Independence Blvd. Extension Opening

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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