To:

Members, Board of Education

From:

Terry B. Grier, Ed.D.

Date:

January 5, 2007

RE:

Request for Easement and Right-of-Way Agreements at the Southwest High School Property

As reported at the December 5, 2006 Board of Education meeting, the City of High Point has requested that the Board of Education grant to it (for a consideration of $1.00) a permanent right-of-way affecting two small parcels of the Southwest High School property for the widening of Barrow Road.  The property area in question involves a total of 22,227 square feet adjacent to the current right-of-way line of Barrow Road.

The city has also requested that the board grant to it (for a consideration of $1.00) a utility easement affecting an area containing 15,528 square feet adjacent to the Barrow Road right-of-way. 

Additionally, the city has requested that the board grant to it (for a consideration of $1.00) a temporary construction easement affecting an area containing 21,981 square feet for its Barrow Road Widening Project.

Per the board’s direction, staff has met again with city officials to negotiate the terms of the right of way transfer.  The city has committed to the following items.

• Install right and left turn lanes on Barrow Rd. at Southwest School Drive at an estimated cost of $180,000 
• Install a traffic signal with pedestrian crosswalks at the intersection of Barrow Road and Southwest School Drive at an estimated cost of $80,000 
• Install sidewalk on the east side of Barrow Road, adjacent to the school, at an estimated cost of $30,000
• Install right and left turn lanes into the student parking lot from Barrow Road at an estimated cost of $198,000
• Widen the driveway from the student parking lot to Barrow Road and provide a connection from the parking lot to the access driveway for the cafeteria. Every effort will be made to work on the driveways when students are not at school.  However, if that is not possible, the contractor will be instructed to maintain access to the parking lot.  The costs for these improvements are included in the northbound right turn lane into the student driveway 
• Install overhead School Zone signs and flashers on Barrow Road for reduced speed limit in AM and PM official school beginning and dismissal times
• Install guardrail on the east side of Barrow Road, adjacent to the softball field, at an estimated cost of $10,000

 At this time, the city has not agreed to install a traffic signal at the main entrance.  They have suggested that the school system fund a traffic study to determine if a traffic signal is warranted at that entrance. The staff has contracted with John Davenport, John Davenport Engineering Inc., to conduct that study; furthermore, the staff strongly believes the study will indicate that a traffic signal will be warranted at the location in question. 
 
RECOMMENDATION:    The administration recommends that the board approve the right-of-way and easement agreements requested by the City of High Point as described above affecting Southwest High School property.  In our judgment, granting the city’s requests will have a minimal adverse affect on the Southwest property.