AGENDA ITEM EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
ITEM TITLE
title
Authorize the Mayor to Sign the Memorandum of Agreement for the Co-Gen Rail Transformation Project.
presenter
RESPONSIBLE STAFF, TITLE, DEPARTMENT
Christopher C. Blue, Town Manager, Town Manager's Office
Mary Jane Nirdlinger, Deputy Town Manager
John Richardson, Community Sustainability Manager
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that Council adopt a resolution authorizing the Mayor to sign the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the Co-Gen Rail Transformation Project.
body
ACTION/DECISION POINTS
Council must decide whether to sign the MOA and formally participate.
By signing the MOA, the Town would agree to the list of "responsibilities of the parties" in the attached document.
LEGISLATIVE CONTEXT
This item is before Council because the participating local governments (Orange County, Town of Carrboro, Town of Chapel Hill), UNC-Chapel Hill, and the Southern Environmental Law Center are working to formalize an agreement to "collaboratively envision, plan, and jointly seek grant funding opportunities for the Co-Gen Rail Transformation Project." By working with the other parties, the Town can be part of a process to help jointly plan for a multi-modal greenway corridor that supports the Town's goals for housing, the environment, connectivity, and economic development.
BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT
The goal of this collaboration is to plan for a future scenario where the railroad spur that currently provides coal to the University's Cogeneration facility is no longer needed and can be used for other purposes.
The MOA has been signed by the Town of Carrboro and Orange County.
The rail spur runs from the Cogeneration facility located on West Cameron Avenue in Chapel Hill, through downtown Carrboro, north along Eubanks Road near the Town's Public Works and Transit facilities, continuing into the Rural Buffer and ending just south of I-85 at the segment of the main Norfolk Southern railroad located between Hillsborough...
Click here for full text