Surface Transportation Authorization High Priority Projects

Capital Area Transit (CAT) System Operations and Maintenance Facility, City of Raleigh - $5.75 million

City of Raleigh
PO Box 590
Raleigh, NC 27602

The City of Raleigh's CAT operations and maintenance facility is over 30 years old and was designed to accomodate a 50 bus fleet.  Because of the Raleigh area’s significant growth and increased ridership, the CAT fleet has expanded significantly, and the City now stores over 85 buses at this facility.  The City, in conjunction with the State of North Carolina,has requested federal funds to construct a new transit operations and maintenance facility that can accommodate the current fleet and future expansion of bus service in Raleigh. 

Chapel Hill Transit Bus Replacement, Town of Chapel Hill - $10 million

North Carolina Department of Transportation
1542 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699

The State of North Carolina, in conjunction with the Town of Chapel Hill, is seeking federal funds to purchase up to 30 diesel and hybrid buses to replace aging buses in the existing fleet.  Chapel Hill operates a free bus system which serves the student community and town residents.  Since the town converted to a fare-free system, ridership has doubled to over 7 million rides annually.  The replacement buses would ensure that the bus fleet is adequate and can continue to provide a viable alternative to personal automobile travel. 

Durham Area Transportation Authority Bus Replacement, City of Durham - $13.2 million

North Carolina Department of Transportation
1542 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699

The State of North Carolina, in conjunction with the City of Durham, is seeking federal funds to purchase up to 30 hybrid diesel fuel buses to replace buses in the existing fleet that have exceeded their useful life.  The system serves over 16,000 passengers daily, and these replacement buses would ensure that the bus fleet is adequate and can continue to provide a viable alternative to personal automobile travel. 

East End Connector and Highway 70, Durham County - $124 million

North Carolina Department of Transportation
1542 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699

The State of North Carolina is seeking federal funds to construct a new freeway between NC-147 and US-70, and to make a variety of improvements to portions of US-70 north of NC-98.  These roads are used by thousands of commuters each day, and improvements will help to reduce congestion, improve traffic safety and enhance mobility throughout the region.  US-70 is included in North Carolina’s Strategic Highway Corridor System.

Intercity Passenger Rail Station, Town of Hillsborough - $7.6 million

North Carolina Department of Transportation
1542 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699

The State of North Carolina, in conjunction with the Town of Hillsborough, is seeking federal funds to construct a new intercity passenger stop in the Town of Hillsborough, NC for two state-sponsored rail lines: the Carolinian, which travels between Charlotte and New York City, and the Piedmont, which travels between Raleigh and Charlotte.  These major rail lines currently pass through Hillsborough but do not stop there, forcing residents to commute outside of Orange County to either Durham or Burlington to have access to train service.  An Amtrak analysis of revenues and ridership reports that the stop would support the operating cost of adding it to the train services.  Federal investments in passenger rail are essential to making rail service a viable transportation alternative in areas outside the northeast corridor and promoting transit-oriented development.

Judd Parkway, Town of Fuquay-Varina, NC - $8 million

North Carolina Department of Transportation
1542 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699

The Town of Fuquay-Varina is seeking federal funds to complete construction of the Judd Parkway loop.  Upon completion, Judd Parkway will form a loop around the core area of the town, including the town’s main business district.  This project, which is included in the Capital Area MPO’s transportation plan, would increase mobility and decrease traffic congestion in the downtown area, as well as expand opportunities for economic development.

National Center for Young Driver Research and Education, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - $1.5 million

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC 27517

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is seeking federal support to establish a National Center for Young Driver Research and Education.  Motor-vehicle crashes are currently the leading cause of death among teenagers.  The Center would substantially expand and accelerate multidisciplinary research to understand the causes, and develop and evaluate approaches to reduce the frequency of crashes involving teenagers.

Raleigh Outer Loop, Wake County, NC - $100 million

North Carolina Department of Transportation
1542 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699

The State of North Carolina is seeking federal funds to complete the Raleigh Outer Loop (I-540) in Wake County.  This project will provide an alternative path for through traffic and improve mobility throughout the Triangle area by reducing demand and congestion on existing arterial facilities, including the I-40 corridor.  The Outer Loop is included in North Carolina’s Strategic Highway Corridor System and the North Carolina Interstate System.

White Oak Creek Greenway, Town of Cary - $3.7 million

Town of Cary
1963 N. Academy Street
Cary, NC 27512

The Town of Cary is seeking federal funds to construct a portion of the White Oak Creek Greenway.  The Black Creek-White Oak Creek Greenway corridor is the primary link for residents of Raleigh, Apex and Morrisville to access the American Tobacco Trail (ATT).  When the Greenway is completed, there will be a nearly continuous greenway connection between Umstead State Park and the ATT, a distance of 15 miles.  The Town is also working to designate the Black Creek-White Oak Creek Greenway corridors as official segments of the East Coast Greenway, a series of trails and routes selected to connect cities and towns along the East Coast with a continuous, traffic-free path from Calais, ME to Key West, FL, a distance of 3,000 miles.   Construction of the White Oak Creek Greenway would encourage tourism and recreation for residents throughout the state, and foster a more livable community by enhancing greenspace and walkability.