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Request for Town Participation in Feasibility Study for Repurposing the Co-Gen Rail Lane
PURPOSE: The purpose of this agenda item is to request that the Town Council consider authorizing the Town Manager to allocate $10,000 for the Town’s contribution toward the completion of the feasibility study.
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Department
DEPARTMENT: Planning & Finance departments
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Council Direction
COUNCIL DIRECTION:
___ Race/Equity __X__ Climate ____ Comprehensive Plan ____Other
Council Direction Statement
The decommissioning of the UNC cogeneration facility should improve the air quality in and around Chapel Hill and downtown Carrboro. The opportunity to use the existing rail right-of-way for a light/commuter rail system and/or multi-use trail is also consistent with the Town’s interest in expanding its multimodal network.
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Information
INFORMATION: For the past several months, Town staff have participated in a series of meetings regarding the possibility of converting up to 10.8 miles of the existing rail line, used to transport coal to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill cogeneration steam facility, to a multimodal or bike-ped use. The rail corridor extends through northwestern Chapel Hill and downtown Carrboro, creating an opportunity for a future rail to trail or rail and trail conversion if/when UNC closes the coal facility.
The Triangle West-Transportation Planning Organization (formerly Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization (DCHC MPO)) has offered to lead the procurement process for seeking consultant services to conduct a feasibility study. The Request for Qualifications identifies an anticipated project cost of $400,000-600,000. The TPO has recommended a project budget of $500,000 and is asking the partners to commit to financial participation as noted below. The Town of Carrboro has been asked to contribute $10,000. A copy of the draft RFQ is provided (Attachment B).
$400,000 TPO (committed)
$50,000 NC Railroad Corporation (committed)
$20,000 UNC (pending)
$10,000 Chapel Hill (committed)
$10,000 Orange County (pending)
$10,000 Carrboro (pending)
The Town Council received a presentation on the project on March 19, 2024 (Town of Carrboro - File #: 24-061 <https://carrboro.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6576767&GUID=0A05FF1F-1348-46A8-BC40-F5076D5B8231&Options=&Search=>).
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Fiscal and Staff Impact
FISCAL IMPACT: The Town’s contribution is $10,000. A budget amendment will follow on identifying funds.
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Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the Town Council approve the resolution (Attachment A) authorizing the Town Manager to commit the Town’s participation of $10,000 for the purpose of advancing this project. Staff will bring back a follow-up agenda on February 18th to confirm the source of the funds.
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