North Carolina SB 519: Transportation for the Future Act.

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
S 1
SENATE BILL 519

Short Title: Transportation for the Future Act. (Public)
Sponsors: Senators Meyer and Murdock (Primary Sponsors).
Referred to: Rules and Operations of the Senate
March 26, 2025
*S519-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO MODERNIZE NORTH CAROLINA TRANSPORTATION SPENDING TO PUT 2
TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO EFFECTIVE USE AND TO GIVE OUR COMMUNITIES 3
THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO CREATE SAFE AND SUSTAINABLE MULTIMODAL 4
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS FOR THE FUTURE. 5
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 6
SECTION 1. This act shall be known as the "Transportation for the Future Act." 7
SECTION 2. G.S. 136-189.10 reads as rewritten: 8
"§ 136-189.10. Definitions. 9
The following definitions apply in this Article: 10
... 11
(2) Division needs projects. – Includes only the following: 12
... 13
e. Public transportation service not included in subdivision (3) or (4) of 14
this section. This sub-subdivision includes bus rapid transit, commuter 15
rail, intercity rail, and light rail. Nothing in this sub-subdivision shall 16
be construed as authorizing total State funding in excess of the 17
maximum established in sub-subdivision g. of subdivision (3) of this 18
section for commuter rail and light rail projects. 19
... 20
g. Federally funded independent bicycle Bicycle and pedestrian 21
improvements. 22
... 23
(3) Regional impact projects. – Includes only the following: 24
... 25
f. Rail lines that span two or more counties not included in subdivision 26
(4) of this section. This sub-subdivision does not include short-line 27
railroads.Rail lines. 28
g. Public transportation service that spans two or more counties and that 29
serves more than one municipality. Programmed funds pursuant to this 30
sub-subdivision shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of any distribution 31
region allocation. service. This sub-subdivision includes bus rapid 32
transit, commuter rail, intercity rail, and light rail. Total State funding 33
for a commuter rail or light rail project shall not exceed the lesser of 34
ten percent (10%) of the distribution region allocation or ten percent 35
(10%) of the estimated total project costs used during the prioritization 36

General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 Senate Bill 519-First Edition
scoring process. The State shall not be responsible or liable for any 1
project costs in excess of the maximum established under this 2
sub-subdivision. Any agreement entered into by the State to fund a 3
commuter rail or light rail project shall include language setting out 4
the limitations set forth in this sub-subdivision. 5
h. Bicycle and pedestrian improvements. 6
(4) Statewide strategic mobility projects. – Includes only the following: 7
... 8
i. Public transportation service that spans two or more counties or that 9
serves more than one municipality. This sub-subdivision includes bus 10
rapid transit, commuter rail, intercity rail, and light rail. 11
j. Bicycle and pedestrian improvements that span two or more counties 12
or that serve more than one municipality." 13
SECTION 3. G.S. 136-189.11 reads as rewritten: 14
"§ 136-189.11. Transportation Investment Strategy Formula. 15
... 16
(b) Funds Excluded From Formula. – The following funds are not subject to this section: 17
(1) Federal congestion mitigation and air quality improvement program funds 18
appropriated to the State by the United States pursuant to 23 U.S.C. § 19
104(b)(2) and 23 U.S.C. § 149. 20
(1a) Federal Carbon Reduction Program formula funds appropriated to the State. 21
(2) Funds received through competitive awards or discretionary grants through 22
federal appropriations either for local governments, transportation authorities, 23
transit authorities, or the Department. 24
(3) Funds received from the federal government that under federal law may only 25
be used for Appalachian Development Highway System projects. 26
(4) Funds used in repayment of "GARVEE" bonds related to Phase I of the 27
Yadkin River Veterans Memorial Bridge project. 28
(5) Funds committed to gap funding for toll roads funded with bonds issued 29
pursuant to G.S. 136-176. 30
(6) Funds obligated for projects in the State Transportation Improvement 31
Program that are scheduled for construction as of October 1, 2013, in State 32
fiscal year 2012-2013, 2013-2014, or 2014-2015. 33
(7) Toll collections from a turnpike project under Article 6H of this Chapter and 34
other revenue from the sale of the Authority's bonds or notes or project loans, 35
in accordance with G.S. 136-89.192. 36
(8) Toll collections from the State-maintained ferry system collected under the 37
authority of G.S. 136-82. 38
(9) Federal State Planning and Research Program funds (23 U.S.C. § 505) and 39
Metropolitan Planning funds (23 U.S.C. §§ 104 and 134). 40
(10) Federal Lands Access Program funds received by the State pursuant to 23 41
U.S.C. § 204. 42
(11) Funds advanced pursuant to G.S. 136-186. 43
(12) Funds appropriated to the