Independence Blvd. Extension Opening
Talking Points for Gene Conti
Independence Blvd. Extension Opening
10/18/01
- Thank Lanny for introduction and congratulate him on being an outstanding Board member and advocate for this area.
- Great to be back in the Port City.
- New Hanover is ranked 9th out of 100 counties in population and Wilmington also is ranked 9th as the most populated city in the state.
- That makes for a lot of traffic.
- Since 1990 your county has seen a 33 percent growth.
- Wilmington, alone, has seen a 36 percent growth in the past eleven years.
- Good to come together to celebrate successes like the Independence Boulevard Extension that will help ease traffic congestion among the city's major roadways.
- Here today to open the Independence Boulevard Extension that will:
- Help improve traffic flow from Oleander (OH-LEE-ANDER) Drive to the Randall Parkway and -- especially for those shoppers heading to Independence Mall and Hanover Shopping Center -- just in time for the holidays.
- Relieve congestion on Wrightsville Avenue -- some of our busiest roads in Wilmington.
- Project is symbolic -- represents this area's growth as one of the state's premier places to live and visit.
- As we celebrate all that this new roadway will mean to Wilmington, I also want to talk with you about the importance of federal funding -- and what it has brought New Hanover County.
- I'm speaking of the federal-aid program called the Transportation Equity Act of the 21st Century -- or TEA-21.
- TEA-21 is the federal funding program that sets the framework for how transportation funding is allocated during a six-year period.
- Through my work at USDOT, I know firsthand how important federal funding is to a project.
- Can mean planning, right of way or construction are accelerated -- and can mean that a project can only be built because of federal funding.
- Since enacted in 1998, TEA-21 has given North Carolina nearly $3 billion in federal funds for highway, public transportation, rail, ferry, enhancement, safety and bicycle and pedestrian projects across the state.
- Allowed us to partner with federal agencies to improve our deteriorating highways and bridges, increase capacity and link the mountains and the coast;
- Supported a renaissance in public transportation by increasing rail ridership and modernized bus fleets;
- Saved lives with safety programs that have improved the use of seat belts, child safety seats and air bags -- reduced drunk driving and built safer facilities; and
- Ushered in a new commitment to taxpayers -- gave them a guarantee that every dollar they pay at the pump in federal fuel taxes will be spent to improve the transportation system we all depend on.
- North Carolina is fortunate to have a steady stream of federal funds.
- Means we don't have to piece meal projects -- building one portion and then waiting on next year's money to finish the project.
- We know each year how much money has been earmarked for North Carolina -- and we plan accordingly.
- Minimizes impacts to you the citizens who use these services every day.
- And we do use these every day -- either riding the bus to work, driving our children to school or taking the ferry to neighboring Brunswick County for recreation.
- Is easy to take these services for granted.
- Must remember that because of federal funds, we have been able to deliver more projects quickly.
- For Wilmington and New Hanover County that means more than $55 million in federal funds since 1998 for highway projects including:
- Building the Smith Creek Parkway;
- Resurfacing I-40 from the Duplin County line down into New Hanover County; and
- Building the Wilmington Bypass.
- Safety
- Has provided more than $256,000 in funding for traffic safety and equipment programs including the New Hanover County Safe Communities Grant and to
- Kure, New Hanover County, Wilmington, Wrightsville Beach and Carolina Beach Police Department Traffic Units for:
- Establishing and maintaining traffic enforcement units;
- Putting video cameras and radar in patrol cars; and
- Purchasing portable breath testing equipment.
- General Assembly passed and Governor Easley signed into law the Child Bicycle Safety Act this year -- went into effect October 1.
- Requires all children under the age of 16 to wear a bike helmet.
- NCDOT awarded more than $280,000 in federal safety funds through the Governor's Highway Safety Program to 222 local police and sheriff's departments across the state as well as the Highway Patrol.
- The funds will be used to purchase bicycle helmets for safety awareness programs in communities throughout the state.
- For New Hanover County, we provided more than $4,400 for bike helmets to the:
- New Hanover Police Department;
- Wrightsville Beach Police Department;
- Carolina Beach Police Department; and
- Kure Beach Police Department.
- Public Transportation
- Provided more than $4 million for public transportation
- Helped with capital, operating assistance, planning for future public transportation projects and administrative costs to local transit providers
- Rail
- Provided nearly $500,000 for five rail crossing improvement projects -- lights, gates, etc.
- Projects are in the planning stages now and should be complete in the next 12-18 months.
- 6th Street, Princess Place and Marsteller Road with CSX Railroad
- Myers Street and 3rd Street with Wilmington Terminal Railroad
- Also have another $400,000 we'll spend on rail here in Wilmington on four projects that we will soon design.
- River Road with Wilmington Terminal Railroad
- Sutton Steam Plant Road, 17th Street and 16th Street with CSX Railroad
- Bicycles
- More than $2.6 million to pave wider shoulders in New Hanover County for bike and pedestrian lanes
- Ferries
- Provided 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 -- preserves treasures that can be enjoyed for generations. These include:
- Building walking and biking 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
- Helping with a static restoration of a 1910 locomotive with the Wilmington Railroad Museum Foundation.
- TEA-21 will expire in September 2003
- Plans are underway to set guidelines for new funding
- Will work with Governor, Congressional delegation, state legislators and citizens on new federal program to help keep North Carolina moving forward.
- Just yesterday, USDOT presented Congress with a report that outlines the many benefits of TEA-21 -- all of which I've told you about today.
- They're laying the foundation for a new equity act for the states -- and over the next two years, we'll work hard for transportation in North Carolina -- making sure you get the best return on your federal dollars.
- We need a lasting commitment that will inspire a renewed dedication to keeping our transportation system the best in the country.
- Is important for us all to work together on this -- and to further spur economic development and a good quality of life for our children and grandchildren.
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