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District staff brief board on NCDOT right‑of‑way purchase at Johnson Pre‑K; offer totals about $1.71 million
Summary
Staff described a North Carolina Department of Transportation request to acquire 13.4 acres of right‑of‑way that crosses Johnson Pre‑K property, including a negotiated increase in relocation compensation; the board received the report but took no final action.
District facilities staff told the board the North Carolina Department of Transportation is seeking to acquire 13.4 acres of right‑of‑way on property that includes Johnson Pre‑K as part of a passenger rail restoration project.
Facilities staff explained the parcel lies along an abandoned rail corridor and that DOT’s offer included an amount for land acquisition and $55,725 to cover the value of improvements (playground relocation, fencing and other site work). Staff said they negotiated an additional $9,185 with DOT, bringing the total offer to $1,706,007.85.
Staff described logistics: the right‑of‑way follows the northeast–northwest property boundary, acquisition would require relocating playground structures and some fencing, and the district would budget relocation and construction costs when timelines become clearer. Questions from board members focused on safety mitigations (fencing and playground relocation), anticipated noise from passenger trains, whether the line would carry freight and the timeline for implementation.
A facilities representative told the board it was DOT’s understanding the line would be passenger‑only and that fencing and relocation would be required at construction. No final board vote to accept or reject the offer was recorded at the meeting; the item was reported for information and staff said they would return with next steps if negotiations proceed.
