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I don't think you understand the magnitude of the NCDOT construction budget compared to how much money the State grants in corporate incentives. In the 20 years since the NC Dept of Commerce began the JDIG program, disbursements have totaled about $500 million. That kind of money wouldn't run NCDOT for more than a few months.
By the way, the original I-540 across north Wake County is heavily used. The AADT was about 100,000 pre-pandemic... more than I-87 from I-440 toward Zebulon. The tolled NC 540 has enough usage for the tolls to pay off the bonds that were floated to finance it, and that's the point.
They won't remove the tolls once the bonds are paid off... that's the point.
So the 3.6 decades it's going to take with tolls vs what how many decades without tolls?
My original comment about the mile per year, was just an observation initially and the comment about speeding it up by making it a toll road slots in nicely with that observation. Would you rather have a 100% toll free 540 if it took 45 years ? It seems more like a spurious argument when you look at the actual timeline. It's a great talking point when justifying gubberment missteps to voting public.
Look, North Carolina has the 3rd largest rural population in the US. All 100 counties have infrastructure needs and NCDOT maintains the nation's 2nd largest highway system, over 80,000 miles.
Funding must be fairly allocated to the whole state.
Each large metro area takes turns in getting major funding for large projects.
Raleigh and Charlotte are exploding with growth, but someone in Asheville or Manteo who has paid gas taxes their entire life must get better roads too.
Tolling is a way to get new capacity added faster. You aren't affected if you choose not to pay the toll.
One day 540 will all be paid off and likely all become one interstate designation, originally it was to be called I-640, some believe it will stay I-540, however a completed paid off loop is supposed to start with an even number.
By the time the 540 bonds are paid off, there's no telling how many changes to the minimum requirements for Interstate designation will have been made.
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