Transit panel OKs bid to get beltways on track
MBHockey13
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Transit panel OKs bid to get beltways on track
PART board also purchases land, buses, vans
By Jim Sparks
JOURNAL REPORTER
The Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation wants beltway loops
for eastern Forsyth County and Greensboro built more quickly.
At its regular monthly meeting in Greensboro yesterday, the PART board
unanimously approved a resolution asking the state to move up the
start date for construction on the two loops.
The board also approved several purchases, including land for new park-
and-ride lots in Lexington and Asheboro, five new shuttles and buses
for the transit service that it operates throughout the region, and 10
new vans for its van-pool program.
The board had considered last month a resolution supporting
Greensboro's loop project but delayed the vote so that staff members
could include the beltway-loop project planned for eastern Forsyth
County. The 17.4-mile eastern leg of Winston-Salem's planned Northern
Beltway will connect U.S. 52 near Rural Hall with Kernersville,
Interstate 40 and U.S. 311.
Construction on several segments of the beltway - as well as a 4.1-
mile section in eastern Greensboro between U.S. 29 and U.S. 70 - was
supposed to start in 2011. Late last year, the N.C. Department of
Transportation delayed the starting dates for construction on nearly
all city-loop projects across the state because of a lack of money.
Officials in Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Charlotte and elsewhere were
angered when they learned that although many of their projects had
been delayed by at least two years, a beltway around Fayetteville -
the home of DOT Secretary Lyndo Tippett - had not been pushed back.
Another loop planned for Wilmington was postponed by only one year.
Yesterday, Nancy Dunn and Doug Galyon, who represent Forsyth and
Guilford counties, respectively, on the N. C. Board of Transportation,
said that the resolution from PART will help them make their case to
Gov. Mike Easley and Tippett to restore money for the Triad's two loop
projects.
Because the eastern Forsyth loop has been designated as the future
path of Interstate 74 and is also close to major commercial
developments, the highway will also benefit Guilford County, said
Galyon, the chairman of the state transportation board.
Dunn agreed.
"There is no I-74 without the eastern leg of the beltway in Forsyth,"
Dunn said. "And without that we're going to continue to have problems
(with accidents) on U.S. 52.
The property that the board approved buying for the park-and-ride lot
in Lexington is at the intersection of U. S. 52 and U.S. 64. The 2.3
acres cost $310,000 and is being paid for mainly with federal and
state money. Construction is expected to start in April and be
finished by July.