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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Introduction
A study was conducted to determine the feasibility of relocating the North Carolina Railroad track between Havelock and Morehead City while continuing to serve the North Carolina State’s Port of Morehead City, including the Radio Island property. The study goal was to determine the overall feasibility of relocating the railroad, and identify a potential route, if one exists. Under consideration were impacts to the human and natural environment, citizen and stakeholder support, and possible economic development opportunities.

This segment of track between Havelock and Morehead City consists of a single main track running approximately 17 miles in Craven and Carteret Counties and through the central business district of Morehead City on the way to the Port’s General Terminal. There are approximately 53 at-grade railway crossings along this track segment, of which over 25 are located in Morehead City. Many of these crossings have only passive warning devices, such as crossbucks or stop signs. As a result, train speeds are limited to 15 mph through the central business section of Morehead City.

Stakeholder Coordination
A comprehensive stakeholder and citizen involvement process was conducted as a part of this study. This included many one-on-one meetings with public officials, small group meetings, and included three public information workshops held in November 2006 and February 2007. Close coordination with local municipalities and the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) was carried out to ensure compatibility with any proposed or planned infrastructure improvements within the study area. The NCDOT’s Division Engineer and Transportation Feasibility Unit were invited and attended several project progress meetings during the course of the study. The NCDOT’s preliminary planning of the North Carteret County US 70 Bypass and the Gallant Channel Bridge, (TIP Project R-3307) were accounted for in this study.

Economic Setting
Global economic conditions have created dramatic growth in international trade. US imports are expected to increase significantly. Much of this cargo will be in the form of containers, and many of the existing east coast ports are gearing up to accept this type of cargo, including a proposed port at Southport, NC. It is expected that bulk and break-bulk cargo shipments will be directed to other port facilities along the east coast and the Port of Morehead City may see an increase in these types of shipment. The North Carolina State Ports Authority currently has plans underway for improvements at both the General Terminal and on Radio Island.

Virtually all of the rail traffic on the segment of track between Havelock and Morehead City is attributable to the Port. Very few businesses that utilize rail are located in the existing rail corridor.

Relocation Alternatives Considered
Eight alternative relocation corridors were identified and evaluated based on engineering principles, environmental impacts, community concerns, and economic development potential. Also, several options to improve the existing track alignment, including raising the track on structure or depressing the track in a tunnel section through Morehead City were evaluated. In addition, upgrades to the existing track alignment and the construction of an off-site rail yard, outside of Morehead City, to build and break down trains were considered. Current operations at the Port require use of the main track to build and break down trains. This results in blocking existing at-grade crossings, including US 70 East, causing delays of up to 20 minutes to through and local cross traffic movements, some as far back as 23rd Street. This condition is dependent on the length of the trains and generally occurs during non-peak traffic conditions.

Engineering and environmental evaluations of the relocation corridor candidates revealed many significant challenges. After consideration of stakeholder and citizen input and the State Port Authority’s current rail track plan for the Port Terminal and Radio Island, it was determined that the preferred relocation alternative(s) should enter the Port area from the east. This would facilitate rail operations at the port terminals, eliminate the need to cross US 70 (assuming the Gallant’s Channel highway bridge is constructed) and avoid rail operations in the Morehead City central business district, eliminating disruptions to vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

Based on the findings from this study, the best relocation alternative corridor was identified as a combination of Alternatives 3 and 5. This combined route would follow Alternative 5 from the project beginning south of Havelock and continue eastward along the southern boundary of the Croatan Forest and across the Intercoastal Waterway where it would connect to Alternative 3 and head southward around the Beaufort-Morehead City Municipal Airport and across Gallants Channel to Radio Island. While this relocation alternative is viable from an engineering standpoint, many challenges would need to be overcome, particularly related to human and environmental impacts.

Recommendation
Given the current rail traffic levels and the development plans of the Port Authority, a rail relocation alternative does not appear to be economically feasible at this time. It is recommended that the North Carolina Railroad Company maintain rail service on the existing alignment and consider improvements to include:
* crossing closure and consolidation,
* relocation of the US 70 eastbound crossover further to the west, and
* development of an offsite rail yard for building and breaking down trains to and from the Port Terminal and Radio Island.

These improvements, along with the planned improvements to the bascule span on the trestle bridge connecting the Morehead City Port Terminal to Radio Island, should provide for improved rail operations and alleviate some traffic disruptions for the short term. Should the Port Authority experience significantly higher rail business growth (higher rail growth than currently predicted by the Port Authority) than expected, then the relocation alternative noted above should be investigated further. This relocation alternative should be explored as a joint corridor that accommodates both rail and vehicular transportation modes, such as could be the case with a planned North Carteret County US 70 Bypass currently under consideration.