On behalf of the citizens of the Sixth Congressional District, I submitted several proposals that address the surface transportation needs of our area and the State of North Carolina. These projects are submitted by category and are not prioritized:
Federal Aid Highways
Greensboro Urban Loop in Guilford County (Guilford County)
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) proposes funding for the Greensboro Urban Loop in Guilford County. If funded, the project would complete the environmental consultation and acquire right-of-way for sections of the Greensboro Urban Loop. The project will improve regional mobility and help reduce congestion. Finally, the project has numerous implications for regional and proposed intrastate systems in North Carolina. The Greensboro Urban Loop is estimated to cost $20,600,000 and the federal portion of this is $16,480,000. I request $10,000,000 on behalf of NCDOT for the project.
High Point Airport Area Road Network (Guilford County)
The City of High Point, North Carolina, proposes funding for the High Point Area Road Network. If funded, the project would widen Johnson Street (SR 1818)/Sandy Ridge Road (SR 1850) in High Point/Guilford County, North Carolina, from Joe Drive (SR 1877) to Interstate 40. This project is listed in the State TIP (U-4758), and will include roadway widening/construction on existing and new alignments, intersection improvements, sidewalks, bike lanes, traffic signals, and a landscaped median and shoulder areas. The High Point Airport Area Roadway Network is estimated to cost $24,000,000 and the federal portion of this request is $19,200,000. I request $9,600,000 on behalf of the City of High Point for the project. It is my understanding that Rep. Mel Watt (D-NC), who also represents the City of High Point, will request the remainder of the federal portion of the project.
US 64, NC 49 and Asheboro Bypass (Randolph County)
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) proposes funding for US 64, NC 49 and Asheboro Bypass in Randolph County. If funded, the project would construct a new bypass of Asheboro as a controlled- access facility. The project will improve mobility, reduce congestion and enhance safety in the corridor by rerouting traffic from the urban arterial. The bypass would also provide increased accessibility for the North Carolina Zoological Park. The NCDOT estimates completion of the bypass will cost $220,000,000 and the federal portion of this project at $176,000,000. I request $15,000,000 on behalf of the NCDOT for the project.
NC 68/311 Interchange (Guilford County)
The City of High Point, North Carolina, proposes funding for the NC 68/311 Interchange in Guilford County. The existing interchange at NC 68 (Eastchester Drive) and US 311 Bypass (future I-74) was constructed in 2001-02, but daily volume (40,000+) has exceeded both design projections and functional capacity. The City of High Point’s Department of Transportation staff has worked to implement and maintain traffic signal timing and phasing plans, and in 2007 presented a plan to NCDOT to resurface and restripe NC 68 to provide an additional southbound left turn lane on the overpass. This plan was constructed in 2008 and has provided some short-term congestion mitigation. The City also commissioned a study to evaluate various intermediate and long-term improvements, as well as the feasibility and estimated costs of construction. Phase 1 funding for this project will be used to widen NC 68, to construct a bridge structure over US 311, and to relocate Gordon Road. The NC68/311 Interchange is estimated to cost $17,600,000 and the federal portion of this request is $14,800,000. I request $7,040,000 for the City of High Point for the project. It is my understanding that Rep. Mel Watt (D-NC), who also represents the City of High Point, will request the remainder of the federal portion of this project.
I 73/74 Corridor in Guilford and Randolph County (Guilford and Randolph Counties)
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) proposes funding for the I 73/74 Corridor in Guilford and Randolph Counties. If funded, the project would upgrade sections of existing US 220 and other routes comprising the I 73/74 corridors to interstate standards. In addition, it would provide increased mobility and freight connectivity for a corridor in North Carolina and the Great Lakes to East Coast Corridor. The NCDOT estimates completion of the corridor will cost $455,300,000 and the federal portion of this request is $364,240,000. I request $30,000,000 on behalf of the NCDOT for the project.
Public Transit
Elon University and Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation Vehicle Procurement (Alamance County)
Elon University in Alamance County, North Carolina, and the Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation (PART) proposes funding for additional vehicle procurement for the University. If funded, the proposal would provide expansion of the current biobus system operated by Elon University and provide increased alternatives to driving for faculty, staff and students. Further, additional transit options would reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality. Elon University estimates the project will cost $1,006,250 and the federal portion of this request is $805,000. I request $805,000 on behalf of Elon University and PART for the project.
PART Intermodal Facility (Guilford County)
The Piedmont Authority of Regional Transportation (PART) proposes funding for its Intermodal Transportation Center. The project has completed necessary environmental assessments and completed land acquisition. If funded, dollars will be allocated towards construction and will facilitate regional buses, local shuttle buses, and paratransit service. In addition, the facility may accommodate future regional mobility efforts. PART estimates the project will cost $23,060,000 and the federal portion is $18,880,000. PART has already received $10,600,000 in federal funding for the project. I request $8,280,000 on behalf of PART to complete the project.
In addition, there are projects submitted or led by other members of Congress, which affect the Sixth District and North Carolina that I support. These projects are also submitted by category but are not prioritized:
Federal Aid Highways
I 85 in Cabarrus, Rowan and Davidson Counties (Cabarrus, Rowan, and Davidson Counties)
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) proposes funding in the reauthorization to upgrade the I 85 corridor in Cabarrus, Rowan and Davidson Counties. If funded, the project will improve the safety of I 85 by construction additional lanes and implementing new safety features. Further, the funds will improve mobility on a route of regional and national significance. The NCDOT estimates the project will cost $350,000,000 and the federal portion of this request is $280,000,000. Rep. Mel Watt (D-NC) requested $280,000,000 on behalf of NCDOT for the project. While I support his request due to the impact upon my district and its residents, I request $10,000,000 as my portion of this request.
Public Transit
Greensboro, NC Bus and Bus Facilities (Guilford County)
The City of Greensboro, North Carolina, proposes funding for additional bus procurement. If funded, the proposal would permit the Greensboro Transit Authority to incorporate alternative fuel or low emissions into its current vehicle fleet. This procurement would enable Greensboro to replace diesel buses with more environmentally efficient buses while increasing commuter alternatives. Rep. Brad Miller (D-NC) is the lead on this project, which totals $14,280,000 and the federal portion of this request is $11,424,000. I support the project, and request $5,712,000 on behalf of the City of Greensboro and the Greensboro Transit Authority for the project, which affects my congressional district and residents.
PART Bus and Bus Facility Project (Guilford, Forsyth, Surry, Yadkin, Davie, Davidson, Randolph, Alamance, Rockingham, and Stokes Counties)
The Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation (PART) proposes funding for the Bus and Bus Facility Project. If funded, the project would build upon existing commuter programs operated by PART. Funding would allow for implementation of additional park and ride lots, construction, lighting and purchase of additional buses. The program serves the 10-county area and provides a viable alternative for commuters, improves air quality, and decreases congestion. This request also includes funding for two subregional terminals located on the I 40 corridor in Guilford and Alamance counties. PART estimates the project will cost $32,030,000 and the federal portion of this request is $25,620,000. I request $8,540,000 on behalf of PART for the project. Rep. Mel Watt (D-NC) is the lead on the project. Rep. Brad Miller (D-NC) who also represents areas PART serves, will make a similar request.
PART Regional Mobility System (Guilford and Forsyth Counties)
The Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation proposes funding for continued planning of a potential regional mobility system between Winston Salem and Greensboro. Also encompassed in this request is planning and development of a distribution hub for a proposed regional mobility system. If a regional mobility system is not implemented, the distribution hub would provide infrastructure support for existing PART and area transit agency services. PART estimates the total cost of the project is $240,000,000 and the federal portion of this request is $193,000,000. Rep. Brad Miller is the lead on the project. Rep. Mel Watt, Rep. Brad Miller, and myself request a total of $38,000,000 for the period of this reauthorization. I request $12,666,660 on behalf of PART for my portion of the project.
Rail
Lexington, North Carolina Passenger Rail Facility (Davidson County)
The City of Lexington, NC has requested that a new stop be added for the state-sponsored daily intercity passenger trains. This request will fund right of way acquisition, architectural and engineering services, station, platform, and canopy construction. To enable the new station stop, railroad signals also will be required to be updated. The City of Lexington estimates the project will cost $9,500,000 and the federal portion of this request is $7,600,000. Rep. Mel. Watt requested $7,600,000 on behalf of the City of Lexington, and I support his request due to the impact upon my district and its residents.
Research
North Carolina Agriculture and Technical State University Transportation Institute (Guilford County and Statewide)
North Carolina Agriculture and Technical State University (NC A&T) in Greensboro, North Carolina, proposes funding for its Transportation Institute. If funded, the Institute will provide research, education and outreach to enhance highway and transit safety for a variety of stakeholders in North Carolina and the nation. In addition, the Transportation Institute provides essential education programs vital to workforce development. Rep. Mel Watt (D-NC) submitted the NC A&T for the Transportation Institute for consideration, and I support his request due to the impact upon my district and the State of North Carolina.
North Carolina State University Center for Transportation and the Environment (Wake County and Statewide)
North Carolina State University (NCSU) in Raleigh, North Carolina, proposes funding for the Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE). CTE is a leader in educating students and transportation professionals in tools that integrate environmental concerns into the design process of transportation projects. If funded, CTE will focus on research and development that improves highway and transit design using Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS). Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-NC) submitted CTE for consideration, and I support his request due to the impact upon my district and the State of North Carolina.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill National Center for Young Driver Research and Education (Orange County and Statewide)
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill seeks to establish a National Center for Young Driver Research and Education. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of deaths for teens in the U.S. If funded, the Center will help develop effective solutions for this growing epidemic through multi-disciplinary research and education to reduce the number of crashes. Rep. David Price (D-NC) submitted the National Center for Young Driver Research and Education for consideration, and I support his request due to the impact upon my district and the state of North Carolina.
