Transportation

Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx Begins Senate Confirmation Hearing

Gurnal Scott — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:37:26 +0000

Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx appeared today before a Senate committee as his confirmation hearing began this afternoon on Capitol Hill. President Obama nominated the two-term Charlotte mayor last month to replace the retiring Ray LaHood as U.S. Secretary of Transportation. Senators will likely delve into his transit reforms in Charlotte during the hearing.

In his opening statement, Foxx told the committee a story about going to his first job at age 12 by taking the number six bus after school.

Charlotte Mayor Nominated For Transportation Post

Gurnal Scott — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 12:56:32 +0000

President Obama has nominated Charlotte mayor Anthony Foxx to be the nation's next secretary of transportation. He would replace outgoing secretary Ray LaHood if confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Foxx -- who turns 42 years old today -- is considered a "rising star" among Democrats.

Alligator River Bridge Re-Opened

Gurnal Scott — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 12:41:10 +0000

The Alligator River Bridge in Tyrrell and Dare counties is once again open to traffic. The U.S. Highway 64 swing bridge was reopened to traffic late Sunday evening after being closed for the better part of two weeks. The Alligator River bridge is a major connection between the Outer Banks and mainland North Carolina.

NC Airports Rake in Over $20 Billion for NC Economy

Leoneda Inge — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 14:00:00 +0000

The Christmas and New Year holiday travel season means big business for the nation’s airports. A report by N-C State and the Institute for Transportation Research and Education shows just how big aviation is in this state.

Organic Transit

Frank Stasio and Alex Granados — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 15:30:00 +0000

A company in downtown Durham is hoping to revolutionize the way people commute. The ELF is a vehicle created by Organic Transit and its founder Rob Cotter. It fills the niche between the car and the bike, and Cotter thinks it can be an eco-friendly alternative to traditional vehicles.

Orange, Durham To Start Collecting Transit Tax

Will Michaels — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 15:30:00 +0000

Orange County Commissioners have given final approval to levy a half-cent sales tax for transit projects starting this Spring. Commissioners decided this week to collect the tax beginning on April 1. Voters in Orange County approved the tax on a ballot referendum in November. Durham residents did the same last year and will start paying the tax at the same time. Revenue goes toward a $1.4 billion plan from Triangle Transit Authority to expand bus services and build a light rail line from UNC Hospitals to downtown Durham.

New Master Plan For RTP

Gurnal Scott — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 21:30:00 +0000

Research Triangle Park leaders have rolled out a new master plan to transform the business center into a more community-friendly atmosphere.

Gurnal Scott: You may not realize that RTP has been around 53 years. Its foundation says it must look beyond its original vision of business innovation to grow in the next half century. CEO Bob Geolas says job growth is still a top priority.

Hatteras Ferry Could Be Delayed

Jessica Jones — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 20:10:00 +0000

Department of Transportation officials want coastal residents to be aware that the rainy, windy weather could delay the ferry from Ocracoke Island to Hatteras Island. The Army Corps of Engineers dredged Hatteras Inlet back in May. But DOT spokeswoman Lucy Wallace says shoaling in Hatteras Inlet means it will have to be dredged again. In the meantime, she says passengers should keep an eye on the ferry schedule.

Transit Money Coming To NC

Dave DeWitt — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 13:16:00 +0000

North Carolina will get about $14 million of the nearly $800 million the federal government is giving out to update transit systems across the country. The grants are part of the US Department of Transportation's "State of Good Repair and Bus Livability" effort.

DOT Secretary Ray Lahood says the grants will have a transformative effect.

Public Transit In Triangle At Crossroads

Dave DeWitt — Fri, 25 May 2012 10:15:00 +0000

Public transportation has long been a contentious topic in the Triangle. As cities like Charlotte have expanded bus service and built a light-rail system, cities like Raleigh and Durham have failed to keep up.

But now, a plan to increase busses and begin the long process of connecting the cities in the Triangle by rail is just a few steps from being implemented. Those last few steps are proving to be the hardest.