Lucky Forsyth
Following up on Amy's post...
As the Urban Loop around Greensboro faces major setbacks because of funding, those living in Forsyth County catch a lucky break. The state's transportation department pushed back projects in surrounding areas to help pay for local improvements. The Urban Loop isn't alone in taking it on the chin. Residents of Davidson and Rowan counties, which officials acknowlege face "badly needed but extremely expensive improvements to nearly seven miles of Interstate 85," need to swallow their gripes as well.
I'm wondering exactly how much influece Dell holds over the state's upper echelons of government. The conspiracy theorist in me believes other counties are picking up the slack for Forsyth's good fortune. Imagine that.
Comments (3)
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While your conspiracy theory could very well be accurate, you need to know that Greensboro's Urban Loop project has benefitted at Forsyth's expense on a number of occasions. Greensboro (Highway Division 7) and Winston/Forsyth (Highway Division 9) are paired in NCDOT's complicated funding equity formula. Sometimes Division 7 gets more money, sometimes it's Division 9, but it's all supposed to even out in the long run.
Greensboro has received funding for construction of some portions of our loop earlier than expected because of unresolved issues regarding the location of Winston's loop, making them ineligible to use those funds at that time. So the money was shifted to Greensboro since we were ready to go. But we've known all along that at some point we would have to "pay the piper" when Winston's turn came around. And it looks like that time may have come!
Posted on April 8, 2005 9:54 PM
That makes some sense, Sandy, but maybe you can elaborate. If Greensboro received funds earlier than anticipated because Winston wasn't ready, is this latest budget maneuver a result of GREENSBORO not being ready (for whatever reason) and Winston set to go on its loop? Or is the state DOT only trying to make up lost ground in Forsyth County?
Posted on April 9, 2005 12:08 AM
No problem on Greensboro's end about being ready - the proposed route is identified and ready for the next step. I think (but am not totally sure) that Winston has made some progress in resolving the dispute over the route of their loop. If tht is the case, then perhaps it is Winston's "turn" as well as evening up the money distribution.
Of course, if the General Assembly would quit raiding the Highway Trust Fund to balance the state budget, there would likely be enough money for both!
Posted on April 9, 2005 9:53 AM