GOVERNMENT: TRANSPORTATION

State:

N.C. Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources (DEHNR)

Highway Environmental Evaluation Program (P.O. Box 27687, Raleigh 27611-7687; 919/733-4984): Promotes the early and continuous use of environmental data in the transportation planning process. Works to identify and avoid potential problems and to develop solutions resulting in more environmentally sensitive highway planning and construction.

N.C. Department of Transportation (DOT) (1 S. Wilmington St., Raleigh 27601-1494; 919/733-2520):

Aviation Division (6701 Aviation Parkway, RDU Airport 27623; 919/787-9618): Provides technical assistance and funds for the development and improvement of N.C. air transportation. The Aeronautics Council is N.C.'s aviation policy and review board.
Beautification Program (1 S. Wilmington St., Raleigh 27601-1494; 919/733-2520): Solicits volunteer support for cleanup campaigns. The Adopt-A-Highway Program encourages volunteer groups to "adopt" stretches of roadways and pick up litter along them.
Bicycle Program (1 S. Wilmington St., Raleigh 27601-1494; 919/733-2804): Establishes bike programs, provides technical assistance for bikeway development, works to improve safety for bicyclists, and maps bike trails. Developing a pedestrian component to the program. Produces bicycle safety educational materials (a list is available). Distributes copies of the N.C. DOT Bicycle Policy.
Division of Highways (DOH) (1 S. Wilmington St., Raleigh 27601-1494; 919/733-7384): Administers the state road construction and maintenance programs and policies established by the Board of Transportation.
Operations Department (1 S. Wilmington St., Raleigh 27601-1494; 919/733-7621): Includes 14 Divisions which are each comprised of five to 14 counties and divided into two or three District maintenance areas (a map of Division and District offices is available). District and County Maintenance Forces respond to emergencies including major spills and natural disasters. Divisions are responsible for administering large construction contracts. Each has support units including a Roadside Environmental Unit, which handles planting; beautification; pesticide applications; and most erosion and sediment control.
Construction and Materials Branch (1 S. Wilmington St., Raleigh 27601-1494; 919/733-7174): Supports field Divisions in program implementation; supports preconstruction activities; and develops programs, policies, and procedures. Comprised of the following units:

Construction Unit (1 S. Wilmington St., Raleigh 27601-1494; 919/733-2212): Responsible for program and policy development regarding field contract construction projects and N.C. DOT compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Act requirements.
Materials and Tests Unit (1 S. Wilmington St., Raleigh 27601-1494; 919/733-7411): Tests materials and products utilized in highway construction and maintenance. Evaluates recycled and solid wastes products for their potential applications in the highway industry.
Roadside Environmental Unit (1 S. Wilmington St., Raleigh 27601-1494; 919/733-2920): Responsible for roadside appearance program and policy development. Coordinates research with industry and academia on pesticide use, growth retardants, turf grasses, wildflower management, and low maintenance plant species. The lead group in providing erosion and sedimentation control plans.
Maintenance and Equipment Branch (1 S. Wilmington St., Raleigh 27601-1494; 919/733-2330): Develops policies and procedures for road maintenance operations. The lead section in N.C. DOT for all operations concerning emergencies and disasters along the State Highway System.
Occupational Safety and Emergency Planning Branch (1 S. Wilmington St., Raleigh 27601-1494; 919/733-7512): Provides environmental technical assistance and support to DOH units involved in hazardous waste spills and clean-up, underground storage tank contamination problems, etc. Provides programs and policies for the Workplace Safety Program in DOH Units. Develops and implements emergency plans.
Preconstruction Department (1 S. Wilmington St., Raleigh 27601-1494; 919/733-9425)
- Citizen Participation Unit (1020 Burch Ridge Dr., Raleigh 27610; 919/250-4092): Plans, coordinates, and publicizes public hearings regarding major highway project design.
- Highway Design Branch (1020 Burch Ridge Dr., Raleigh 27610; 919/250-4016): Responsible for Right-Of-Way and construction plans, specifications, and estimates for all highway and bridge construction projects. Conducts geotechnical investigations and surveys.
Planning and Environmental Branch (1 S. Wilmington St., Raleigh 27601-1494; 919/733-3141):
- Environmental Planning Group (1 S. Wilmington St., Raleigh 27601-1494; 919/733-7842): Identifies and evaluates environmental issues during highway project planning. Provides data and analysis for planning studies. Obtains and monitors environmental permits required by the N.C. DOT. Includes an Archeology Unit, Ecology Unit, Historic and Preservation Unit, Land Use and Sociology Unit, Noise and Air Unit, and Wetland Mitigation Unit.
- Project Planning Group (1 S. Wilmington St., Raleigh 27601-1494; 919/733-3141): Conducts planning and environmental studies for all highway projects in the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). Works to ensure that any action has been adequately evaluated according to guidelines set forth in the National Environmental Policy Act and the N.C. Environmental Policy Act.
- Traffic Forecast Unit (1 S. Wilmington St., Raleigh 27601-1494; 919/733-3141): Estimates future traffic for projects and coordinates forecasting studies done by private firms. Provides vehicular travel data required for air quality and noise level analyses.

Programs Department (1 S. Wilmington St., Raleigh 27601-1494; 919/733-2031)

Geographic Information System (GIS) Branch (1020 Burch Ridge Dr., Raleigh 27610; 919/250-4187): Manages GIS Services within the DOH and coordinates activities with the Central GIS Agency for State Government.
Mapping and Inventories Unit (919/733-3141): Collects, analyzes, and maintains computer, map, and file records of information on primary highways, secondary roads, municipal streets, and other non-system streets and roads. Compiles and analyzes data on fuels, licensed drivers and vehicles, motor vehicle and fuel tax revenues, and State and municipal expenditures on roads and highways.
Policy and Funds Management Branch (1 S. Wilmington St., Raleigh 27601-1494; 919/733-5616): Monitors federal and state-level legislative and policymaking activities; analyzes potential impacts on the DOH; and recommends legislative, policy, or specification changes. Manages federal and trust funds intended for Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) projects.
Program Development (1 S. Wilmington St., Raleigh 27601-1494; 919/733-2039): Annually develops the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). Authorizes and manages federal and major state construction funds. Develops programs required by the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA).
Statewide Planning Branch (1 S. Wilmington St., Raleigh 27601-1494; 919/733-4705): Collects and disseminates all data related to travel on the State Highway System. Provides planning and modeling for municipalities, counties, planning regions, and on a statewide basis. Conducts environmental screenings for wetlands, other fragile lands, and historic properties. Works with the Air Quality Section, N.C. DEHNR in planning for N.C. DOT compliance with the Clean Air Act. Assists in the evaluation of candidate projects for the TIP (Transportation Improvement Program) by completing Benefits Analyses.

Secondary Roads Department (1 S. Wilmington St., Raleigh 27601-1494; 919/733-3250): Enforces statewide policies and procedures regarding secondary roads as determined by the Board, in conjunction with the Board. Administers Secondary Road Plan Construction; handles requests for Secondary Roads System addition and abandonment and requests for supporting funds. Receives public enquiries and complaints regarding policy and procedure for paving or otherwise changing secondary roads.

Highway Safety Unit (1 S. Wilmington St., Raleigh 27601-1494; 919/733-2520): Responsible for the welfare of the work force within N.C. DOT. Plans for compliance with OSHA and the state and federal Environmental Protection Acts. Reviews accidents and injuries. Handles complaints and questions. Policy and Issues Office (P.O. Box 25201, Raleigh 27611; 919/733-2806): Monitors state and federal transportation-related issues. Directs, manages, and coordinates programs and research concerning those issues and advises the Secretary and Executive Staff on such matters. Develops and maintains databases of state and federal transportation data. Coordinates development of departmental management plans.

Public Affairs (1 S. Wilmington St., Raleigh 27601-1494; 919/733-2522): Responds to enquiries from the public and the media and refers calls when necessary. Primarily answers questions which are general or which require information from several agencies.

Public Transportation Division (1 S. Wilmington St., Raleigh 27601-1494; 919/733-4713): Assists local, regional, and state agencies in activities relating to public transportation. Administers federal and state funds to public and private transportation systems. Responsible for state elderly, Medicaid, and disabled transportation assistance programs. Provides technical assistance for the development of human service transportation assistance and ride-share programs.

Rail Section: Promotes the preservation and development of the state's railroads as part of a multi-modal transportation system. Develops rail rehabilitation projects and monitors railroad abandonments, sales, and leases. Supervises state-supported rail passenger operations and facilities. Works to preserve service on light-traffic branch lines, to protect rail corridors from abandonment, and to provide intercity rail service in cooperation with Amtrak. Researches future uses of passenger rail systems in N.C.

Board of Transportation (1 S. Wilmington St., Raleigh 27601-1494; 919/733-2520): Forms transportation policies and priorities, rules, regulations, and ordinances. Determines transportation needs and the alternative means to provide for these needs. Approves a schedule of all major transportation improvement projects and their anticipated cost for a period of seven years into the future (the Transportation Improvement Program). Allocates highway construction and maintenance funds and awards construction contracts. Approves highway construction programs, projects, and plans. Authorizes rights-of-way acquisition. Comprised of 23 members.

N.C. Office of State Planning - State Data Center (116 W. Jones St., Raleigh 27603-8003; 919/733-4131): Published Statistical Abstract of North Carolina Counties (1991), a collection of tables and figures, many of which are broken down by county. The book includes a section on transportation with data on accidents, commuting and other travel time, highway mileage, etc. Available in many libraries.

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