Crossing the tracks

Motorists who use the Norman Drive railroad crossing between Main and Broad streets south of downtown Mooresville might want to consider a different route for getting over the tracks.

That's because town officials are mulling a temporary closure of the railroad crossing to gauge its effect on local traffic patterns as part of the long-range East-West Connector project.

At their monthly meeting on Monday, town commissioners heard a presentation on the East-West Connector Alignment Feasibility Study by Brian Dehler of the engineering firm WSP Sells.

The study – which looks at the logistics of a potential link for the first phase of an east-west connector, about 3.7 miles between Langtree Road and Shearers Road – suggests closing four unsignaled crossings in the downtown area because they are no longer considered essential.

A Feb. 1, 2010 memo from Transportation Planner Neil Burke to town board members indicates analysis of the four crossings was conducted "in an effort to advance the location of a new at-grade railroad crossing for the East-West Connector."

The memo also states town staff recommended adopting the study because "the alignment identified in the study impacts the least amount of existing development, with minimal impacts to existing environmental features."

The proposed east-west connector, which would help provide another gateway between Mooresville and Kannapolis, has long been a part of Mooresville transportation planning. It first appeared as a recommended improvement in the 1997 Town of Mooresville Thoroughfare Plan and then again in the 2007 Mooresville Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP).

If constructed, the connector would serve as a thoroughfare between N.C.3 west to I-77/Exit 32 via Rocky River Road and Langtree Road, and then branch northeast to N.C. 152.

Dehler said Monday that the crossings at Walnut Street, Catawba Avenue, Norman Drive and Crossrail Road are all recommended for closure by the study because they are redundant. The goal, he said, would be to try to return each of the crossings to a condition "as if it never existed."

Commissioner Chris Carney asked if Dehler had received any push back from citizens regarding the project. He also asked whether or not the closure would affect traffic at the Pine Lake Prep charter school or rescue service response time. Dehler said no.

Commissioner Mitch Abraham asked if perhaps the closures could be adopted into the town's CTP and whether or not the decision had to be a permanent one. "Is this something that can be changed in the future?" he said.

Dehler said it was feasible but that Norfolk Southern Railways was likely to agree with the recommendations to close those crossings and grant a new grade crossing and that if the town were to enter into negotiations with them, "that's what they'd expect."

Abraham said the closure of the Norman Drive crossing might cause problems, particularly with his constituents.

"It's a cut-through for my section of town," he said.
Burke said the Norman Drive crossing was determined to be "redundant" and that an internal analysis showed that closing it would have no significant impact on traffic in the area. The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), he said, "realize(s) this will be an inconvenience" but is currently considering closure of all unsignaled crossings.
Dehler added that the East Brawley Avenue intersection was several hundred feet away and could be used by motorists as an alternative to Norman Drive.
Carney, however, said that the citizens were more likely to see the closure as a nuisance if they were short on time.
"You're speaking planner," he said. "I'm speaking mom getting kids to soccer practice."
A discussion of the safety issues surrounding the crossing, however, said Carney, might make citizens reconsider.
Dehler said that safety at the steep Norman Drive crossing was certainly an issue. "Speaking from an engineer's perspective, it should be closed," he said.
Commissioner Miles Atkins reminded the board it had previously discussed the possibility of putting up barricades at a crossing to test the impact a potential closure might have on local traffic patterns. Performing that exercise, he said, would be a good way to alleviate concerns and answer questions.
"I think it would be prudent on our part to be proactive in this regard," he said.
Commissioner Mac Herring asked Dehler whether or not the alignment study could be approved without even one of the crossing closures, and Dehler said no.
"But the only one that gives me heartburn is Norman," said Herring.
Carney said the temporary closure idea might be a good trial run for testing the potential impact of a more permanent one.
"Let's find out whether or not people are okay with the new traffic pattern," he said.
Town Manager Steve Husemann said the town could find someone to make that happen, but that the board shouldn't be too hasty in making decisions regarding even temporary closures before considering both their ramifications and their legality. The board, he said, should "not send out false flags and not create dangerous situations."
Although the board could consider a possible closure, said Husemann, there is no urgency to approve that plan or the alignment study just yet. The board, he said, could return to it at a later date.
No motions were made on the issue.