A public hearing on the Southeast High Speed Rail (SEHSR) is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 13 at Northside Elementary School, located off Hwy. 1 just outside the Norlina town limits.
Similar hearings are scheduled in July for Vance, Franklin and Wake counties in North Carolina, as well as counties in Virginia along the SEHSR route. Hearings have been scheduled with the completion of a draft environmental impact statement related to the project.
Prior to the start of the local public hearing, there will be an open house from 5-7 p.m. in which citizens can ask questions, provide comments and view maps of SEHSR route alternatives through the area.
Copies of the maps, draft environmental statement and project history may be viewed at Norlina Town Hall, located at the corner of Main and Division streets.
The maps show route alternatives superimposed on aerial views of the areas where the SEHSR is expected to pass.
A map book is placed in the Town Hall lobby, and full-sized maps can be viewed upon request.
The materials may be viewed during regular office hours, but Town Hall is closed each day from 12 noon-1 p.m. for lunch.
Maps and more information about the SEHSR project can also be found on the rail website: www.sehsr.org.
Under the heading, "Tier II DEIS, Richmond to Raleigh, Now Available," click on the word "here" in the sentence, "Click here to visit the DEIS website..."
The link provides information about the project and the draft environmental impact statement. Below the public hearing schedule is the section titled, "Download the DEIS and Public Hearing Maps."
From that point, click on the word, "here" at the instruction, "Click here to download North Carolina maps." The drawing at the side provides a guideline about what map corresponds with the area one would like to view.
The SEHSR is expected to include 162 miles of high-speed rail between Richmond, Va. and Raleigh as part of plans to extend high-speed passenger rail service south of the Northeast Corridor, which runs from Boston, Mass. to Washington, D.C.
In the Warren County area, the SEHSR generally follows the former Seaboard Air Line (S-line) route. However, the line does not reach currently active track until it comes to a freight line at Norlina.
The public comment period about the SEHSR project will continue to Aug. 30. Citizens can make oral or written comments at the local public hearing or send their comments to: SEHSR Comments, NCDOT Rail Division, 1553 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1553.
A recommendation on the route which the SEHSR will follow is expected to be developed this fall. From there, a final environmental impact statement on that recommended route will be completed by the middle of 2011.
In late 2011, what is known as a Record of Decision is expected to be complete. This federal document confirms what has been done so far and provides an opportunity for states to apply for federal funds for the project.
Reprinted with permission from the Warren Record
