TITLE
Title
RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT FUTURE INTERSTATE UPGRADE FOR US HIGHWAY 421
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SPONSOR
Sponsor
Commissioner Cashion
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BACKGROUND
Background
The North Carolina Department of Transportation Board has passed a resolution in support of the future interstate designation of US Highway 421 and has asked the North Carolina Congressional Delegation to pursue the designation. The upgrade to interstate status would increase safety, mobility, access for the military and economic development and provide a high design evacuation route in the event of natural disasters as recently experienced in Hurricane Florence and expedite logistics and staging to Fort Bragg in the event of a natural disaster and provide sustainability during emergency events. The Connecting Interstate 95 to Intertstates 40 and 85 with an interstate quality facility would provide direct connections between the Triad region and the Fayetteville metropolitan area.
Obtaining the interstate designation and the associated upgrades would be a long term project
RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT FUTURE INTERSTATE UPGRADE FOR HIGHWAY 421
NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
WHEREAS, Highway US 421 connects Interstate 95 with Interstates 40 and 85: and
WHEREAS, these interstates and their continued operations are critical to the state and nations economic wellbeing; and
WHEREAS, Fort Bragg is a critical part of the national defense and access at all times is critical to this mission; and
WHEREAS, two hurricane events in the last three years has closed portions of Interstate 95 limiting access to the Fayetteville and Fort Bragg; and
WHEREAS, access from the west of Fort Bragg on surface streets were the only viable routes to provide access to and from the Fort Bragg for several days during these storms; and
WHEREAS, the Research Triangle Park and the Capital Area growth continues to grow, adding thousands of vehicles to the current infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, connecting Interstate 95 to Interstates 40 and 85 with an interstate facility would provide an alternate route for military and freight traffic; and
WHEREAS, connecting Interstate 95 to Interstates 40 and 85 with an interstate facility would provide additional evacuation routes and relief and recovery routes to the region; and
WHEREAS, the population of the Triad region consisting of Greensboro, Winston Salem, Highpoint and Burlington is over 1,668,000 and the population of the Fayetteville metropolitan area is in excess of 375,000; and
WHEREAS, connecting Interstate 95 to Interstates 40 and 85 with an interstate facility would provide direct connections between two largely populated regions.
WHEREAS, The upgrade to Interstate status to Highway 421 would increase safety, mobility, access for the military and economic development; and
WHEREAS, the North Carolina Department of Transportation Board has passed a resolution in support of the future interstate designation; and
WHEREAS, the North Carolina Department of Transportation has recommended the future interstate designation be pursued through the North Carolina Congressional Delegation; and
WHEREAS, the upgrade to interstate status would provide high design evacuation route in the event of natural disasters as recently experience in Hurricane Florence; and
WHEREAS, a high design interstate would expedite logistics and staging to Ft Bragg in the event of a natural disaster and provide sustainability during emergency events; and
WHEREAS, provide an alternate connection to Interstate 40 to support freight and commuter traffic flow.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of County Commissioners of Guilford County hereby, through adoption of this resolution, supports the efforts to designate US Highway 421 a future interstate corridor.
Adopted this the 17th day of January, 2019.
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J. Alan Branson, Chairman
Guilford County Board of Commissioners
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BUDGET IMPACT
Budget Impact
NO ADDITIONAL COUNTY DOLLARS
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REQUESTED ACTION
Requested Action
Adopt the Resolution Supporting the Efforts to Designate US Highway 421 a Future Interstate Corridor
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