Blog
NCDOT Secretary Fires Back at Critics Amid Budget Crisis
In the ever-continuing saga of the NC Department of Transportation financial crisis, Department Secretary James Trogdon fires back at the State Treasurer and other critics in his November 4 letter to the NC Legislature. In this letter, Secretary Trogdon highlights the challenges facing the state when he assumed his position and discusses the work undertaken by his office in light…
Henson Fuerst Hosting Free Public Seminar on Project U-3609B
On Tuesday, November 12, 2019, the eminent domain and land condemnation lawyers at Henson Fuerst will be hosting a FREE seminar to discuss Project U-3609B, the U.S. 13 road widening from New Hope Road to north of Saulston Road in Goldsboro. The seminar will be held at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Goldsboro, NC (1003 Sunburst Drive) from…
State Treasurer Calls DOT Spending Excessive, Blames Transportation Chief
The political finger-pointing is heating up in the current NC Department of Transportation fiscal crisis, as State Treasurer Folwell and Governor Cooper trade barbs at one another regarding who is to blame for the current situation. Legislators have been considering a $660 million dollar legislative bailout for the DOT budget, though we suspect it may take a while to reach…
Continuous Flow Intersection Opened in Charlotte
The North Carolina Department of Transportation opened its first “continuous flow” intersection in Charlotte last week. This new design is intended to improve traffic flow and increase the efficiency of intersections by separating left turn traffic from the primary flow lanes. They are also referred to as a ‘displaced left-turn intersection’. The first such intersection is located NC 16 and…
NCDOT’s Cash Reserves Dwindle
The NC Department of Transportation budget crisis continues to drag on leading many landowners and legislators wondering what is going on. At last report, the cash reserves at the DOT have shrunk to $432 million. In comparison, over the past decade, the department has maintained an average cash reserve balance of approximately $1.2 billion. And there are no immediate signs…
NC Senate Approval of NCDOT Funding Unlikely to Fix Current Financial Crisis
As we reported in a previous blog, The NC Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has been dealing with a financial crisis resulting in a layoff of hundreds of employees as well as a delay of more than half of the pending state roadway projects. Law mandates the DOT maintain a cash reserve of 7.5 percent ($282 million) of annual state appropriations….
NCDOT Financial Crisis Worsens In Wake Of Hurricane
As we reported in a previous blog, The NC Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is in the midst of a financial crisis which has forced the department to lay off hundreds of workers and delay more than half of the pending roadway projects across the state. Now, NCDOT continues to be in the news as further spiraling expenses add to the continuing financial…
NCDOT Faces Financial Crisis, Project Delays
The NC Department of Transportation is in the midst of a financial crisis with news changing almost daily. The news was first reported publicly on August 13th, although our office had been hearing reports from DOT insiders in the days leading up to the breaking story. To date, the financial meltdown has forced the NCDOT to lay off hundreds of…
NC Gov. Vetoes Bill Allowing Billboard Owners to Override Local Rules
North Carolina Governor, Roy Cooper, has vetoed a polarizing, proposed bill that would have allowed billboard owners to override local regulations to move and upgrade their signs. House Bill 645 would have enabled companies to both relocate as well as preserve their billboards when the underlying property is either taken through eminent domain by the government or when the landowner…
Newly Approved NC Billboard Preservation Bill Met with Criticism
The North Carolina state Senate has recently approved a House bill that will change the rules for relocating billboards along state highways. Unfortunately, there has been widespread disagreement regarding the bill’s impact. According to supporters of House Bill 645, who include the N.C. Outdoor Advertising Association, the bill simply allows for billboard companies to preserve and relocate their billboard to…