Feds give Final OK for 540 Route Completion (Holly Springs: subdivision, design)

[iamweasel]

Originally Posted by K4GPB

NC-540 Bill My Mail users may want to watch this:


https://youtu.be/2hQrm9EeszU


to save some money, now that transponders are free.



or, maybe you have that unused bike rack blocking your tag from a camera ;-)


I really feel bad about all the huge dump trucks that are on NC-540 daily, with no visible tag, therefore they abuse the road the most and pay zero. Not sure if I want LEOs tied up issuing tickets for no tag, so maybe we need a lower pay-grade of incentivized LEO folks that just watch for no tags on vehicles?

If it makes you feel better, the dump truck owners already pay a 12% Federal Excise Tax (FET) which people who buy cars and light trucks don't have to pay. A normal dump truck in this area costs $150-200K depending on the configuration so that means they pay $16-$20K in taxes the day they buy it.

FET money goes into the Federal Highway Trust Fund so while that may not cover private toll roads, the trucking companies do pay their fair share of taxes that are used for road building.

In addition to that, at time of sale the trucking companies usually spend another $6K at the DMV for tags, title, highway use tax and personal property tax.

So that means they end up paying about $22-26K in taxes before they've even made a nickel in revenue on a truck. (And of course tag fees and personal property tax are paid annually so there is more to pay as each year passes.)

Oh yeah, they also use a ton of fuel so they contribute more fuel tax than cars, too. (Dumps use about 200-250 gallons per week in fuel.)

Still think the trucks don't pay enough?

[SFspiderman]

Reviving an old thread on the 540 extension to note that the SELC environmental lawsuit that was holding things up a bit has been settled.

The agreement between the DOT and Sound Rivers Inc., the Center for Biological Diversity and Clean Air Carolina means the state can proceed with final permitting and project financing for the highway, known as the Triangle Expressway Southeast Extension. [...]

• The DOT will take steps to reduce emissions from construction equipment, conduct greenhouse gas analyses as part of major project studies in North Carolina and focus on strategies and tools to reduce vehicle miles traveled and vehicular emissions across the state.
• The agency will help enhance the water quality of critical streams and rivers in the project area by implementing additional protections, providing more stream mitigation and restoration, conducting research and developing new stormwater design guidelines. The department also will help Johnston County improve its stormwater management program.
• The DOT will set aside funds to assist in Wake County’s goals to preserve open space for the benefit of the community.
• The department will provide environmental work to protect streams, restore wildlife habitat and provide a lifeline for some of North Carolina’s rarest and most endangered aquatic species.

https://www.wral.com/lawsuit-settlem...loop/18585534/

https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-rel...ettlement.aspx

[DPK]

Originally Posted by SFspiderman

Reviving an old thread on the 540 extension to note that the SELC environmental lawsuit that was holding things up a bit has been settled.

Frickin finally.

I want this done so I can cut out a good chunk of time diverting around Raleigh to get to the beach.

[ozmoe571]

NCDOT says to expect it to be open to the public through I-40 Exit 312 by 2023. So it'll probably be 2025 at the earliest if we're lucky.

[Universe93B]

Great, thanks for the update. Finally they can get working on this. Although I do feel for the people who have property along that route. Can you imagine the number of neighborhoods that will pop up along this road?

[2Loud]

Originally Posted by HouseBuilder328

Great, thanks for the update. Finally they can get working on this. Although I do feel for the people who have property along that route. Can you imagine the number of neighborhoods that will pop up along this road?

Many of those people out there have been held hostage for 30 years while senators and environmentalists debated where the road should go. They have not been able to sell their property if they wanted to. Who would buy if a road is going through? Some were counting on using the sale of their land for retirement and never got the chance. It's disgusting what happened to many of those home/land owners out there for 3 decades.

[wizard-xyzzy]

Note that it's the south arc that is scheduled to open in 2023. The southeast arc isn't scheduled to open until 2029, the last I read. If you live in north or northeast Wake, the southeast arc is what you need to reach the beach in a hurry.

[DPK]

Originally Posted by wizard-xyzzy

Note that it's the south arc that is scheduled to open in 2023. The southeast arc isn't scheduled to open until 2029, the last I read. If you live in north or northeast Wake, the southeast arc is what you need to reach the beach in a hurry.

I'm in the South part of Wake so it's a win for me.

[Sherifftruman]

So, I hadn’t heard anything, but as of about 25 minutes ago, they seemed to be having or preparing for some sort of groundbreaking ceremony at the terminus of 540 between Holly Springs and Apex. It was weird that there were at least a couple of GoTriangle vehicles there.

[wheelsup]

Saw something on the news this morning about it getting approved.