Not only would “Trackside” bring an impressive Traditional Neighborhood Development within walking distance of the downtown but it would also result in the much-discussed completion of the Peakway from Laura Duncan Road to North Salem Street.

Although the development of Trackside probably remains years in the distance, the town board discovered last week the type of impact the project would have on the downtown.

And it really wasn’t what they were hoping to hear.

In order for the Peakway to be completed - a roadway that is essential to the Trackside development - two additional railroad crossings across CSX rails would be required.

Paul Worley, of the NC Department of Transportation Rail Division, told the commissioners that CSX would allow two new crossing if the town closed down the public crossings at Center Street and Moore Street along with three private vehicular crossings within the Trackside area.

“The closing of Center Street presents a problem,” said town construction management director Kent Jackson. “It is a central point to downtown and a main artery.”

Worley, who is acting as a sort of go-between for the town and CSX, said that eliminating railroad crossings is a way to make both railways and roads safer.

“The less crossings we have the better off we are,” said Worley.

Worley said he has recently worked with Morrisville, Wake Forest, Kannapolis and Concord on projects that led to the closure of crossings.

“Towns are far out-growing their roads,” said Worley. “You can’t expect to have transit increase and have a safe crossing.”

He said eliminating the private crossings near Trackside “are not a big deal” because of the low volume of traffic. As for closing Moore and Center streets, he said traffic would be shifted to either Hunter Street or the Peakway.

Worley also pointed out that Apex is situated in a planned high-speed rail corridor. If the high-speed rail project ever arrives in the Triangle trains would travel through Apex at about 90 miles per hour.

As a result, the town would be required to build a bridge where the Peakway intersects with the high-speed rail. A bridge would currently cost about $1-2 million.

“The high speed rail is about 15 to 20 years away in this area,” said Worley. “But the town needs to get land (for the bridge) before it is developed.”

Commissioner Bryan Gossage, who spoke to Worley about the issue several months ago, pointed out some aspects of the street closures that he viewed as positive.

He said the town could take over ownership of Center Street from the state once the crossing is closed and the area could be used for badly needed parking spaces.

“We need to look at the big picture,” said Gossage.

Gossage also noted that eliminating crossings would allow a “quiet zone” on the stretch of rails going through town.

“When those new crossings open at the Peakway it’s going to create noise for the residents of Haddon Hall and Brookfield,” said Gossage. “They are going to hear a horn that they never heard before.

“Some do enjoy hearing it and I realize this is a railroad town. But some people find the noise a real pain when it wakes up the baby in the middle of the night.”

Of course, none of these changes will take place until the development of Trackside begins. The town is currently still looking for a developer.

And even then, CSX might want to change the deal.

“CSX may still change their mind and want more closings in town,” said Worley. “They just underwent a large turnover in management so they may have some different ideas.”