NC Governor Announces ARRA Transit Projects

Article continues below...

North Carolina Governor Perdue Announces Transit Projects Funded Through American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

6/10/2009 -- Raleigh -- North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue today announced that 140 transit projects across the state will receive more than $103 million in funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). These funds will enhance or expand transit options in both rural and urban communities. A list of projects is attached.

“These JobsNOW recovery projects will help create and sustain jobs and provide needed economic development and mobility in counties throughout North Carolina,” said Perdue. “Not only will they put people to work, they will take people to work.”

Twenty-one urban transit systems will receive more than $70 million for 77 projects. The largest allocation, at $20.8 million, goes to Charlotte Area Transit System’s North Davidson Street bus facility. In addition, two metropolitan planning organizations (Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro MPO and Capital Area MPO) elected to designate $5.1 million for transit projects instead of highway and bridge projects.

Projects in rural areas across the state totaled more than $33 million. Three projects benefit transit efforts statewide, and 63 are designated for rural transit systems/areas of the state. These projects are expected to create or retain more than 3,200 jobs.

“Transit projects are a critical part of our transportation infrastructure,” said Transportation Secretary Gene Conti. “Enhancing, expanding and maintaining our existing transit options expands our ability to serve the people of the state.”

NCDOT received a total of $838 million through the ARRA, including $735 million for highway and bridge projects. To date, NCDOT has allocated more than 90 percent of the highway and bridge money received to projects across the state.

Gov. Perdue and Secretary Conti also are working with Sen. Kay Hagan, Rep. Mel Watt and the rest of North Carolina’s Congressional Delegation to pursue discretionary grant money included in the ARRA to use for the $300 million replacement of the Yadkin River Bridge on I-85 in Davidson and Rowan counties. Later this summer, the state also will apply for discretionary funding under the ARRA for the Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor, which runs through North Carolina.

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

Source: North Carolina Governor