The Raleigh Report

From the Office of Cullie Tarleton

January 19, 2010

As our state grows, it has become increasingly important for us to improve our transportation system. Crowded roads and long delays detract from our quality of life and decrease our sense of safety. Transportation projects help decrease those delays, and right now they also bring much needed jobs to North Carolina. Transportation needs continue to be a major focus of mine. There are still major transportation issues in both Watauga and Ashe. I’m grateful to our DOT colleagues for their help and assistance.

There are a number of transportation projects already underway that are funded by federal stimulus dollars (including the King Street work in Boone). These projects will aid our state’s economy and go a long way toward the improvement of our bridges and highways. The following information is meant to shed some light on how federal stimulus dollars are being spent on transportation projects across the state.

If you have any questions, or if I can be of assistance, please feel free to contact me. I can be reached at culliet@ncleg.net or 828-295-3353. Thank you as always for your interest in the work of the General Assembly and state government and thank you for your support.

Overview

To date, the State of North Carolina has received approximately $816 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 funds for transportation and transit-related projects. In total, the NC Department of Transportation has identified 474 projects across the state that will receive Recovery Act funding.

Highway Infrastructure Program

The state received more than $735 million in Recovery Act funding for Highway Infrastructure. This funding will support more than 334 contracts totaling more than $948 million that have been awarded for highway and bridge projects across North Carolina since March. According to the Federal Highway Administration, every $1 million spent on transportation creates 30 jobs; and according to the construction industry, every dollar invested in transportation generates $6 in economic impact. Watauga County has or will receive $18m and Ashe $2.3m.

Transit Projects

In total, the state received about $103,304,000 million for Transit Capital Assistance, which will support 140 transit projects in rural and urban areas across the state:

• As of June 23, 2009, $70,248,738 has been used to fund 70 transportation projects in urban areas across the state. The Durham-Chapel Hill-Carboro Metropolitan Planning Organization and the Capital Area Planning Organization have supplemented the state’s amount with $5.1 million of their funds. For a complete list of urban transportation projects, please go to:
  http://www.ncdot.gov/_templates/download/external.html?pdf=http%3A//www.ncdot.gov/download/recovery/1511_Certification_Transit_Urban.pdf

• As of July 2, 2009, $33,055,500 has been used to fund 63 transportation projects in rural areas across the state. For a complete list of rural transportation projects, please go to:
  http://www.ncdot.gov/_templates/download/external.html?pdf=http%3A//www.ncdot.gov/download/recovery/1511_Certification_Transit_Non_Urban.pdf

Yadkin River Bridge

NC DOT is applying for a grant from the US DOT to replace the Yadkin River Bridge. The total amount available is $1.5 billion under the Supplemental Discretionary Grants for a National Transportation System. When awarded, projects will range from $20 - $300 million nationally. No awards have been made. If you ever drive this section of I-85, then you know how great this need is for our state.

Southeast High-Speed Rail

NC DOT has submitted a package of 90 rail projects totaling about $4 billion under the $8 billion (available for the nation) Assistance for High Speed Rail Corridors and Intercity Passenger Rail Service program.

Notes

The Perdue Administration’s plan to speed up road construction on Interstate 485 now has the approval of the State Attorney General’s office. In short, the plan is to engage contractors to help with financing and to pay the companies back over 10 years. State Treasurer Janet Cowell questioned the Department of Transportation's legal authority to add to the state's debt. However, the Office of State Attorney General, Roy Cooper, has determined that the Perdue administration's plan to finance Interstate 485 construction around Charlotte appears to be legal under a 2006 law passed by the General Assembly.

The Morehead City port was shut down on Tuesday after a forklift operator accidentally punctured containers filled with the highly explosive substance pentaerythritol tetranitrate. This substance is often used in military explosives and found inside blasting caps, and it is the same explosive used in the Christmas Day airline bombing attempt. The spill prompted officials to issue a voluntary evacuation order that was lifted by late Tuesday. According to officials, none of the highly explosive substance got into the water surrounding the port of Morehead City.

Last week’s earthquake was tragic for the people of Haiti. All of us can and should be a part of the relief effort. I urge our churches and other relief organizations in the high country to be very pro-active in helping provide relief for Haiti citizens who are suffering. I urge you to re-read Matthew 25:40 and respond accordingly.

Cullie Tarleton