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.
Military Proclamation Signing Ceremony
This week, Transportation Secretary Joey Hopkins joined military officials in signing the proclamation to consider future arrangements in which NCDOT would manage road maintenance and highway construction projects on U.S. Army posts and Marine Corps bases in North Carolina.
This kind of partnership is similar to an agreement signed in October, which allows NCDOT to provide transportation support services to Army posts statewide over a 10-year period, while the federal government fully pays for these transportation projects.
This kind of partnership began in North Carolina in 2021 with Fort Liberty. Since then, NCDOT has delivered $17 million in road improvements on the Army installation, with $15 million more under contract.
Public Transit Aids Helene Victims
NCDOT’s Integrated Mobility Division continues to support public transit agencies in their essential roles, helping residents evacuate and recover from Hurricane Helene.
Transit agencies made 790 evacuation trips, assisting about 2,000 people in Western North Carolina. Agencies also delivered hot meals and emergency supplies to hard-hit communities, connecting residents with crucial resources.
Hurricane Helene caused an estimated $1.3 million in damage to facilities and vehicles. The Integrated Mobility Division is working with local agencies to recover those losses and support ongoing recovery efforts.
Mass Casualty Training Exercise
Numerous agencies and counties from across southeastern North Carolina converged in Lumberton last week for a mass casualty training exercise.
The scenario involved a gas tanker colliding with a school bus with local volunteers serving as victims.
NCDOT assisted the effort by closing a section of Interstate 74 where the mock crash was staged.
Such training lets agencies fine-tune their emergency response plans and improve their coordination efforts.
Tree of Life Lighting
A new tree – commemorating those who died on North Carolina roads last year – now stands outside the Capitol building.
The
“Tree of Life” candlelight vigil was held on the grounds of the State Capitol last week. The annual tree lighting honored the 1,686 people killed in vehicle crashes on North Carolina roads in 2023. The ceremony also served as a reminder about the importance of being safe on the road.