NCDOT wants community input on its 10-year plan

The North Carolina Department of Transportation is asking for public feedback as it considers transportation projects for the next 10 years.

The state has started its State Transportation Improvement Program, which includes 220 interstate maintenance and bridge projects and 53 safety projects. One of those projects includes the railroad crossing between Beryl Road and Royal Street, off Hillsborough Street in Raleigh. Eventually, the NCDOT wants to extend Beryl Road to connect with Royal Street and close the crossing.

Every two years, the NCDOT scores projects based off of categories like safety, congestion and economic growth to determine what projects to fund. But spokesman Steve Abbott said community engagement is key to determining which ones are most important.

"We really need them to help us form this [list], because we don't have the power to just pick and choose by ourselves," Abbott said. "We need public input and stakeholder input."

The NCDOT held a public meeting until 7 p.m. Tuesday at NCDOT Division 4 Office 509 Ward Blvd. Wilson, NC. Next Tuesday, another community forum will be held at NCDOT Division 5 Office 2612 N. Duke St. Durham, NC 27704 in Durham. {{a href ="external_link-17622803"}}More public meetings are expected to come. {{/a}}

{{a href ="external_link-17622800"}}Public comments are also accepted online until July 9{{/a}} for those who are unable to attend the public meetings.

Final project numbers will be made available by the end of August after the NCDOT examines the results from the public meetings and project scores. A statewide plan will then be drafted in January.