones (Brunswick County 

Board of Supervisors), and Gail Moody and Robyn Fowler (Southside Planning District 

Commission). The public officials were given a project update by Kevin Page of DRPT and 

Craig Young of Baker presented the maps of the new VA4 alternatives in Sections D and G of 

the project. Their questions pertained primarily to the property impacts associated with the new 

alternatives. There were also a few questions related to the National Register eligibility of the 

Tourist Guest House historic resource. 

Citizens 

The majority of the local citizens who attended the meeting owned property that would be 

impacted by one or more of the project alternatives. Several of the attendees owned property 

that would not be impacted by any of the alternatives presented at the July 2010 public 

hearings, but would be impacted by the new VA4 alternatives. These citizens were quite 

concerned about the potential impacts and several were opposed to the project in general. The 

majority were directed to a VDOT right-of-way agent who provided them with information about 

the property valuation and acquisition process. All were encouraged to provide their comments, 

especially their preference for alternative, via a comment sheet or the project website. 
Several local citizens attended the hearing who owned property along the project in sections 

other than D and G. They were directed to smaller maps of those areas that showed the project 

alternatives as presented in the July 2010 public hearings. Their questions and concerns were 

also focused on potential property impacts. 

In addition, there were several attendees who came out to show their support of the project. 

Newspapers/Organizations 

Charles Wilson of the Brunswick Times-Gazette covered the meeting. Michael Testerman of 

the Virginia Association of Railway Patrons also attended the meeting. 
Southeast High Speed Rail Richmond, VA to Raleigh, NC 

Tier II Environmental Impact Statement 

Project Update Meeting 

Section V between Whitaker Mill Road and the Boylan Wye in downtown Raleigh, NC 

Tuesday, September 27, 2011 

Raleigh Convention Center, Raleigh, NC 

4:00 pm – 7:00 pm Public Update Meeting (open house format) 

Attendance: 

212 

Comments: 

By the conclusion of the comment period 71 comments were received. Of those who indicated 

a preference for an alternative, the majority expressed a preference for the newly developed 

alternative NC5. 

Alternative Preference for Alternative

No Preference /None 11

NC1 3

NC2 3

NC3 3

NC5 51

Public Officials 

Local officials were briefed on the new alternative in advance of the Public Update Meeting.   In July

2011, the designs for NC5 were shared with the City Council and the Passenger Rail Task Force through a

series of drop‐in meetings, and the response was positive.

Citizens  

Many people expressed appreciation that public comments on the alternatives in the Draft

Environmental Impact Statement had been listened to and used to develop the new alternative.   Most

who expressed a preference for alternative NC5 based their preference on the fact that it minimizes

impacts to neighborhoods, freight operations, and historic resources.  The importance of providing

mitigation for noise and vibration impacts was noted by some.  The proposed pedestrian bridge at Jones

Street was well received and many expressed hope that it would be an artfully designed feature for the

area; however there were also two comments suggesting that a pedestrian bridge is nice, but not well

suited to bicyclists.   Four people expressed concern that the proposed closure of Hargett Street would

negatively impact connectivity, particularly pedestrian and bicycle connectivity to downtown and to the

City’s planned Union Station.  One commenter was concerned about the effect of alternative NC5 on

FEMA floodplains and the Pigeon House Branch stream, and questioned if new railroad fill and bridge

piers could raise floodplain levels; this individual also asked if detailed hydraulic analysis was conducted

for alternative NC5.   

None of the three who stated a preference for NC1 provided additional comments.  All three of those

who expressed a preference for NC2 based the preference partially on cost.   
Two individuals stated that they were opposed to the project: one based on cost; and one on the belief

that taxes should not be used to fund transportation projects.   In contrast, many people expressed

strong support for the project, with six people saying it couldn’t happen fast enough.   

Media/Organizations

Representatives from at least five media sources attended the meeting: the News & Observer, the Indy,

and television stations WTVD 11, News 14, and WRAL.  
SUMMARY 

Southeast High Speed Rail Richmond, VA to Raleigh, NC, 

Tier II Environmental Impact Statement 

Project Update Meeting 

Section U, Wake Forest, NC 

Section V, Raleigh, NC north of Whitaker Mill Road 

Tuesday, May 15, 2012 

North Raleigh Hilton, Raleigh, NC 

4:00 pm – 7:00 pm (open house format) 

Attendance: 

166 

Local Officials 

The new road work designs presented at the meeting were developed in coordination with staff 

from the City of Raleigh and the Town of Wake Forest; therefore no public official briefing was 

held before the public meeting. Staff members from Raleigh, Wake Forest, and the Capital 

Area MPO attended the meeting, as did two members of the Raleigh City Council. 

Comments: 

There were 45 written comments submitted at the meeting, and 4 submitted by mail. 

Public input was requested regarding two alternative designs in Section V for Wolfpack Lane 

and the surrounding area. Alternative A consists of a new bridge over the railroad at Wolfpack 

Lane, connecting to Highwoods Boulevard to the east. Alternative B consists of what was 

proposed for Wolfpack Lane in the DEIS (closure of the existing at grade crossing) along with 

additional improvements to the road work in the New Hope Church Road area to accommodate 

traffic diverted from the Wolfpack Lane closure. 

 

Comments in favor of Alternative A= 17 

Comments in favor of Alternative B= 4 

Specific questions were asked about fencing, right of way impacts, or property access near the 

new Elm Avenue bridge design and the Ligon Mill Road bridge in Wake Forest, and on 

Leslieshire Drive next to the new Durant Road bridge design, and near Whittaker Mill Road in 

Raleigh. 

Six comments were received regarding the proposed Elm Avenue grade separation. One 

commenter was in favor of the proposed bridge; four were opposed to property impacts; and the 

Town requested visualization for their use in reconsideration of impacts. 

There were several comments related to the recommended preferred alternative in Section U, 

Alternative NC1. Eleven people were opposed to impacts to Thales Academy brought about by 

NC1, while four comments were provided in support of NC1. 

Twelve people expressed general opposition to the project as a whole, and two expressed 

support for the project. Other comments included a desire for additional information regarding 

the “business case” for the project, and a comment in opposition to completely grade-separating 

the corridor. 

Media/Organizations 

Representatives from at least three media sources attended the meeting: the Wake Forest 

Gazette, the Wake Weekly, and News 14. 
SUMMARY 

Southeast High Speed Rail Richmond, VA to Raleigh, NC, 

Tier II Environmental Impact Statement 

Project Update Meeting 

Section P, Henderson, NC 

Tuesday, September 11, 2012 

Aycock Recreation Center, Henderson, NC 

4:00 pm – 7:00 pm (open house format) 

Attendance: 

110 

Local Officials 

The new road work designs presented at the meeting were developed in coordination with staff 

and City Council members from the City of Henderson, therefore no public official briefing was 

held before the public meeting. A staff member from the Vance County Planning Department 

and a staff member from the Kerr Tar Council of Governments attended the meeting. 

Comments: 

Most discussions with people who attended the meeting were focused on potential impacts to 

individual properties. 

Mr. Wright Garrett, a representative of Carter Bank and Trust attended the meeting to find out if 

the project designs had changed near the bank. Comments on the DEIS designs were received 

from bank representatives indicating concern about the designs which would change the 

existing access to the bank. The designs remain the same; however Marc Hamel (NCDOT) 

talked through the designs with Mr. Garrett, and pointed out possible driveway connections that 

could be worked out in final designs. The information appeared to allay the previous concerns. 

There were 16 written comments submitted at the meeting, and two submitted by mail. A 

summary of the comments is below: 

 Five commenters spoke in support of the project 

 Nine comments were made regarding the need to include a station in Henderson 

 One comment was made in support of the new roundabout at Main/Garnett/Beckford 

 One comment was made regarding concern about impacts to a rental property at 137 

Andrews Avenue 

 One comment was made in opposition to the loss of existing at-grade crossings in 

general; one comment was made in opposition to the closure of the two at-grade 

crossings along Old Norlina Road which covers a distance of approximately one third 

mile, with concerns about the impact to emergency response time 

 One comment was made stating that the commenter had expected a formal presentation 

 One comment was generally opposed to the project and the length of time spent on 

project planning and environmental studies 

 One comment was made suggesting that the maps and materials should be simplified 

for better understanding; this commenter also complained that the designs for the rest of 

the county were not presented. 

Media/Organizations 

There was no noticeable media representation at the meeting. 
SUMMARY 

Southeast High Speed Rail Richmond, VA to Raleigh, NC, 

Tier II Environmental Impact Statement 

Project Update Meeting 

Chesterfield County, VA 

Tuesday, February 26, 2013 

Chesterfield County Public Safety Training Center, Chesterfield, VA 

5:00 pm – 8:00 pm (open house format) 

Attendance: 

146

Local Officials 

The new road work designs presented at the meeting were developed in coordination with staff 

and the Board of Supervisors from Chesterfield County. In addition to providing a briefing for 

local government representatives prior to the public meeting, Department of Rail and 

Transportation staff (DRPT) also met with the County Administrator the day before the public 

meeting and with the Board of Supervisors the following day. Ms. Dorothy Jaekle, Chair of the 

Board of Supervisors and several Chesterfield County staff members attended the meeting, as 

did representatives from the Richmond Regional Planning District Commission, and the City of 

Richmond. 

Comments: 

Most discussions with people who attended the meeting were focused on potential impacts to 

individual properties. Although property owners impacted by the grade separations were 

generally opposed to the designs, many other area residents were in favor of them. In 

particular, the additional bridge over the railroad at Woods Edge Road was well received. 

Many people had concerns stemming from existing traffic problems. Existing traffic in the 

Centralia area was an issue that continued to be raised. 

Several people who attended the meeting were adamantly against the project in general; 

however they did not represent a majority of the people that the staff spoke with. 

There were 20 written comments submitted at the meeting and 2 by mail. A summary of the 

comments is provided below: 

 Ten commenters were opposed to the project in general. The reasons included: a belief 

that benefits (such as improved travel time) don’t outweigh the cost; belief that existing 

Amtrak service is sufficient; opposition to use of federal or local taxes to support the 

project; and concerns about lowered property values and disruption to the community. 

 2 commenters stated concerns regarding increased noise, with one request for a noise 

wall 

 2 comments were made expressing concerns about proposed speeds 

 2 comments were made regarding visual impacts associated with Centralia Road bridge 

 Concern about displaced businesses was raised by two people 

 Appreciation for pedestrian access at Curtis and West Streets was stated by one 

commenter 

 3 comments were made in appreciation of the presentation of materials and discussions 

at the meeting 

 Appreciation was stated for the federal policy regarding use of American Made products 

 One request was made by a business owner to retain freight rail access 
 2 comments about stations were received- one in support of continued use of existing 

Ettrick Station Support and one in support of Main Street Station in downtown 

Richmond, VA. 

 2 commenters wrote about concerns related to impacts to historic properties 

 A concern was raised by one person regarding change in neighborhood access 

Media/Organizations 

Reporters from both the Village News and the Richmond Times attended the meeting. 

The East Coast Greenway also had representation.