RALEIGH – The following are highlights
from this week at the N.C. Department of Transportation. The stories below are
also featured in NCDOT Now,
the department’s weekly newscast.
CSX Intermodal Facility
Transportation Secretary Jim Trogdon announced that NCDOT and CSX
reached an agreement to build a new intermodal facility near Rocky Mount. The
terminal will provide industry a logistical solution to help get products to
customers and spur growth in the region.
Known as the Carolina Connector, the terminal will be built on the
CSX mainline and the company will operate it. Trucks will bring cargo containers
to a rail yard where they will be transferred to trains for transport to
customers.
The project is estimated to have an indirect job impact of up to
1,300 jobs. Work on the site can begin at any time now and should wrap up by
late 2020.
School Bus Roadeo
While school isn’t back in session for a while for most students,
North Carolina school bus drivers from across the state tested their driving
skills at the 2018 School Bus Roadeo.
Drivers demonstrated their knowledge and abilities by navigating
through an obstacle course with exercises that resembled everyday situations
they encounter while on the road. The winner, Eric Turner from Hertford County
Schools, will now represent North Carolina in the national school bus driving
competition in Philadelphia.
The Division of Motor Vehicles hosted the event as part of their
driver training school.
Spring Litter Sweep Stats
Nearly 489,000 pounds, or close to 245 tons, of trash were picked
up by volunteers and NCDOT crews during the Spring Litter Sweep in April. That’s
equivalent to 40 average-sized elephants.
Wake County volunteers and crews picked up the most litter,
cleaning up nearly 90,000 pounds of trash from roadways.