NO MID-CURRITUCK BRIDGE

By Jeff Hampton
The Virginian-Pilot
© June 9, 2010

The North Carolina House of Representatives’ budget leaves out $15 million for the Currituck mid-county bridge, a move that could threaten the project.

The Senate budget includes the $15 million.

“It endangers the whole project,” Schorr Johnson, spokesman for Sen. Marc Basnight, D-Dare.

Basnight will not support the house budget without bridge funding, he said. Rep. Bill Owens, D-Pasquotank, a House member representing Currituck and other local counties, was in budget meetings and could not be reached.

The House budget moves the $15 million to a “mobility fund” for state road projects that relieve congestion, Johnson said. But without the $15 million, private investors could back out, Johnson said. The House budget also moves $39 million from the Monroe Connector, another project of the North Carolina Turnpike Authority, he said.

The General Assembly agreed in 2008 to set aside $15 million annually toward the bridge that would connect the Currituck mainland to Corolla at a cost ranging from $600,000 to more than $1 billion.

The Turnpike Authority agreed last year to partner with a private group headed by ACS Infrastructure Development, a subsidiary of a firm based in Spain. The ACS partners, collectively known as Currituck Development Group LLC, are also investors, following a pattern used in Europe.

Debated for more than 20 years, a lack of funding and environmental issues delayed the project. But more recently, using tolls, private investment and public funds, the bridge appeared to be on its way to completion by 2014.

SELC_Comments_Mid-Currituck_Bridge_DEIS_060710

Southern Environmental Law Center comments on the Mid-Currituck Bridge Project.  Our heartfelt thanks go out to them for there invaluable support in fighting this ill conceived project.

North Carolina Audubon, NC Wildlife Federation, Environmental Defense Fund, and the Wilderness Society all signed on.   The Nature Conservancy is also submitting its own set of comments.

June 1, 2010

Mr. Bill Biddlecome
US Army Corps of Engineers
P.O. Box 1000
Washington, N.C. 27889

Subject: Mid–Currituck Bridge

Dear Mr. Biddlecome:

I am writing to express my opposition to the Currituck Mid-County Bridge project which is currently in its final comment period. I have attached a copy of comments regarding issues found in the DEIS. In summary of those comments, it is my position as presented by the DEIS that this bridge fails to meet the objectives set forth in the DEIS.

Specifically, the DEIS states that the bridge will make traffic at the eastern terminus of the bridge (south of Corolla) worse.
Per the DEIS, traffic will improve if Rt 12 is widened between Duck and US 158.
Per the DEIS, without improvement in the outbound capacity of this portion of US158 (NC 168 to NC12) future hurricane evacuation clearance times would not decrease, even if NC 12 was widened, or a Mid-Currituck Bridge was built.
The DEIS does not analyze impact of current widening and improvement to US 158 from Belcross to Camden and on to RT 17 (Project #34430.3) therefore, clearance time is likely to be overstated.
Traffic counts of possible volumes of usage of the MCB are overstated based on observation, that many of the cars passing the Dare/Currituck county line are originating in Dare, are service vehicles (up to 25% of vehicular traffic on a non-summer weekday) that will continue to travel Rt 12 and not utilize the bridge, or, are Dare tourists (another 20% of traffic) that are making day trips to the attractions of the northern beaches such as the Wildlife museum, Whalehead Club, and/or wild horses in the off-road portion of the beach—they will return to Dare via Rt 12. The traffic that will be alleviated by this bridge represents a small fraction of the traffic that currently crosses the Wright Memorial Bridge. And, an even smaller fraction of that traffic will cross the Dare/Currituck line to travel into Currituck County.
One of the major “surveys” used by the North Carolina Turnpike Authority to judge traffic was actually conducted well south of Duck on Rt 12 at the intersection with Chickahawk.
Congested summer weekend traffic represents only 9% of total yearly travel days. On Saturday May 29th (Memorial Day weekend) at 11:30 am, I drove from Aydlett to the third stoplight south of the Wright Memorial Bridge at highway speeds in 25 minutes. I don’t think this travel time is unbearable. I observed a traffic survey car sitting at the intersection of Rt 12 and US158 near the stoplight for the rest area.

The environmental impact of this bridge is substantial whether measured by the proposed “dams” on which the western terminus is to be built through the Maple Swamp, the coastal marshland at the eastern terminus, the noise/light/air pollution within the village of Aydlett, the impact on wetlands and habitat—yesterday I observed a pair of nesting American Bald eagles within 1 mile of the proposed western terminus as well as 3 Osprey feeding/hunting within the 1 mile radius. Last summer I observed sea turtles (not snapping turtles) feeding near my pier. These impacts are inadequately analyzed by the DEIS.

Additionally, I would like to comment regarding the volume of boat traffic observed which would be impacted by the bridge. I have seen within the last month two sailing schooners with masts in excess of 30 ft., two dozen sail boards with masts of 9-11 ft., 10 kayaks, numerous jet skis, 8 fishing/crabbing boats of watermen working the sound for jobs, 10-20 pleasure boats, some pulling skiers, and, large inboard boats pulling parasails. I personally sail a Prindle catamaran with a 23ft mast.

At the public hearings on the DEIS, the vast majority of individuals speaking, spoke out against the building of any bridge. It was the business community and more specifically, the real estate business, which overwhelmingly supported the bridge. You have to ask yourself–what is the real purpose of this bridge and whether it is needed, or merely “wanted” by those with real estate developmental interests.

The need to exact the environmental and economic costs of the Currituck Mid-County bridge on North Carolina residents is not supported by the DEIS. I respectfully request that you please join the individuals who expressed their opposition to the bridge and not support any option which builds a bridge. The bridge does not accomplish its stated purposes as put forth in the DEIS.

It makes traffic worse in Corolla,
It doesn’t improve hurricane evacuation,
It does not substantially improve travel time from mainland Currituck to the Currituck Outer Banks.
It does nothing to address congested traffic in Duck, Southern Shores, and Kitty Hawk.
It fails to recognize that the traffic problem it seeks to address represents only 9% of total travel days in a year.

Sincerely,

Wallace E. Davis, III

From staff reports Daily Advance
Saturday, May 29, 2010

The campaign of N.C. Sen. Marc Basnight has forfeited more than $84,000 in campaign contributions after a judge ruled earlier this month that the contributions were not legal.

A judge in a Wilmington court ruled Democratic fundraiser Rusty Carter illegally channeled $150,000 to the campaigns of Basnight and Gov. Beverly Perdue, the News and Observer reported.

Schorr Johnson, a spokesman for Basnight — a Dare County Democrat who also represents Currituck, Camden and Pasquotank and counties as serves as pro-tem of the Senate — said Thursday that Basnight had forfeited the money in accordance with state law. Johnson noted the court found neither Basnight nor Perdue had done anything wrong.

The Basnight campaign forfeited $84,000 to the State Board of Elections. It became part of the state’s fines and forfeitures fund,

“It’s money that should not have been given to the senator’s campaign,” Johnson said. “He didn’t want it. When he found out from the Board of Elections what constituted the full amount, he forfeited it.” continue reading…

By Cindy Beamon
Staff writer Daily Advance
Saturday, May 22, 2010

CURRITUCK — Plans for a mid-county bridge from Currituck’s mainland to the Outer Banks drew sharp criticism during a public hearing Thursday night even though opponents feared that its construction is “inevitable.”

More than 80 residents, many wearing “no mid-county bridge” stickers, attended the last of three public hearings on possible options for the seven-mile span estimated to cost $680 million.

The N.C. Turnpike Authority has recommended construction of the bridge to help improve traffic flow, reduce travel time and improve hurricane evacuation routes to and from the Outer Banks. Although some comments focused on specifics of the plan, the majority of speakers at Thursday’s hearing said they would prefer that the bridge not be built at all.

“I don’t want a bridge period,” Rosalie Jones of Aydlett said before the hearing. “But if we do have to have it, we don’t want the toll (plaza) to be in Aydlett. We want it to be on (U.S. Highway) 158.”
continue reading…

By Jeff Hampton
The Virginian-Pilot
© May 23, 2010

CURRITUCK COUNTY, N.C.

Opinions on a bridge to the Outer Banks depend on the neighborhood.

During public hearings held last week by the North Carolina Turnpike Authority, Corolla and Aydlett residents generally opposed the five-mile span. Residents in Duck and Southern Shores, though, mostly supported the bridge.

Groups have formed on both sides: Build the Bridge – Preserve Our Roads in support and No Mid-Currituck Bridge in opposition. Each has a website and advertises on billboards.

“I feel like this is a want, not a need,” Corolla resident Nancy Baker said. “I don’t want to pay $800 million to solve traffic flow.”

Baker was one of about 125 people who attended a hearing in Corolla on Wednesday. A hearing was also held in Kill Devil Hills on Tuesday and another in Barco on Thursday.

“On balance, the benefits outweigh the negatives,” said Duck resident Allan Starr, among a minority who spoke in favor of the bridge at the Corolla hearing.

The North Carolina Turnpike Authority proposes building a bridge across the Currituck Sound from Ayd-lett to Corolla, ranging in cost from about $600 million to more than $1 billion.

The project has been debated for more than 20 years and went through public hearings in the 1990s with opinions divided according to locality. Lack of funding and environmental issues delayed the project.

Options include a five- mile span across the sound that would turn into a short road through Aydlett before becoming a bridge again through two miles of swamp to intersect with U.S. 158.

Toll plazas would sit at the U.S. 158 intersection just south of Coinjock. Aydlett Road would remain in place parallel to the bridge.

In another configuration, the bridge would end at the Aydlett shoreline and merge into a road that would travel through the swamp to U.S. 158. Aydlett Road would be closed and toll plazas would sit in Aydlett.

Currituck County officials who have supported the bridge oppose building toll plazas in Aydlett and further disturbing the community.

Building a road through the swamp saves about $60 million on the project, b ut environmental agencies prefer a bridge to allow free flow of water and wildlife.

On the Corolla side, the bridge could connect to N.C. 12 near the TimBuck II commercial complex or near the Corolla Bay subdivision about two miles north.

Another alternative is not to build a bridge and instead widen existing highways.

Aydlett is a community set along the Currituck Sound without traffic lights, gas stations or convenience stores.

Most residents own at least a small boat, part of an old tradition of traversing the sound without a bridge. Many tend gardens as large as small farms. The bridge would destroy the rural character and quiet lifestyle, residents say.

In Corolla, a tourist resort area, the bridge would increase day-trippers and burden N.C. 12 with more traffic, not less, opponents said.

Corolla lacks parking and other facilities to handle the swell of day-trippers. Crime would increase because of the extra escape route offered by a bridge, opponents said.

“Day-trippers bring their own food and beer and leave their trash,” Corolla resident Barry Richmond said during Wednesday’s public hearing.

In Duck and Southern Shores, traffic would probably decrease with a new bridge. Now, traffic clogs on N.C. 12 as it winds north from Southern Shores to Corolla.

Travelers heading to Corolla would take the bridge, trimming about an hour off the circuitous route through southern Currituck, across the Wright Memorial Bridge into Dare County and then north about 20 miles on N.C. 12 through Duck to Corolla.

Hurricane evacuation and medical services would be faster, supporters said. Currituck County employees and construction workers would have a quicker trip to the Outer Banks.

The public can make comments to the Turnpike Authority through June 7. The state plans to make a decision on the preferred option in August and issue a final environmental impact statement in September.

If approved, construction would begin in 2011 and the bridge would open by 2014.

The bridge would be built and operated by a private developer with state oversight. Tolls could run from $6 to $12 each way. The state sets aside $15 million annually to help pay for the bridge.

Jeff Hampton, (252) 338-0159, jeff.hampton@pilotonline.com

http://blogs.newsobserver.com/crosstown/perdue-taps-two-familiar-sources-for-transportation-money

We need to elect people that will represent the wishes of the tax paying citizens rather then playing to the wishes of developers.  Those in power refuse to use reason when dealing with road/bridge projects.  The Bonner Bridge replacement has still not come to fruition but the state can find $15 million a year for the Mid-Currituck Bridge!

THE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT HAS BEEN PUT UP ON THE TURNPIKE WEB SITE.  LAYMAN READABLE STUDY TO BE RELEASED SOON

http://www.ncturnpike.org/pdf/Mid-Currituck%20Bridge%20DEIS.pdf

Federal TIFIA loan support for P3s for 2010 to be closed Dec 31 – though protests may see deadline pushed back
Posted on Thu, 2009-12-17 04:24

* P3s
* PPP
* tifia
* usdot

USDOT’s TIFIA office is short of money and has announced it is closing the open door to loan applications that it has operated back to passage of the original Transportation Infrastructure Finance Innovation Act (TIFIA) of 1998. A surprise announcement Dec 3 (see bottom of this article) requires applicants for TIFIA loans next year to submit letters of interest by close of business Dec 31.

The sudden cut-off Dec 31 has generated protests. Word is the USDOT deadline will likely to be pushed back into the new year.

Projects for which letters of interest have already been submitted are required to resubmit on a revised form:

see http://tifia.fhwa.dot.gov/guide_apps/loi_form.cfm

TIFIA is a US Government program of loans, loan insurance and guarantees designed to support private investment in toll roads and other user fee based transport projects.

It has played a major role in so-called public-private partnerships PPPs or P3s by lowering overall borrowing costs with subordinated debt, deferred repayments, and loans indexed to Treasury bond rates. continue reading…

A presentation was given at a NCDOT CTP meeting last night by John Page from Parsons & Tracy __ representing NCTPA. The DEIS has been approved by the federal agencies and is at the printers. It should be available shortly, copies will be at the library, courthouse, and on the NCTPA web site. The technical appendices will also be available there in hard copy & on CDs. The presentation they gave us should be up on the turnpike website shortly.

Bottom line: they recommend MCB4 (bridge with only minor road work). Mind you, they admitted that they/NCTPA would only be doing adjunct roadwork to the extent that extra funding was available to them – their charge is only the bridge! Roadwork is essentially the responsibility of the state/county, and thus would most likely would be phased in as funding was available.

The DEIS has NO recommendation on: bridge terminus; maple swamp crossing; and hurricane strategy – third outbound lane or lane reversal.

Pubic meetings to be held at the Ramada Inn at Nags Head 1701 Virginia Dare Trail Milepost 9.5. Kill Devil Hills, May 18; Outer Banks Wildlife Ed Ctr. 1160 Village Lane Corolla, May 19; and Currituck Cooperative Extention Center 120 Community Way, Barco, ( off route 158/Shortcut Rd ),  May 20. Workshops will be help prior to the meetings.

Each session will include an open house at 3:30 p.m. and public hearing at 7 p.m.

The preferred Alternative/LEDPA will be determined by Aug. 2010

Final EIS Sept. 2010 (including responses all public & written comments).

Record of Decision: December 2010

Construction start 2011

Open to traffic (first full year) 2015

June 7 is deadline for comments/questions all of which will be responded to & included in the FEIS.

Presentation to CTP by NCTPA can be found here