Description

The Garden Parkway, also known as the Gaston East-West Connector, is a planned toll road approximately 21.9 miles from I-85 west of Gastonia in Gaston County to I-485 near the Charlotte-Douglas International Airport in Mecklenburg County with new crossings over the South Fork and Catawba Rivers. The new toll road is estimated to cost about .15 cents per mile and save drivers up to 28 minutes each trip.

Latest News and Updates

Design-Build Procurement

In December 2010, Alternative 9 was identified as the preferred alternative for the Garden Parkway in the project’s Final Environmental Impact Statement, and was approved in the Federal Highway’s Record of Decision issued on February 29, 2012. On August 28, 2012, the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), on behalf of Clean Air Carolina and the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation, filed a suit in Federal District Court in Charlotte challenging the project’s environmental documentation. This litigation is still pending.

Summary of Travel Time Savings & Estimated Toll Rates
(March 2012)

Traffic & Revenue Study Complete
(November 2011)

Since the lawsuit was filed, NCDOT has paused the project procurement process that was proceeding to award two contracts for design and construction of the project. Two separate design-build contracts are anticipated for the project, one for the eastern section and one for the western section. The Garden Parkway-East contract will include a four-lane divided highway that extends from I-485 near the Charlotte-Douglas International Airport in Mecklenburg County to just west of Wilson Farm Road, a length of approximately 9.5 miles, and will also encompass toll operations for the entire project. Garden Parkway-West includes construction of a four-lane highway from just east of Wilson Farm Road to US 321 (approximately 5.5 miles), and a new two-lane road with right of way to eventually expand to four lanes between US 321 and I-85 west of Gastonia (approximately 5.9 miles).

NCDOT has already shortlisted design-build teams for the Garden Parkway and distributed Requests for Proposals (RFP) for both sections.

Project Schedule (subject to change)
Draft Environmental Impact Statement	Completed
Final Environmental Impact Statement	Completed
Record of Decision	Approved
Obtain Environmental Permits	TBD
Final Plan of Finance	TBD
Award Design Build Contracts	TBD
Begin Right-of-Way Acquisition	TBD
Begin Construction	TBD
Project Open to Traffic	TBD

Project Overview and Purpose

The purpose of the proposed action is to improve east-west transportation mobility in the area around the City of Gastonia, between Gastonia and the Charlotte metropolitan area, and particularly to establish direct access between the rapidly growing area of southeast Gaston County and western Mecklenburg County.

This project purpose is based on the following needs:

• Need to improve mobility, access, and connectivity within southern Gaston County and between southern Gaston County and western Mecklenburg County.
• Need to improve traffic flow on the sections of I-85, US 29-74 and US 321 in the Project Study Area and improve high-speed, safe, reliable regional travel service along the I-85 corridor.

Estimated Cost

Project Highlights

Several design modifications were made to the Preferred Alternative as a result of public involvement activities, coordination with environmental resource and regulatory agencies, and comments received during the Draft EIS public review period (summer 2009). These changes, including reduced numbers of lanes, decreased median widths, access road changes, and interchange reconfiguration or elimination, are intended to provide a project more consistent with the project setting that meets the transportation needs in a more cost-effective way.

Record of Decision (February 2012)

• Text & Figures
• Appendices A, B, & D
• Appendix C

Traffic Noise Technical Memorandum Addendum #2 (July 2011)

Revised Final Quantitative ICE Analysis (July 2011)

• Text
• Figures 1 - 10
• Figures 11 - 16
• Figures 17 - 20

Final EIS

FEIS & Information

Review period closes February 22, 2011

FEIS FR Publication

Final EIS Timeline
Draft Environmental Impact Statement	Completed
Final Environmental Impact Statement	Completed
Record of Decision	January 2012
Project Open to Traffic	2015

FEIS December 2010 (by Section)

• FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT PUBLISHED FOR GARDEN PARKWAY PROJECT
• Cover & Signature Pages
• Table of Contents
• Preface
• Special Project Commitments
• Section 1 - DEIS Summary & Updates & Figures
• Section 2 - Preferred Alternative & Figures
• Section 3 - Comments & Coordination
• Section 4 - List of Preparers
• Section 5 - List of Agencies, Organizations, & Persons of Whom Copies of the Statement are Sent
• Section 6 - References

Appendices

• A. Errata
• B1. Agency Comment Letters
• B2. Local Government Comment Letters
• B3. Interest Group Letters
• B4. Public Comment Letters
• B5. Emailed Public Comments
• B6. Public Comment Forms
• B7. Public Hearing Transcripts
• C. Draft EIS Impact Summary
• D. MSAT - Discussion of Impacts
• E. Soils Information
• F. NPDES Dischargers
• G. Concurrence Forms
• H. Preliminary Design Refinements for the Preferred Alternative
• I. Jurisdictional Resources Information
• J. 2035 Noise Contours Maps
• K. Archaeology Survey Information & Agency Correspondence

Supporting Documents

• Final Traffic Capacity Analysis Technical Memorandum 2030 Non-Toll/2035 Toll (February 2010)
• Conceptual Mitigation Atlas (June 2010)
• Conceptual Mitigation Plan (June 2010)
• Preferred Alternative Report (August 2009)
• Qualitative ICE Report (March 2009)
• Qualitative ICE Figures Chapters 1-12 (July 2008)
• Quantitative ICE Analysis (August 2010)
• Updated Traffic Forecast and Revised Preliminary (May 2010)
• Traffic Noise Technical Memorandum Addendum (April 2010)

Draft EIS

General Information

• Citizens Summary       (Printable Version)
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Garden Parkway/US 321 Preliminary Traffic Volumes Diagram
• Public Hearing Announcement
• Local Officials Meeting Presentation
• Public Comment Form

Draft EIS April 2009 (by Chapter)

• Cover and Signature Pages
• Table of Contents
• Preface
• Special Project Commitments
• Executive Summary & Figures
• Ch. 1 – Purpose & Need for Action & Figures
• Ch. 2 – Alternatives Considered & Figures
• Ch. 3 – Human Environment & Figures
• Ch. 4 – Physical Environment & Figures
• Ch. 5 – Cultural Resources & Figures
• Ch. 6 – Natural Environment & Figures
• Ch. 7 – Indirect & Cumulative Effects & Figures
• Ch. 8 – Other Impact Considerations
• Ch. 9 – Public Involvement & Agency Coordination
• Ch. 10 – List of Preparers
• Ch. 11 – List of Agencies, Organizations and Statement Recipients
• Ch. 12 – References

Appendices

• A. Notice of Intent and Agency Correspondence
• B. GUAMPO Population Projections
• C. Supporting Traffic Information for Chapter 2
• D. Design Criteria for the Preliminary Engineering Designs
• E. Year 2030 Toll-Scenario Traffic Forecasts for the Detailed Study Alternatives
• F. Relocation Reports
• G. Existing Noise Measurements and 2030 Noise Contour Maps
• H. Mobile Source Air Toxics (MSAT) - Discussion of Impacts
• I. Farmland Conversion Impact Ratings Forms
• J. Hazardous Materials Sites
• K. Major Drainage Structures NPDES Permits in the Project Study Area
• L. Section 4(f) Resources
• M. Soils Information
• N. Jurisdictional Stream and Wetland Information
• O. NPDES Dischargers
• P. Matrix of Indirect and Cumulative Effects by DSA

Corridor/Design Public Hearing Maps

• Overview Map 1 of 2 (April 2009)
• Overview Map 2 of 2 (April 2009)
• Western Area Map 1 of 4 Top (April 2009)
• Western Area Map 1 of 4 Bottom (April 2009)
• Western Area Map 2 of 4 Top (April 2009)
• Western Area Map 2 of 4 Bottom (April 2009)
• Western Area Map 3 of 4 Top (April 2009)
• Western Area Map 3 of 4 Bottom (April 2009)
• Western Area Map 4 of 4 Top (April 2009)
• Western Area Map 4 of 4 Bottom (April 2009)
• Central Area Map 1 of 4 (April 2009)
• Central Area Map 2 of 4 (April 2009)
• Central Area Map 3 of 4 (April 2009)
• Central Area Map 4 of 4 (April 2009)
• Eastern Area Map 1 of 3 (April 2009)
• Eastern Area Map 2 of 3 (April 2009)
• Eastern Area Map 3 of 3 (April 2009)

Draft EIS Supporting Documents

• Indirect & Cumulative Effects Assessment (March 2009)
• Indirect and Cumulative Effects Assessment Appendices & Maps (March 2009)
• Indirect & Cumulative Effects Assessment - Errata (March 2009)
• Final Updated Purpose and Need Statement (October 2008)
• Addendum to the Final Alternatives Development and Analysis Report (October 2008)
• Figures 01 - 07 (October 2008)
• Figures 08 - 15 (October 2008)
• Figures 16 - 21 (October 2008)
• Appendices (October 2008)
• Final Community Impact Assessment (October 2008)
• Final Air Quality Technical Memorandum (September 2008)
• Final Traffic Operations Technical Memorandum Under Various Scenarios (September 2008)
• Final Toll Traffic Operations Technical Memorandum (September 2008)
• Traffic Forecast for Toll Alternatives (August 2008)
• Utility Impact Report (August 2008)
• Final Traffic Noise Technical Memorandum (July 2008)
• Phase II Architectural Resources Survey Report (February 2008)
• Natural Resources Technical Report (February 2008)
• Final Preliminary Hydraulic Technical Memorandum (December 2007)

Project Library

Documents

• Summary of Travel Time Savings & Estimated Toll Rates (March 2012)
• Traffic & Revenue Study Complete (November 2011)
• Conceptual Mitigation Plan (Final) (July 2010)
• Conceptual Mitigation Plan Project Atlas Appendix C (July 2010)
• Garden Parkway GUAMPO TAC Update (March 2010 )
• Garden Parkway Project Update (February 2010)
• Belmont Meeting Handout (November 2008)
• Belmont Meeting Slideshow (November 2008)
• Gaston Urban Area MPO TAC Meeting (May 2008)

Maps

• WetlandStreamJurisdictionalMap_FinalEISFig2-3.pdf
• Recommended Alternatives
• Corridor Overview Map Recommended
• Gaston County Future Land Use Map
• Mecklenburg County Southwest District Future Land Use Map
• Mecklenburg County Dixie-Berryhill Area Small Area Plan
• Project Study Area
• Recommended Detailed Study Alternatives

Public Involvement

Workshop Documents

• EastEnd 1 of 4 (with revised DSBG boundary) (October 2008)
• Local Officials Presentation (August 2008)
• Citizens informational Workshop Comment Form (August 2008)
• CIW EastEnd 1 of 4 (August 2008)
• CIW Middle 2 of 4 (August 2008)
• CIW WestEnd A 3 of 4 (August 2008)
• CIW WestEnd B 4 of 4 (August 2008)
• CIW Corridor Segments (August 2008)
• CIW Handout in Spanish (August 2008)
• CIW Project Cross Section (August 2008)
• CIW Recommended Detailed Study Alternatives (August 2008)
• CIW Station Posters (August 2008)
• NCTA to Hold Public Workshop for Proposed Garden Parkway (July 2008)
• Citizens Informational Workshop Handout (July 2008)
• Citizens Informational Workshops Postcard Announcement (July 2008)

Archives

Documents

• Final Purpose and Need Statement (August 2002)
• Preliminary Financial Analyses (PFM) (September 2006)
• Preliminary Traffic and Revenue Final Report (October 2006)
• Gaston Cost Estimates (HNTB) (October 2006)

Newsletters

• Newsletter #1 (April 2003)
• Newsletter #2 (September 2003)

Workshop Documents

• Citizens Informational Workshop Handout (September 2003)
• Citizens Informational Workshop Postcard Announcement (November 2003)
• Citizens Informational Workshop Handout in Spanish (December 2003)
• Citizens Informational Workshop Handout (January 2006)
• Citizens Informational Workshop Postcard Announcement (January 2006)
• Citizens Informational Workshop Handout in Spanish (January 2006)

Project Photos

Contact Information

Project Hotline: (800) 475-6402

Email: gaston@ncdot.gov

Resources for Local Property Owners

In many cases, it is inevitable that a certain amount of private property must be acquired. The displacement of homes and businesses is minimized to the extent practicable. The following brochures will answer questions about this process.