The North Carolina Department of Transportation has scheduled public meetings about proposed toll changes on its ferry routes.
In 2013, the North Carolina General Assembly mandated that new ferry acquisitions be funded through Strategic Transportation Initiative funding or by revenue-raising initiatives, like tolling, advertising, and concessions.
In its December meeting, the Board of Transportation approved a tolling methodology which tolls routes by distance traveled and raises approximately $5 million a year for ferry replacement.
This would include the establishment of tolls on the Hatteras-Ocracoke, Currituck-Knotts Island, Bayview-Aurora, and Cherry Branch-Minnesott Beach routes, as well as increases in tolls on the Southport-Fort Fisher, Cedar Island-Ocracoke, and Swan Quarter-Ocracoke routes. The proposed rate changes can be found on NCDOT’s Ferry website.
The new schedule of public hearings is as follows:
Tuesday, February 4, 2014, 7-9 p.m.
Knotts Island Elementary School
413 Woodleigh Road
Knotts Island
Wednesday, February 5, 2014, 7-9 p.m.
Beaufort County Community College
5337 Highway 264 East
Washington
Thursday, February 6, 2014, 7-9 p.m.
Pamlico Community College – Delamar Center
5049 Highway 306 South
Grantsboro
Monday, February 10, 2014 4-7 p.m.
ILA – Southport
211 W. 10th Street
Southport
Tuesday, February 11, 2014 7-9 p.m.
Crystal Coast Civic Center
3505 Arendell Street
Morehead City
Wednesday, February 12, 2014 7-9 p.m
Ocracoke School
120 Schoolhouse Road
Ocracoke
Thursday, February 13, 2014 7-9 p.m.
Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum
59200 Museum Drive
Hatteras
Tuesday, February 18, 2014 7-9 p.m.
Southport City Hall
211 E. Moore Street
Southport, NC 28461
At each of the hearings, a formal presentation will start the meeting. Following the presentation, the meeting will be open for statements, questions, and comments. Anyone wishing to speak should register to do so at the sign-in table prior to the presentation. Please arrive about 30 minutes early to allow time to sign in. Those who cannot attend one of the meetings may submit written comments to jarobbins@ncdot.gov any time before the end of business February 28..Written comments carry equal weight to verbal comments at the meetings.
