By Jim Humphrey, City of Charlotte
All Board positions have been appointed. A member from the Jacksonville area is the lone member awaiting confirmation.
The Planning Committee received a presentation from NCDOT media/communications staff relative to plans to partner with DENR to conduct a media campaign regarding ways to reduce highway/greenhouse emissions. Phase One will be conducted at no/low cost (posters at State and public offices, work with AAA, publicize at events such as NASCAR, etc.). A second phase could include TV/radio/web. Phase One is expected to commence in conjunction with a Climate Conference the first week of March. The slide show is probably on the NCDOT website.
Johanna Reese provided a legislative update to the Safety and Emerging Issues Committee. Most efforts are associated with work with the Legislature’s Joint Transportation Oversight Committee to develop an agenda for 2010. The next meeting of the JTOC is January 19 and will include the Annual Turnpike Authority Report and a presentation on rapid train technology.
Cities, towns and counties now have authority to adopt ordinances regulating golf carts on public roads. NCDOT has developed a draft ordinance they hope will be used as a model statewide thereby making ordinances similar across the state. They plan to ask the NCLM and NCLCC to distribute to their members for comment within the next week. Kevin Lacy is the lead state staff person.
The Rail Committee received a power point presentation regarding the NCDOT railcar refurbishment and rebuild program. The NCDOT typically buys cars no longer needed by larger systems then refurbishes and upgrades them at much lower cost than purchase of new equipment.
The NCDOT expects to hear from the feds this month regarding their application for recovery act funds for High Speed Rail and the 85/Yadkin River bridge.
The Complete Streets Committee will short list firms interested in assisting late this month.
Dan Thomas presented an overview of the process for developing a Comprehensive Transportation Plan to the Multimodal Committee. He highlighted 5 steps and emphasized how multimodal and land use considerations are incorporated.
The Programming and Finance Committee received a report by Gene Conti indicating the NCDOT Performance Report for 2009 had been prepared and was being distributed. Other staff discussed recent and new Ethics Orders issued by the Governor.
