RALEIGH—North Carolina’s first transportation funding plan using new standards has been unveiled.
The Department of Transportation released the draft State Transportation Improvement Program on Thursday. It proposes $15 billion on road construction, aviation and public transit projects through 2025.
The 10-year proposal uses the state’s new strategic mobility formula, approved in 2013.
The proposal is a hefty one, with more than 1,000 projects dealing with everything from roads, to ferries, to trains, to planes making the cut under North Carolina’s new Strategic Mobility Formula.
This new formula relying on several factors to determine what projects should be funded.
“There is congestion, there’s reduction of travel time, safety, jobs created and then creativity,” said Tony Tata, NC Secretary of Transportation.
The plan promises spending on hundreds of additional projects for the next decade, many of which would have otherwise been delayed, and is expected to create 100,000 additional jobs.
Getting the new formula approved by the legislature and up and running has been one of Gov. Pat McCrory’s top priorities, and accomplishments, since taking office. He says it is one that will prepare the state for the future.
“We’re taking away the chokepoints that block access to rural and urban areas alike to spur economic growth and to create jobs. And we are taking the politics out of transportation, so we are getting a bigger bang for limited dollars,” said Gov. McCrory.
The projects in the proposal vary widely- from completing the Fayetteville Outer Loop to connect Fort Bragg to I-95 to expanding NC 211 to help relieve congestion on the coast during tourist season.
Over 3,100 projects were submitted for consideration in the 10-year plan. Only 18 percent of them made the cut, which meant leaving more than 2,000 potential projects unfunded.
As work continues on the draft, lawmakers who will be providing the funding, say they expect to see few changes to the plan that has now been presented.
“I know there are some things that we probably want to go in there an look and make sure. In other words, trust but verify. So show me why, based on the data, show me why this project didn’t make it,” said Rep. John Torbett, a Gaston County Republican.
There will be public comment and hearings on the proposal. The NC Board of Transportation is expected to approve the final plan in June 2015.
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