Updated January 29.
January 19, 2014. From Commissioner Vance Aydlett: Please post this. Mr. O'Neal is our BOC chairman. I am proud of our county and full BOC support on this issue.
From: Rep. R Steinburg Fri, 17 Jan 2014
Below you will find a diagram that shows how
funds in the Highway Trust Fund are distributed among the three
funding pots: the statewide tier, the regional tier, and the
division tier. Further below the diagram is a detailed list of
which projects are eligible for funding under each of the three
funding pots. Capital expenditures on the state maintained ferry
system are eligible for funding under both the regional and
division tiers, excluding replacement of state maintained ferry
vessels which are eligible for only the division tier. RPOs and
MPOs across the state will have to decide what projects are the
most important for their respective areas given budgetary
constraints.
If the RPO does not vote to toll the ferry then
ferry vessel replacement would come out of the division tier pot
of money. Any project that is not funded from the Statewide or
Regional Tiers will cascade to the Division tier where the RPO
will have to decide which capital expenditure projects are the
most important given budget constraints. From DOT’s chart below,
you can see under the division tier category that each of the 14
division will receive an equal share of approximately $34 million
annually. A single vessel replacement ranges from $12 million for
a river class vessel to $15 million for a sound class vessel.
There are a few options that are available in
this situation:
An RPO can decide to pay for ferry vessel
replacement out of its division pot of money and still have about
$20 mil left over to spend during that year.
An RPO can pass a resolution to toll. In this
case, toll proceeds are credited to division exclusively for ferry
vessel passenger replacement projects. Depending on when the tolls
are implemented and when a ferry needs replacing, this option
may/may not provide enough revenue to pay for replacement
outright. Just because tolls are implemented does not mean a
division will automatically have vessel replacement money. The
toll proceeds just build up until replacement is required.
Any proceeds from receipt generating activities
such as selling naming rights, concessions, internet access, or
advertising on a ferry route are credited back to that division
for ferry passenger vessel replacements projects, in the same way
as toll proceeds.
There is a provision in HB 817 that provides an
incentive for local funding for road projects. DOT will match any
local funding commitment for a road construction project at 50%
with a cap of $200mil that decreases to $100mil in 2015. The
incentive allocation will be available for local use during the
next 5 year funding cycle.
There is a provision in HB 817 that provides an
incentive for highway tolling. DOT will match capital construction
funding directly attributable to toll revenue at 50% with a cap of
$200mil that decreases to $100mil in 2015. The incentive
allocation will be available for local use during the next 5 year
funding cycle.
The above options are not mutually exclusive.
Any division, region, mpo or rpo can choose whether to take
advantage of any of these options.
There are other limitations on these two
options that are spelled out in more detail in HB 817 and the
technical corrections bill; however I wanted to give you a general
idea on how these two provisions would work. I hope this
information is helpful.
Jan 17, 2014, From S. Paul O'Neal:
Bob, Our position is that a Ferry is no different than a
bridge. Will bridges be subject to the same criteria? Let s use a
bridge in the mountains, why is it treated different, shouldn't it
have to go throught the same process? Why hasnt DOT created a
sinking fund to replace Ferries? These are the questions our
shared constituents are asking. Thank you
January 18, 2014, From Rep. Bob Steinburg:
That's what the public hearing is for. We'll have a chance to hear
from anyone and everyone at that time and entertain any and all
ideas on what will be the most equitable solution. My ears and
eyes will be open. Hope all commissioners and Dan will join me in
attending.
January 29. From Senator Bill Cook. This is the letter that I sent to Currituck County manager Dan Scanlon about the Knotts-Island Ferry issue.
Dear Mr. Scanlon, I am opposed to ferry tolling on the Currituck
Knotts-Island Ferry route. In fact, I have opposed the institution
of tolls and increasing tolls on all ferry routes in North
Carolina. When I was the N.C. House Representative for District 6,
in 2012 I was able to convince the leadership to postpone the
consideration of ferry tolls. Subsequently, in 2013 the decision
was made to allow the local Rural Transportation Planning
Organization to decide tolling determination. I intend to stand
with you and the other Currituck County Commissioners regarding
this tolling issue.
Membership on the Albemarle Commission - Rural
Transportation Planning Organization is limited to the area's
Board of Transportation member and local elected officials who are
appointed by each county and municipal board/council within the
Albemarle region. The decision on tolling this route is in the
hands of the board members of the local RPO. However, I will do
what I can to impede the imposition of a toll on this route and in
failing that I will advocate tolling that reflects the special
circumstances of the folks living on Knotts-Island. I plan to
attend the public hearing regarding this issue on Tuesday, Feb.
04, in Knotts-Island. Please don't hesitate to contact me
regarding this issue. Regards, Bill