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TEA-21 AT WORK IN NORTH
CAROLINA
Federal Funds
Accelerate and Improve Transportation
Wilmington, N.C. -- Chief Deputy Secretary of Transportation
Gene Conti and North Carolina Board of Transportation member Lanny Wilson
joined other state and local officials to officially open the Independence
Boulevard Extension in Wilmington, a 1.1-mile segment that will improve
safety and traffic flow. It was financed through the national
Transportation Equity Act of the 21st Century (TEA-21), which has provided
nearly $3 billion for transportation projects in North Carolina. TEA-21
sets the framework for transportation including highways, public
transportation, rail, ferries, safety and bicycle and pedestrian projects.
TEA-21 is a six-year bill
enacted in 1998 that will conclude in September 2003. Plans are under way
to establish a new federal funding source with the help of state, local
and national transportation officials. "It's vital that we continue to
work to get a fair return on our federal tax dollars for safety and
transportation projects," Conti said.
"We're excited about working with Governor
Easley, our Congressional leadership, state legislators and citizens on a
new federal-aid program that will help shape our transportation future --
not just for North Carolina, but our nation as well," Conti said. "We'll
work to increase funding for new highway, public transportation and safety
projects to make sure our citizens have a transportation system that is
second to none."
Citing
the direct, and local, benefits of TEA-21, Conti described the variety of
ways the federal act has benefited the single county - New Hanover - where
the dedication took place, noting that similar benefits are accruing in
local areas across the nation:
Highways
More than $55 million in federal funds for
highway projects including:
·
Building the Smith Creek Parkway;
· Resurfacing a segment of I-40; and
· Building the Wilmington, N.C.
Bypass.
Safety
More
than $256,000 for traffic safety and equipment programs
including:
· A grant to New
Hanover County Safe Communities and to the Kure, New Hanover County,
Wilmington, Wrightsville Beach and Carolina Beach Police Department
Traffic Units for traffic enforcement, putting video cameras in patrol
cars, purchasing portable breath-testing equipment and radar in patrol
cars.
Public
Transportation
More
than $4 million for public transportation, including capital and operating
assistance, planning for future public transportation projects and
administrative costs to local transit
providers
Rail
· Nearly
$500,000 for five rail-crossing improvement projects to be completed
within 18 months, plus another $400,000 for four projects that the
department will soon design
Bicycles
More
than $2.6 million to pave wider shoulders in New Hanover County for bike
and pedestrian lanes
Ferries
More
than $2.5 million for the new Fort Fisher Ferry that runs daily,
roundtrip, to Southport
Enhancements
More than $1 million in enhancement funds to improve the cultural,
aesthetic and environmental aspects of the state's transportation system,
including:
· Building
multi-use trails in Wilmington and at the Aquarium at Fort
Fisher;
· Landscaping and
purchasing plaques for the historic trolley stops in Wrightsville
Beach;
· Building sidewalks;
and
· Aiding restoration of a
1910 locomotive with the Wilmington Railroad Museum
Foundation
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