Area mayors are calling for legislative action to relieve congestion in the Triangle, according to the Triangle J Council of Governments.

The mayors of Raleigh, Durham, Cary and Chapel Hill have called legislation that supports recommendations proposed by the 21st Century Transportation Committee. The committee's recommendations include financing transit improvement projects, including I-540.

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The group has also recommended that the General Assembly stop the transfer of $172 million annually from the Highway Trust Fund to the state's General Fund, and instead use those monies for transportation needs.

More on the Recommendations

It was suggested by the committee that the legislature use these funds to help pay for the funding of turnpike projects that include the Triangle Expressway Turnpike in RTP, and use the remaining part of this money to pay debt service on a new transportation bond of up to $1.7 billion.

Mayors Charles Meeker of Raleigh, Bill Bell of Durham, Harold Weinbrecht of Cary, and Kevin Foy of Chapel Hill support the proposals with the provision that the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization and the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization develop a regional plan to implement the changes.

Related Links

1. Triangle J Council of Governments
2. 21st Century Transportation Committee