We can’t do this without you! Enjoying Coastal Review is free. Producing it isn’t. Please donate or sponsor today.
Support Our Work.

Coastal Review

A Daily News Service of the North Carolina Coastal Federation

Coastal municipalities receive millions for transportation improvements

by

transportation, road work ahead

Cities and towns in more than a dozen coastal counties have collectively received millions from a state transportation fund to resurface streets and repair roads and bridges.

Earlier this fall, the N.C. Department of Transportation distributed half of $186 million from Powell Bill funds to more than 500 municipalities. Those cities and towns will receive the remaining half by Jan. 1, 2025.

Powell Bill funds are distributed each year to municipalities to help cover costs associated with resurfacing streets and other transportation improvements. Funds may also be used to maintain, repair, construct or widen streets, bridges and drainage areas within municipal limits and to plan, construct and maintain bike paths, sidewalks or greenways.

“But a lot of folks are surprised to learn they can use the Powell Bill money for road and bridge repairs and other recovery efforts associated with natural disasters like Helene,” Transportation Secretary Joey Hopkins said in a statement.

That includes using funds to remove hurricane-related debris from municipally maintained, qualified Powell Bill program streets, according to a transportation department release.

Recipients of this year’s funding include 134 municipalities in parts of western North Carolina devastated by Hurricane Helene when the storm swept north after making landfall on Florida’s Big Bend in late September.

Transportation officials estimate infrastructure repairs needed following the storm to cost in the several billions.

About a week before Helene ravaged portions of the western part of the state, an unnamed storm dumped upwards of 16 inches of rain on Brunswick County and areas of New Hanover County.

Sixteen of the 19 municipalities in Brunswick County will receive a total of more than $3.07 million in Powell Bill funds by the New Year.

The three beach towns and Wilmington in New Hanover County will receive a total of more than $4.45 million.

Powell Bill funding comes from revenues generated by the gas tax and other highway user fees. 

The formula used to distribute funds – 75% based on population and 25% on the number of locally maintained street miles – was set by the North Carolina General Assembly.

Funding recipients in other coastal counties include, Beaufort, Bertie, Carteret, Chowan, Craven, Dare, Gates, Hertford, Onslow, Pamlico, Pender, Perquimans, Pasquotank, Tyrrell and Washington.

About Staff Report

The story was compiled by staff members of Coastal Review.

Related Posts

Chicamacomico Historic Site Executive Director John Griffin is interviewed by PBS director and producer, Rebecca Ward in Surfboat No. 1046, which was used in the Mirlo rescue. Photo: PBS-NC
PBS NC to air interviews on US Life-Saving Service history
Tar-River Basin Association members are marked with diamonds. North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality staff worked with the basin on proposed wastewater discharge amendments. Graphic: NCDEQ
Commission sets vote on Tar-Pamlico wastewater hearing
Carteret County Board of Commissioners unanimously adopted Monday night an ordinance giving the county authority to manage abandoned and derelict vessels in its waters. The same night, New Hanover County commissioners approved its first reading of an abandoned vessel ordinance, authorizing the Sheriff's Office to tackle abandoned vessels in county waters. The second reading is set for the June 17 meeting, according to the county. The Carteret County ordinance states that abandoned and derelict vessels are “expressly prohibited in navigable waters within the jurisdiction of unincorporated Carteret County” with the exception of archaeological remains including shipwrecks, cargo and anything else in place more than 10 years. An abandoned vessel is considered one that is moored for more than a month without permission of the property owner, is unmanned and slipping anchor, and a derelict vessel is in danger of sinking or has sunk, or is an immediate danger. A state statute gives counties the authority to remove and dispose of any abandoned or derelict vessels. Sharon Griffin, Carteret interim county attorney, said during the meeting that the ordinance is not aimed at the vast majority of boat owners who take care of their boats, like owners who have registered their boats, had safety checks, and made sure the vessel is properly anchored or secured to a dock. “These are those vessels that we occasionally see that basically have sunk or are in terrible condition or have been completely abandoned and are threatening somebody else's property, or boat or dock,” Griffin said. “We wanted to give our law enforcement an opportunity to be able to enforce that. They didn't really have a good means of doing that.” Griffin said that much of the language in the county statute mirrors the state statute, including that if “the vessel that's moored, anchored or otherwise located for more than 30 consecutive days in any 180 consecutive day period without the permission of the dock owner, marina owner, or property owner, that's directly out of the statute.” Other examples she noted of an abandoned vessel is one that is slipping anchor and causing a significant danger to other people's property or boat. “A derelict vessel is one of those that we occasionally see out in our coastal waters that has just been abandoned by someone and is resting on the bottom,” she said. The statute also includes those who do not have current state registrations, and those being used as living quarters but don't have any method of getting rid of waste and are causing an environmental problem with the removal of the abandoned and derelict vessels. “There's also an opportunity for civil penalties, and that's just because there are occasions when someone really just will not move their boat, and we need to give law enforcement the opportunity to enforce that,” she said. County Commissioner Ed Wheatly asked where the money would come from to take care of the boats. Griffin answered that they’ve spoken with several different agencies and is aware of grant money for vessel removal. “And if you'll notice also in the ordinance, the first paragraph specifically states this is not obligating the county, the Board of Commissioners to appropriate funds for this,” she said. “So we're not trying to obligate our Board of Commissioners to go fundraising and to find the money for this. We're hopeful that we'll be able to start this through some grant funding. Perhaps some law enforcement programs.” Chairman Jimmy Farrington added that the North Carolina Coastal Federation had reached out to the county to help with removal. Farrington continued that the commission has given this a lot of thought, this was brought it up almost a year ago. “We really don't want to get in the weeds with this,” he said, or get on personal property but these are the boats that you see sitting out there that sunk, that could cause very serious damage. “We're not getting into the boat control business, we’re just trying to clean up what's out there,” Farrington said. “Many of these towns have done a great job of trying to clean up and that type of thing because that's a kickback for it. But I think we're after the obvious.
Pender County moves to rid public waters of junk boats
The Smith Creek Watershed in Wilmington encompasses 13,818 acres and 55.2 miles of streams. Map: New Hanover County
Groups partner to organize Wilmington watershed cleanup
Support the coastal news you value.CoastalReview.org is an award-winning, nonprofit news service providing unbiased, in-depth and investigative reporting about issues on the North Carolina coast. Your support makes our work possible. Please join the Coastal Review Press Club or put your business in the Sponsor Spotlight to support the coverage your care about. Learn MoreGive or Sponsor

North Carolina Press AssociationWinner of seven North Carolina Press Association awards in 2024.