NCDOT expects to start construction in fiscal year 2014 on Durham’s East End Connector, one of North Carolina’s longest-delayed road projects.

First proposed in the 1970s, the $162 million project on the east side of Durham would create a north-south, stoplight-free drive between Interstate 85 and Research Triangle Park. It would upgrade part of U.S. 70 into a freeway and build a link between it and the Durham Freeway.

The 2014 start date shows up in a new draft schedule (attached below, with separate rating sheet) for DOT urban loop projects across the state. Groundbreaking had been set for fiscal year 2013 in a schedule published two years ago, although DOT officials later said that delays were likely because of limited funds.

Following up on Gov. Bev Perdue’s pledge to remove politics from the state’s decision process for road construction, DOT is publishing a new set of criteria it will use to set priorities for urban loops.

The state Board of Transportation will receive a draft version next week, with the final list to be adopted in 2011 after more than a year of review and public comment across the state.

The East End Connector and other projects are rated (attached below) by factors including how much car and truck traffic they will serve and how much travel time they will save, compared against project costs.

The East End Connector ranked sixth out of 21 loop projects evaluated across the state in the new rating system. But it was one of only seven projects where construction is tentatively scheduled to start in the next 10 years.

That’s all the state can afford to build.

“If we were going to build all the loops today, it would cost us $8 billion,” said Greer Beaty, DOT spokeswoman. “But this year we have only $150 million in loop money to spend, so we don’t even come close to having enough.”

Other start dates are fiscal 2011 (this year) for I-295 in Fayetteville, 2013 for an I-40 and US 17 project in Wilmington, 2014 for an I-485 widening in Charlotte, 2014 and 2017 for the next sections of Greensboro’s loop, and 2020 for Greenville’s Southwest Bypass.

“This is a realistic schedule,” Beaty said.

Another Durham project ranks higher under the new loop criteria – a bypass for U.S. 501 on the north side of the city – but much more environmental and design work is needed before it can be put on the construction schedule, Beaty said.

Two projects to complete Raleigh’s 540 Outer Loop are included on DOT’s evaluation list, but they are not listed on the construction schedule because their fates will be determined separately as toll projects. The Southern Wake Freeway is ranked seventh, and the Eastern Wake Freeway is ranked 13th.

The Triangle Expressway, which includes the western portion of the 540 Loop, is under construction now and will open as the state’s first modern toll road in 2011 and 2012.

Submitted by BruceSiceloff on 07/29/2010 – 14:51

Secretary’s Remarks- Jim Trogden spoke of Mobility Funds, response to a Amtrak Train derailment in Mebane, expansion of mid-day train service between Raleigh and Charlotte, award of the contract for I-485 and the public event in Charlotte, more work to integrate NCTA into NCDOT (including plans to physically move them to NCDOT offices) and several other topics.

Legislative Update- Johanna Reese discussed the status of the Mobility Fund (same info which Julie White sent). All of NCDOT’s agency bills seem to be progressing nicely. Nina indicated she had heard some concern regarding a bill that would regulate bicycling on highways. She indicated the controversial part of the bill relates to a requirement that bicyclist move to single file “quickly” when a car approaches. It also does not allow bicyclist to ride more than 2 abreast. The bill number was not provided.

Transportation Intergovernmental Advisory Group- Jim Westmoreland provided an update regarding work which I think you are familiar with. Several subgroups have been formed to look at communication and education with local officials, future transportation funding strategy (reauthorization), reduce land use and transportation impacts (schools), census impact on MPO/RPO boundaries and coordination of TIGER II grants.

Art and Aesthetics on State Projects- Don Lee indicated a new policy was being developed. Art is typically free standing or on a structure. A DOT committee has been formed to develop the guidelines. There will likely be a submittal package required and a sponsor in local government or a local entity for any art structure. This will include a maintenance agreement. The draft guidelines will be published in June or July and distributed to an external advisory committee which will likely include local government officials.

Noise Barrier Aesthetics Update- Greg Smith provided an update. It appears that DOT is headed toward developing 3 or 4 types of wall finishes and 3 or 4 colors that can be selected during public involvement. They do plan to treat both sides of walls (which residents and business on the outside of the wall will appreciate) and plan to use more concrete columns/pillars and horizontal coping. Some on the board expressed concern over added cost compared to current practice. Greg assured them that the added cost was relatively small (about 5-10%). They had a good discussion regarding how noise walls affect the image of cities and the topic of gateways. Some on the board said if a city/town wanted something more than the standard wall, they would have to pay the cost. I did have a private discussion with Greg after the presentation and reinforced the need for flexibility particularly on gateway projects. I also suggested an advisory committee including local government be asked to review whatever is ultimately proposed. Another idea is to run the proposal thru the Complete Streets Committee. Greg seemed to appreciate my comments and I feel he will run whatever is proposed thru local folks at some time.

Ecosystem Enhancement Program- Bill Gilmore presented information regarding an interim budget. 84% of funds are geared toward restoration of wetlands..

I-95 Planning and Funding Report- Roberto Gonzales discussed the history and current status. The key aspect is work regarding potential tolling. They have found if tolling were implemented only at state borders, revenues would equal only 10% ($25m) of revenues that would be collected if the road were tolled thru-out the state ($250m). If tolls were implemented only at the borders, they could build about 1 mile of improvements per year. They are looking at tolling options that include all lanes and only new lanes. Another interesting aspect of the study is that they are working with FHWA to answer the question of how far from the toll road itself might money from tolls be spent to mitigate impacts of traffic that will divert from the interstate. The NCDOT continues to work with neighboring states, hold public input and expects to issue further results of their study later this year/early next year.

Work Program including STIP- Jim Trogden asked that this subject be delayed until next meeting. He said they had not been able to discuss loop schedules with affected areas.

Cash Model- Mark Foster presented info on a cash model which NCDOT utilizes to manage/optimize funds. Interestingly, NCDOT is the only state agency allowed to cash flow their business (SB 1005).

Data Integration Model- Victor Barbour provided information on an internal project begun in 2008 and finished in 2010 to integrate data previously contained in separate divisions. Although the info is used in many ways, one use is to allow managers (primarily) and employees to monitor their success in meeting performance targets. He showed a map of the state with counties shown in different colors indicating those above and below goals for crash rates. He also indicated how the same data may be obtained in graphical and tabular forms. You may wish to have your performance monitoring and IT folks call Victor to arrange a demonstration.

Low Impact Bridges- Lacy Love presented info on the NCDOT’s work to accelerate replacement/repair of bridges. They have done a lot of work with partner agencies to develop check lists for environmental screening, developed standard bridge plans and make sure scope creep does not occur to enable them to replace bridges in as little as 1 year. Bridge replacements that qualify are very simple and minimize damage to the environment (for instance, no detour bridge on site).

Next Meeting in Kinston- The board decided to have their next meeting in Kinston. They feel having the meeting in eastern NC will permit them to see important projects in that part of the state and talk to local officials. My impression is that most meetings will continue to be in Raleigh…and that they will occasionally travel east and west.

I hope this info is beneficial. If you have questions feel free to email me or call me at 704-351-5850.

Jim Humphrey

Transportation payroll funded by federal stimulus funds more than doubled in March, according to data compiled by the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

A total of $3.7 million in federal stimulus money was paid out to 4,740 workers in March. Those workers clocked 215,914 hours.

The payroll jumped 131 percent compared to February, when 2,887 workers earned $1.6 million for 119,843 hours of work.

The increases in March stopped a fourth-month decline in transportation stimulus payroll. NCDOT’s construction work typically slows down in the winter due to weather conditions before picking back up again in the spring.

Since stimulus jobs started in April of last year, $28.9 million in transportation construction payroll has been doled out to workers in North Carolina.

Friday, May 7, 2010
by Chris Baysden

Motor Vehicles Law Changes

DOT Powers and Duties Changes

Turnpike Authority Toll Enforcement Changes

Mobility Fund

NC Go letter in support of Mobility Fund

Table comparing other state’s fees to proposed increases to support Mobility Fund

Resolution in support of Mobility Fund

Frequently Asked Questions about the Mobility Fund

Governor’s Mobility Fund Bill

NCDOT Talking Points on Mobility Fund

Could Lanny Wilson’s fall from grace drag down the area’s transportation infrastructure too?

The N.C. Department of Transportation announced on Thursday that Mike Alford of Jacksonville was sliding over from his at-large seat on the state Board of Transportation to fill Wilson’s old seat and represent Southeastern North Carolina.

That means there’s no one from New Hanover, Brunswick or Pender counties on the 19-member board – and that raised some red flags among local officials.

“I’m disappointed,” said state Rep. Danny McComas, R-New Hanover, who worked closely with Wilson on several projects. “They’re the voices for the community in Raleigh on transportation issues, and right now we don’t have anyone.”

Although Alford, owner of Marine Chevrolet, does reside within DOT’s Division 3, he is from Onslow County.

Seats on the board are political appointments, so Alford’s move was vetted and approved by the governor’s office.

And, according to the N.C. Board of Elections, Alford has given money to several Democratic candidates, including the current and former governors.

Records show he gave Gov. Beverly Perdue $4,000 in 2008.

“I’m extremely honored to receive this appointment from the governor,” Alford said in a DOT release announcing his four-year appointment. “I look forward to working with the other board members and the NCDOT staff to carry out the mission and goals for the department.”

But for Wilmington, the bigger question is whether Alford’s appointment mean a loss of local clout on one of the state’s most powerful boards – even if Perdue has watered down its powers since taking office.

While the General Assembly officially has oversight of the DOT, legislators don’t normally interject themselves into the agency’s day-to-day operations or project-planning process.

As the representative for Southeastern North Carolina, Wilson was widely recognized as diligently working to determine the region’s transportation needs and priorities and getting state projects to meet them.

Among his more notable achievements was clawing back money for the region that had been used to fund transportation projects in the Triangle area after the local projects got bogged down with permitting problems.

The Wilmington attorney and developer also was vice chairman of the N.C. Turnpike Authority and a major force behind the proposed Cape Fear Skyway high-rise bridge project.

And finally Wilson was chairman of the Wilmington Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, which sets transportation priorities for the greater Wilmington area.

But Wilson has been fingered by federal prosecutors as having a major role in facilitating the “pay-to-play” culture that permeated former Gov. Mike Easley’s administration.

Easley appointed, and then reappointed, Wilson to the transportation board.

Wilson resigned from the Board of Transportation the morning before the 51-count indictment against Easley’s top aide, Ruffin Poole, was announced on Jan. 21. He left the turnpike board a few days later.

State Rep. Carolyn Justice, R-Pender, said she would move quickly to establish a relationship with Alford and inform him of the region’s transportation needs and priorities. They include the future of the Hampstead and Burgaw bypasses, what to do about the Surf City swing bridge and the status of the proposed Military Cutoff Road extension.

“I’m looking forward to working with him,” Justice said. “But, on the surface, this can’t be good news for us.”

Wilmington City Councilwoman Laura Padgett, who had expressed interest in Wilson’s old position, was traveling and couldn’t be reached for comment on Thursday.

Gareth McGrath: 343-2384

By Gareth McGrath
Gareth.McGrath@StarNewsOnline.com

Published: Thursday, February 4, 2010 at 11:48 a.m.

You can read the live tweets at http://twitter.com/MetroMayors.

Or see the Power Point by clicking here.

Transportation stimulus payroll dolled out in North Carolina in October rose by 23 percent compared to the previous month, according to data compiled by the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

Contractors paid $5.3 million to 5,510 employees who worked 301,757 hours in October. That compares to the September payroll of $4.3 million, which went to 4,961 employees who worked 249,361 hours.

The data comes from a monthly employment report the department prepares to show the impact that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is having in the state.

Stimulus payroll spending has grown steadily since April, when just $22,751 was paid out to 74 workers.

NCDOT has received a total of $838 million in federal stimulus funds, including $735 million for road and bridge projects.

Thursday, December 3, 2009
– by Chris Baysden

Highlights

• NCDOT presented on North Carolina’s population growth, shrinking transportation revenues, and growing  transportation infrastructure needs.  They noted there are twice as many projects in the State Transportation Improvement Program than funds available over the next five years.  They said the problem is not NCDOT’s alone, but a problem for the nation, state, counties, cities/towns, and communities.   
• Updated the Committee on Executive Order #2 requiring NCDOT to change how they approve highway projects.  BOT will approve a work program as a whole rather than approving individual projects. 
• I-485 Update
• Interstate Maintenance – NCDOT advocated for saving money in the long run by investing in preserving Interstates.  They are allocating $10 million to the effort and plan to increase it to $15 million or more in the future. 
• Bridges – NCDOT maintains 13,000 bridges and is 10th in the nation with respect to most deficient bridges.  8,000 need to be replaced in the next 20 years.  NCDOT is currently replacing 100 per year.  They are working to develop and include maintenance, preservation and rehabilitation strategies in the bridge program, streamline the program to deliver bridges quicker and cheaper, and develop bridge replacement standards for the sub-regional tier. 
• Revenues – NCDOT said we must develop new long range progrmas and resources in cooperation with all levels of government and transportation groups to achieve consensus and cooperation in moving our 21st Century state to a resionably resourced transprotation program instead of modal and regional fights over the allocation of an under resourced 20th Century transportation model. 

RALEIGH — Gov. Bev Perdue announced today that 18 contracts totaling $56.6 million have been awarded for highway and bridge projects across North Carolina, including 11 projects funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The contracts were awarded by the N.C. Department of Transportation to the lowest respective bidder, as required by state law. A list of the projects is attached.

“These recovery projects continue to help us to put North Carolinians to work and to deliver critical infrastructure improvements that will have a long-lasting economic impact on our state,” said. Gov. Perdue.

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.

The 11 recovery projects are located in Anson, Cabarrus, Craven, Greene, Iredell, Johnston, Nash, Orange, Rockingham, Wilson and Yadkin counties. The seven other projects are located in Cabarrus, Chatham, Randolph, Richmond, Scotland, Stanly and Union counties. See the attached list for respective start dates.

The bids received on all 18 projects advertised came in 16.5 percent, or about $11.1 million, below NCDOT estimates.

For more information about funding for infrastructure improvements in North Carolina, as well as other NCDOT projects and activities, visit www.ncdot.gov.

November 3, 2009
Contact: Chrissy Pearson
Cell: (919) 215-4669
Office: (919) 733-0767

Meeting Facilitation Approach – NCDOT is recommending that the Department take on the responsibility of facilitating future Steering Committee meetings in lieu of hiring a consulting firm to provide these services.

10/22 Steering Committee Meeting Agenda:

I. Reconnect with Steering Committee Members (What’s working well, not so well, next steps, and roles and responsibilities)

o Steering Committee will select and prioritize specific topic areas to review (complete)

o Steering Committee will define and agree on general parameters for each work group created (i.e., subtopic to be addressed, general scope of project, expected outcomes, timeline to complete, and number and type of work group members to involve)

o Two Steering Committee members (NCDOT representative and External Partner representative) will be appointed to serve as Co-Sponsors for each work group

o Steering Committee members will make recommendations to co-sponsors regarding potential work group members

o Steering Committee will meet quarterly and have a set agenda to facilitate meeting progress and work group reporting

II. New Work Group Development (including roles and responsibilities of Steering Committee)

o Work group Co-Sponsors will be responsible for selecting work group members (5-7 members), providing direction, resourcing work group, answering questions/making decisions, and providing quarterly progress updates to Steering Committee

Recommended Work Group Topics

1. Topic Area: Education and Communication

Sub-topic: Communications with elected officials

Focus Question: What communication policies are currently in place for mayors and County Commissioner Chairs, etc. and how could they be improved?

o Co-Sponsors- Ted Vaden / Julie White

o Proposed Tasks –

o Establish a standing method for local officials to communicate and be educated related to Transportation issues, policy and concerns

o Determine what communication policies are currently in place for mayors and county commission chairs, etc. and how could they be improved?

o Determine what education needs exist within this stakeholder group and develop recommendations to meet those needs

o Timeline – Report results back to the committee 1st quarter 2010

2. Topic Area: Future transportation funding strategy.

Sub-topic: Federal Reauthorization

Focus Question: How do we need to be working together to most effectively review and plan for the future transportation funding needs of the State?

o Co-Sponsors – Susan Coward / Mike Kozlosky

o Proposed Tasks -

o Develop a plan to respond and react to future reauthorization legislation and activities

o Develop a process for managing communications and other information flow

o Develop a plan to improve advocacy between stakeholder groups for; (a) funding flexibility (b) sustained revenue sources

o Timeline – Report results back to the committee 1st quarter 2010

3. Topic Area: Reduce land use and transportation disconnect.

Sub-topic: Process Improvement Tools

Focus Question: What type processes or products do we need to develop to better ensure effective agency coordination and communications occurs early on in the life of any new transportation and/or land development project?

o Co-Sponsors – Terry Gibson / Mike Horn

o Proposed Tasks –

o Develop new project notification procedure and guideline to assist local governments and NCDOT with more effective transportation/land development communications and coordination

o Timeline – Report results back to the committee 1st quarter 2010

III. Follow-up Action Items and Next Meeting Date

- Steering Committee Members provide suggested work group member names to Co-Sponsors by 10/29

- Co-Sponsors develop scope of work for work group and select work group members by 11/5 (send to all Steering Committee members when complete for review/input)

- Kick-off meeting of work groups by 11/26

- Next Steering Committee Meeting – 1/25/10 – 10 AM – Quorum Center