More stimulus millions coming to the Triangle

A wave of federal transportation stimulus money is heading to the Triangle, with millions of dollars that will be spent in the next eight months to speed big improvements to US 401 in northern Wake County and other roads, build a new bus garage in Raleigh, and make expansive investments in bicycle and pedestrian projects.

Next year Raleigh will start building a $22.5 million Capital Area Transit bus garage and operations center on a 23-acre Poole Road tract. The city recently secured $4 million in stimulus funds and $10 million from other federal sources, enough to start moving on a replacement for the Blount Street garage it has outgrown.

“It’s just woefully undersized,” said David Eatman, Raleigh transit administrator. The current garage is designed for 50 buses but the CAT fleet has more than 80. The new garage will serve up to 125 buses initially, with plans to expand for 200 buses in future years.

The CAT building was on a new list of 64 transportation projects published today by Gov. Bev Perdue, chosen by state and local officials to will receive funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. She previously had announced stimulus spending plans for several dozen bridge and road contracts to be awarded in March through June.

The state has earmarked $679 million of the $735 million it will receive for mostly road and bridge improvements. Triangle agencies also are in line for transit funds to buy new buses.

Federal stimulus funds will pay for these contracts to be awarded in coming months (with cost estimates):

APRIL
Wake County: I-440 bridge painting, 5 miles ($1.2 million)
- US 264 resufacing in eastern Wake, 3 miles ($2.5 million)

JUNE
Wake: I-440 information technology installation, 16 miles ($400,000)
Durham:  US 501 bypass resurfacing, 1.9 miles ($900,000)
- Hillandale-Fulton Street resurfacing, 1.3 miles ($350,000)
Granville:  US 158 Bypass resurfacing, 3 miles ($500,000)

SEPTEMBER
Orange:  Old Fayetteville Road upgrade for cyclists and pedestrians, 0.5 mile ($1.5 million)
- Chapel Hill traffic signal system upgrade ($4.9 million)

DECEMBER
Wake:  U.S. 401 widening from Ligon Mill Road to Jonesville Road, 2.2 miles ($13.9 million)
Lee:  U.S. 421 / N.C. 87  Sanford bypass, new freeway, 1.8 miles ($25.1 million)

JANUARY
Wake, Durham: Upgrade for 540 Loop interchange at westbound I-40 near RTP ($5.7 million)

UNSCHEDULED
Wake: greenway and sidewalk projects ($2.7 million)
Durham: greenway and sidewalk projects ($4.4 million)
Orange: greenway and sidewalk projects ($1.8 million)