AG 2011 05 16 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Early in the planning of the high school, NCDOT looked at the traffic conditions and felt that traffic at that time did not warrant a second way out from the area. However, with the construction of the middle school, the growth of the Town in areas around the schools, and the changes anticipated in traffic flow and access to the area via the high speed rail corridor construction, NCDOT now supports the extension of Raging Ridge Road to Stallings Road. It is anticipated that the connection of these two roads will not only provide a second access for the area and a means by which to assist with moving traffic more effectively within the Township during times of heavy traffic use but it will also help ensure a safer environment for students, parents and school staff on a daily basis. In a cooperative effort, Cabarrus County has been working with Cabarrus County Schools, the Town of Harrisburg and the regional office of NCDOT to develop a plan on how to accomplish the extension of the road while not adversely impacting neighboring properties and keeping costs at a minimum. At the moment, the budget for the road extension including a bridge is $1.1 million and land costs of between $250,000 and $500,000, depending on the final amount of land needed for this improvement. Total project cost is anticipated to be between $1.35 and $1.6 million. Based on these figures, the regional office of NCDOT has offered to use $250,000 in local discretionary funds toward the project and the Town of Harrisburg is considering paying for the required sidewalk along the extension. Cabarrus County Schools will contribute approximately $350,000 from its middle school project funds and the County is looking at ways to fund the remainder of the project. NCDOT staff suggested that we contact your office with this request for additional funding because of the need for this project to move forward. Although this project is very important for a variety of reasons, the most important is the need to provide better safety for children, parents, and teachers who attend or work at the schools through enhanced access to the schools. This road extension project will provide that while ultimately benefitting everyone that lives or works in the area. We greatly appreciate your consideration of this request. We realize that during these difficult budget times, there are many deserving projects that are in need of funding. In this case, we believe that the project to extend Raging Ridge Road is one that should receive priority consideration due to the impact on safety that it represents. We look forward to your decision and please contact us with any questions you may have. Sincer I , Holy Blackwelder Board Chair g, CJ B rry Shep erd uperintendent of Schools cc: The Honorable Fletcher L. Hartsell, Jr., Senator The Honorable Jeff Barnhart, Representative The Honorable Linda P. Johnson, Representative Attachment number 2 G -6 Page 226