andrews bypass public hearing handout 11-5-15andrews bypass phase ii will extend phase i of the...
TRANSCRIPT
Public Hearing December 8, 2015
Andrews High School Cafeteria 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Andrews Bypass Phase II from SC 41 to US 521 North of Andrews Williamsburg & Georgetown Counties
SCDOT Project ID 0034125
Federal Aid No. SU88(001)
For additional information concerning the project contact:
Ms. Leah Quattlebaum, PE Program Manager S.C. Department of Transportation Post Office Box 191 Columbia, South Carolina 29202 (803) 737-1751
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Source: SC DNR, Williamsburg & Georgetown County GIS, & Mulkey GIS
Figure Date: 4/16/2015
Project Area
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Figure 1Project Vicinity
Andrews Bypass Phase IIfrom SC 41 to US 521 North of Andrews
SCDOT Project ID 0034125
Williamsburg & Georgetown CountiesSouth Carolina
ANDREWS BYPASSPHASE I
Project Vicinity
1
PURPOSE OF THIS PUBLIC HEARING
The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) welcome you to this evening’s public hearing and appreciate your attendance here tonight.
The purpose of this public hearing is to provide an opportunity to review and discuss individually, with representatives from SCDOT, the preliminary plans for the proposed extension of Andrews Bypass from its current terminus at SC 41 to US 521 north of the Town of Andrews. Another purpose of the hearing is to gather information from the public or any interested organization on historic or cultural resources in the area.
PUBLIC HEARING FORMAT
From 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., the hearing format will be informal. The Environmental Assessment and large aerial displays of the entire project will be available for viewing, and project team members from SCDOT will be present to discuss the project with interested citizens on an individual basis. Citizens are encouraged to ask questions and provide comments regarding the possible social, economic, and environmental effects of the project.
At 6:00 p.m., SCDOT will make a brief, formal presentation in the cafeteria about the project’s purpose and need, schedule, and potential impacts to the community and the natural environment. Immediately following the presentation, citizens will have the option to make formal, verbal comments regarding the proposed project.
Anyone who wishes to verbally comment must sign up to speak between 5:00 p.m. and 5:55 p.m. when entering the public hearing. Each comment will be limited to two minutes and may not be transferred. The informal portion of the public hearing will continue during this time. All formal verbal comments will be recorded as part of the official project record. Commenters will be asked to state their name, address, and any relevant group affiliation.
YOUR PARTICIPATION
The Environmental Assessment (EA), related maps and drawings, and other pertinent data will be available for public review until December 23, 2015 at the SCDOT District 5 Office located at 3018 East Palmetto Street, Florence, SC 29506. The EA, as well as the handout, comment forms, and project displays from this meeting are also accessible on the SCDOT’s website (http://www.scdot.org), “Public Hearings” Quicklink.
Comment forms are available and can be filled out tonight or returned by mail to the address on the form. Comments may also be mailed, emailed, or faxed to Ms. Leah Quattlebaum at SCDOT (see contact information on the front page of this handout). Please return comments by the close of the comment period, December 23, 2015. All comments will become part of the public record for this project.
Welcome!
SIGN IN
VIEW EXHIBITS
ASK QUESTIONS
PROVIDE COMMENTS
2
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
SCDOT, in coordination with FHWA, proposes to construct Phase II of the US 521 Andrews Bypass. The Federal‐aid funded project is located in Georgetown and Williamsburg Counties. The proposed project would extend the existing Andrews Bypass from its current terminus at SC 41 to US 521 north of the Town of Andrews.
The Waccamaw Regional Council of Governments (COG), serves Georgetown, Horry and Williamsburg Counties. The proposed project is included in the Waccamaw Regional COG’s Rural Long Range Transportation Plan. The Waccamaw Regional COG’s 2014‐2030 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) identifies funding for the project through fiscal year 2030. Based on current project cost estimates, the project will be fully funded by 2026.
The proposed project is included in the SCDOT 2014‐2019 State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). Andrews Bypass Phase II right‐of‐way acquisition is currently programmed in the STIP to begin in fiscal year 2016. Construction of the project is not currently scheduled to begin within the six‐year period covered by the STIP.
WHAT IS THE PROJECT’S PURPOSE AND NEED?
The purpose of the proposed project is to improve system connectivity by creating a more efficient traffic link from US 521 (Andrews Bypass) south of Andrews to US 521 north of Andrews.
The Statewide Strategic Corridor Network (SSCN) enhances the economic vitality of the state by providing safe, timely, and efficient movement of goods and people. Andrews Bypass Phase II is included in the South Carolina 2040 Multimodal Transportation Plan as a needed improvement in the SSCN and is a priority project in Waccamaw Regional COG’s current TIP.
System Linkage
◘ Under current conditions traffic travelling on US 521 must make multiple turns and travel through the Town of Andrews to stay on the facility.
◘ The proposed project would connect the existing segment of the bypass, which is now open, with US 521 north of Andrews. Regional traffic, including large trucks, traveling on US 521 would have a more direct route through Williamsburg and Georgetown Counties.
◘ US 521 in the project area is part of the Sandhills‐Santee Cooper Strategic Corridor. The facility provides access from the port city of Georgetown west to I‐95 and is expected to move over five million tons of freight per year, making this an essential trucking route. US 521 provides an alternate to interstate routes, and a more direct connection, between the corridor’s two terminal locations (the greater Charlotte, North Carolina metropolitan region and coastal South Carolina near Georgetown). In November 2014, the citizens of Georgetown County passed a one‐cent capital project sales tax (CPST). The CPST will fund, among other projects, the dredging of Winyah Bay, allowing the Port of Georgetown to accommodate larger ships. Larger ships would be expected to increase the tonnage of freight received by the port, in turn increasing the amount of freight expected to be moved by truck.
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WHAT ALTERNATIVES WERE STUDIED IN THE EA?
A range of preliminary alternatives were considered for the proposed project, including the No Build Alternative and the Transportation Systems Management (TSM) Alternative. Five preliminary build alternatives, including the Improve Existing Alternative, were evaluated. All of the preliminary build alternatives considered would extend Andrews Bypass from its current terminus at SC 41/US 521 to US 521 northwest of the Town of Andrews. All of the preliminary alternatives cross Johnsons Swamp and Murray Swamp east of their main confluence to minimize impacts to wetlands, streams, and floodplains. All of the alternatives would cross Seaboard Road at grade.
WHAT IS THE PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE?
SCDOT selected Alternative 2 (see Figure 2 on page 4 of this handout) as the Preferred Alternative because it meets the project’s Purpose and Need and minimizes potential impacts to the human and natural environments. Andrews Bypass Phase II will extend Phase I of the Bypass northwest to US 521 near Haseldon Road. US 521 eastbound traffic (west of the intersection) will be permitted to either continue on US 521 Business through the Town of Andrews or to take the US 521 Bypass around the Town of Andrews. For US 521 Business westbound traffic (east of the intersection), the at‐grade T‐intersection will provide access to southbound US 521 Andrews Bypass or northbound US 521.
The existing intersection of US 521 Andrews Bypass and SC 41 will be reconfigured to a four‐leg at‐grade intersection with stop control on SC 41. A new intersection will be created at US 521 Andrews Bypass and Seaboard Road. Seaboard Road will be realigned to improve site distance at the intersection. Preliminary plans include 450‐foot long dual bridges over Johnson’s Swamp and 155‐foot long dual bridges over Murray Swamp.
WHAT IS THE PROPOSED ROADWAY TYPICAL SECTION?
The proposed roadway typical section includes two 12‐foot travel lanes in each direction and a 48‐foot grassed median with two‐foot paved inside shoulders. The typical roadway section for Phase II of the Andrews Bypass will match the typical section constructed for Phase I of the Bypass. Partial control of access is proposed. Median breaks will be provided periodically along the Bypass and at major intersections. The roadway design speed is 60 mph. Right‐of‐way requirements vary but are generally 135 feet along the Bypass.
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Map Date: 4/16/2015
IData Source: SCDOT, SC DNR, SC DHEC, Georgetown & Williamsburg County GIS, FEMA, Mulkey Engineers and Consultants GIS
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BYPASS
Proposed Extension of Andrews Bypassfrom SC 41 to US 521 North of the Town of Andrews
Project ID: 0034125, F.A.# SU88(001)
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Project ID: 0034125, F.A.# SU88(001)Williamsburg & Georgetown Counties, SC
5
WHAT ARE THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT?
In 1995, SCDOT and FHWA approved the Environmental Assessment for Andrews Bypass, titled “Multilaning of U.S. 521 from S‐122 to US 17A and Relocation and Replacement of US 17A Bridge over Sampit River.” A re‐evaluation of Phase I of the Andrews Bypass, from US 521 south of Andrews to SC 41, was approved by FHWA in 2001 and the facility was opened to traffic in late 2005. Because of the length of time that has passed since the 1995 EA, Phase II of the Andrews Bypass is being evaluated in a new Environmental Assessment under current federal and state standards.
Avoidance and minimization of impacts to the human and natural environments has been considered throughout the project development process. Upon selection of the Preferred Alternative, the preliminary design plans were evaluated further for potential avoidance and minimization measures. Additional delineations and environmental analyses were conducted on the preferred alignment. Potential impacts were calculated using the project’s proposed construction limits, or slope stakes, plus an additional 25‐foot buffer (see Table 1 below).
Table 1. Probable Effects of the Preferred Alternative on the Environment
Impact Category Unit Preferred Alternative
Alternative 2
Wetlands Acres 11.1
Streams Linear Ft. 247
Floodplains Acres 7.6
Total Potential Displacements (Residential) Structure 6
Total Farmland Soils Acres 80
National Registered‐listed or Eligible Historic Architecture or Archaeological Resource
Number 1
Potential UST Involvement Sites 1
TITLE VI
SCDOT complies with all requirements set forth by Federal regulations issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended.
Any person who believes that he or she has been discriminated against because of race, color, religion, sex, age, handicap or disability, or national origin under a program receiving federal aid has the right to file a complaint with SCDOT. The complaint shall be filed with the Title VI Program Compliance Coordinator, at the Office of Business Development & Special Programs, 955 Park Street, Suite 117, Columbia, SC 29202 or at (803) 737‐5095. The complaint should be submitted no later than 180 days after the date of the alleged act of discrimination. It should outline as completely as possible the facts and circumstances of the incident and should be signed by the person making the complaint.
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WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Once tonight’s hearing is complete, SCDOT will receive the public’s comments on the Preferred Alternative’s preliminary design plans and potential environmental impacts. After the close of the public hearing comment period, all written comments will be reviewed and responses will be provided by SCDOT representatives. Please note that information provided through the public comment process, including name and address, will be published and is subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act.
Following any necessary additional studies, a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) could be issued by the FHWA. If a FONSI is determined and funding is available, right‐of‐way acquisition may begin. An SCDOT right‐of‐way agent will contact the property owners to verify the information on ownership and property lines and to explain how construction of the project will affect their property. The right‐of‐way agent will make a written offer based on the fair market value for any property needed for the project. Details of right‐of‐way acquisition procedures can be found in the booklet “Highways and You” available at this hearing. Right‐of‐way representatives are also available at this hearing to answer your questions.
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