$84 Million Cary Railroad Project: Potential Business Relocations
An $84 million railroad infrastructure project in Cary, North Carolina, aims to enhance safety and traffic flow, but it has local businesses concerned about potential relocation.
Project Overview
- Proposed Cost: $84 million
- Purpose: Improve safety and traffic management
- Location: Cary, North Carolina
- Timeline: Design and development phase, property acquisition expected in summer 2027, construction beginning in summer 2030
Concerns for Local Businesses
The project involves taking Northeast Maynard Road underneath the railroad tracks near East Chatham Street, eliminating the current at-grade crossing. This raises questions for businesses in the path, particularly regarding potential relocation.
Key Takeaways from the Public Meeting:
- Business Owner Feedback: Many business owners left the meeting with more questions than answers.
- Impact on Small Businesses: Concerns were raised about how urban growth might affect small, family-run businesses.
- Revised Impact Estimate: NCDOT now believes the project could impact more businesses than originally estimated in 2018, as the area has more businesses and the design is more detailed.
NCDOT's Approach to Minimizing Impacts
NCDOT assures that they will continue to evaluate and explore ways to minimize business relocations and right-of-way impacts as the project design progresses. The agency also emphasizes their commitment to minimizing the displacement of homes and businesses in their road projects.