Friday's Internet Edition, May 09, 2008.
|
Months later Commissioner Max Walser says he is “open-minded” on toll bridges. One thing is for sure, commissioners have taken the stance that the Yadkin River bridge over Interstate 85 needs to be structurally improved. State officials have recently discussed the idea of using a toll bridge to fund improvements to the Yadkin River bridge.
Walser and board chair Larry Potts announced Tuesday night that they are attempting to set up a meeting in Washington, D.C., with congressional leaders, including Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R-NC).
“I think the meeting is going to happen,” Walser said. “It’s a long shot, but we owe it to the public to get it paid for. It’s an interstate and not a Davidson County road. We ought to have some federal help.”
According to the North Carolina Turnpike Authority (NCTA), the bridge was determined to have 10 years of remaining life as outlined in an environmental assessment completed in 2000. The bridge was constructed in 1955, and in 1998 approximately 60,000 vehicles traveled across the bridge each day.
A proposed project was funded and scheduled for the fall of 2003, but it experienced some delay s due to “historic issues within the project limits,” a report from the NCTA says. The project was within two weeks of taking costs proposals when it was cancelled due to funding issues. At the time, the project was estimated at approximately $175 million.
Now the estimate has risen to approximately $400 million, including the completion of all design, environmental mitigation, right-of-way acquisition, toll-collection facilities and contract administration activities. The right-of-way portion of the total is roughly $15 million.
“I have said on the record that I am opposed to that toll bridge,” Walser said. “None of us should draw any firm conclusions until we hear everything. That is one of the reasons I suggested we go sit down with our congressional delegation and be sure there are no stones left unturned before we go further. If all fails, someone is going to be building a bridge out there, or it is going to fall down.”
In 2007, the NCTA conducted a “sketch level” traffic and revenue study, which indicated the project could be financed fully through toll revenues or with a minimal funding gap. However, the idea of funding it exclusively through toll revenues would have to be confirmed by further traffic and revenue study and financial analysis.
If all the studies began immediately, the NCTA says a contract to award bid could be achieved in mid-2009. This would allow for project completion in 2013.
Another possible hindrance to the start of the project would be the EPA’s classification of the “non-attainment” area the bridge is located in. The project cannot move forward as a tolled or non-tolled facility until air quality conformity is met in May 2009. A decision on tolling this project needs to be made by early summer 2008 to ensure that the proper considerations can be taken into account in the modeling process.
One of the challenges cited by the NCTA is legislation that is required to toll an existing facility. Currently, the North Carolina General Assembly strictly prohibits tolls on an existing roadway. The Federal Highway Administration does allow tolling of non-tolled interstate highways under special circumstances. These allowances include projects that consist of the reconstruction or replacement of bridges.
Another challenge would be traffic diversions as a result of those choosing not to pay tolls and taking an alternate route. Existing legislation requires a free, alternate route for any proposed toll project. Initial NCTA studies indicate that traffic diversions will go into the town of Spencer.
The obvious challenges will be negative public sentiment, political concerns and marking of electronic toll technology to users, according to the NCTA.
“There are major considerations on this project that are more about the public’s acceptability than concerning engineering and financial constraints,” the NCTA report reads. “The decision to move forward as a toll project lies with the local and regional communities and the North Carolina General Assembly.”
Commissioner Larry Allen expressed support for Walser and Potts as they attempt to travel to Washington, D.C.
“I want to commend Commissioners Walser and Potts for wanting to go meet with our congressional delegation,” Allen said. “I do wish them luck and maybe there will be success. In Washington, D.C. they can build bridges to nowhere in Alaska, but we can’t get anything done in North Carolina.”
In other business:
• Commissioners voted unanimously to apply for a N.C. Rural Economic Development grant that would pay for water lines and sewer lines for an $11.8 million medical building in Thomasville. Novant Health Inc., owner of Thomasville Medical Center, plans on building a facility called the Davidson Medical Plaza, on Old Greensboro Road across from Davidson County Community College. Gabrielle Causby, the president of Thomasville Medical Center, said Novant plans on creating 46 jobs.
Even though approving the application for the grant, county officials expressed concern when they learned the City of Thomasville would not maintain the sewer lines, and the sewer line would be private.
Due to serving on Novant’s board, Commissioner Fred McClure was excused from the vote.
• Commissioners approved changes to the county teaching scholarships to give an option to graduates of Davidson County Schools who are college and plan to come back to the county and work as a teacher. The county currently gives a maximum of 15 scholarships each year. The change allows students the option of receiving $1,250 a year for four years instead of $5,000 at one time to college seniors before their last undergraduate year.
• By a 5-2 vote, commissioners approved several reclassification and salary adjustments.
• Commissioners approved a resolution from Davidson County Community College for street improvements to the entrance. The college and DOT plans to spend $423,000 for street improvements.
Staff Writer Darrick Ignasiak can be reached at 472-9500, ext. 231, or ignasiak@tvilletimes.com.