GASTONIA — The primary for Senate District 43 includes current state Rep. Wil Neumann and Realtor Kathy Harrington, whose husband Michael served in the state House and was defeated by Hoyle in 2002. Kathy Harrington unsuccessfully challenged retiring Sen. David Hoyle for the seat in 2008.
RALEIGH — Job creation, government innovation and transparency, and education are expected to take center stage in the second year of the administration of Gov. Beverly Perdue.
RALEIGH — Gov. Bev Perdue announced Monday an innovative public-private partnership — the first of its kind in North Carolina history — designed to accelerate completion of the conflict-ridden Interstate 485 outer loop in Charlotte.
CHARLOTTE — Charlotte Area Transit System officials expect the next few years to be busy at the transit agency. In addition to a light-rail line under construction, CATS officials hope to begin work on four more lines by about 2010, the CATS Web site says.
From taxes to land, Charlotte's push for a racing museum runs over logic in a couple places.
CHARLOTTE — When the Federal Transit Administration released its proposed fiscal 2005 budget in February, there were plenty of disappointed transit supporters in both the Triangle and Charlotte. Rather than committing to pick up half the tab for new rail transit systems in the two communities, the FTA’s upcoming budget recommended providing only limited funding for the systems. Though the two authorities may well get the funding they sought in the future, the coming year’s limited authorization makes it likely that the completion date for the routes will slip. The Charlotte route was to open in 2006, the Triangle line a year later.
RALEIGH — A proposed turnpike connecting Gaston and Mecklenburg counties over the Catawba River will likely be the first toll road project to be planned, built, and operated by the North Carolina Turnpike Authority, according to two sources familiar with plans for the so-called Garden Parkway. Despite the fact that the Garden Parkway is common knowledge and is referred to as “a candidate toll project” in the minutes of the Dec. 5, 2003 NCTA board meeting in Gastonia, officials in the N.C. Department of Transportation’s Public Information Office would not acknowledge the project’s likelihood or provide details about it or any other toll projects being considered.
CHARLOTTE — Over the Christmas and New Year's holidays many people travel by car to visit relatives or simply to go on vacation. There are few things less pleasant than driving through road construction projects, with all the hassles and potential delay that entails. While there are significant road projects under way in all parts of the state, Charlotte is especially affected this year. Three of the five major routes into the city are being rebuilt, including Interstates 85 and 77 and U.S. Highway 74, or Independence Boulevard.
CHARLOTTE — For the first time in 14 years, the General Assembly has added to the number of the projects to be paid for through the Highway Trust Fund. The largest addition was a $350 million, 28-mile portion of the Fayetteville loop, included at the request of Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand, D-Cumberland. The Greenville Southwest Bypass was also designated as an urban loop road. Additional interchanges, bridges, or miles of highway were added to the Raleigh, Greensboro, Wilmington, and Winston-Salem loop projects.
CHARLOTTE — The Charlotte Area Transit System has received federal environmental approval of the first of its five transit lines, setting the stage for construction to begin soon. At the same time, a local group was protesting the proposed routing of another rail line, which might require the relocations of hundreds of graves in two historic cemeteries. With federal environmental approval, CATS is expected to act quickly to buy land along the future 10-mile light-rail line. The route will run from uptown Charlotte south along South Boulevard to just short of Interstate 485 in Pineville.
