MEETING OF THE NORTHERN BELTWAY NOW GROUP

Jim Trogdon - NCDOT - Chief Operation Officer

Speaks to the Property Owners & Answers Questions

All the property owners are frustrated by the never ending delays of this project and by the State ranking it last on list of urban loops planned across the State.  To say they have been abandoned by the State, is an understatement....because many have abandoned them!

YES! WE HAVE BEEN BETRAYED!

BELTWAY BETRAYAL
(click on above to see article)
Article in the Winston-Salem Journal shows the frustration from everyone in our area and the disbelief that the State is not recognizing the Northern Beltway as vital to North Carolina and even went so far as to ranked it last of all the urban loops.  Governor Perdue is upset with Dell's decision to close.  Could it be that she didn't produce the construction of the I-74/Eastern Loop for their transportation needs--as promised?   "CAT" MUST HAVE THIS CONNECTOR due to the weight, length, width of the product they are transporting.  FedEx Hub MUST HAVE THIS CONNECTOR.  Honda Jet MUST HAVE THIS CONNECTOR.  Governor Perdue, are you going to continue to empress us, as our local officials work so hard for our property owners stuck in limbo and abandoned.  Our citizens with job loss and not able to find employment or see a hope in this area for employment opportunities....You, Gov. Perdue stood at a press conference with CAT officials to bost about jobs they will bring....but you are not concreting their path to stay here.

Remember, Governor Perdue--------"I-74 WILL BRING MORE"

I-74 / Eastern Section "NOT A LOOP"

IT IS TIME TO "BEGIN" BUILDING I-74---THAT WAS PLANNED MANY YEARS AGO. 

RIGHT NOW THE STATE IS LOOKING AT THIS PROJECT, ALONG WITH 24 OTHER PROJECTS (Urban Loop Prioritization Process "ULPP").  IN AUGUST THEY WILL ANNOUNCE HOW THIS PROJECT WILL BE RANKED, ALONG WITH LOCAL URBAN LOOPS AROUND THE STATE.  THE ONLY PROBLEM IS THAT THIS HIGHWAY IS NOT A "LOCAL URBAN LOOP".

This highway is a major interstate that was planned long ago so that the traffic, travelling from the I-77 taking the I-74 in Mt. Airy, could be diverted away from Highway 52 coming into downtown Winston-Salem.  This traffic includes large 18-wheelers, travelling from the north.  Last year (per WSPD records), there were 584 wrecks reported with several injuries and 2 fatalities.  How many could have been avoided if all this traffic was not using Hwy 52, but instead the proposed I-74/Eastern leg?  Currently, Hwy 52 has approximately 85,000 vehicles per day (it was designed to carry 60,000 per day).

I-74 is needed NOW for this area and for the State.   For all that live in this area and want to see Economic Growth, New Jobs, New Industry and a Safer Highway 52, please support this needed highway project.

HOMEOWNERS HAVE TO HEAR ABOUT ANOTHER "DELAY"????

Just when ALL of the property owners could finally see the light at the end of the tunnel, they are NOW faced with another hurdle, ANOTHER DELAY, more excuses and so sorry...YOU ARE NOT A PRIORITY!  All of us are asking -- When are we going to become a priority??...if not NOW!

First, the lawsuit in 1999...

Then waiting on the Record of Decision

Then another lawsuit in 2008

NOW, this highway project is not a priority!

TO OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS:
NOW is the time for this project!  NO MORE DELAYS!  We say to ALL of you in Raleigh, that have taken this beltway money for other projects in "your areas":
Make this project happen NOW....without hesitation...without more delays....without more excuses...WE HAVE BEEN OVERLOOKED TOO LONG!  Our lives have been put on hold long enough and shame on you and all the others that do not see all of those suffering.  Look at the many years that, as homeowners, we have stood by and let other areas get their highways (because of political clout). 

WE ARE NOT STANDING BY ANY LONGER!

Sincerely,
Northern Beltway NOW

BELTWAY IS A KEY PIECE

Editorial in Winston-Salem Journal emphasizes the importance of the beltway to Forsyth County.  It will bring business - new companies which equals to new jobs.  Right now with our area losing jobs and businesses and with the decline in the economy, that should be important to all residents.  There are many that have lost their jobs and looking to start a new business.  They are asking, should I stay in Forsyth County or go to another area where there is more growth?  Of course, we know many businesses are attracted to certain areas because of the transportation system.   Is Winston-Salem/Forsyth County going to be that area or let it all go down the road (I-40) to Greensboro, Charlotte, Raleigh/Durham?  Our local leaders and State Rep's and Senators need to take note right now, that we are looking to them for a stronger economy for our city/county.  Are you going to help the citizens of Forsyth?  WE NEEDED THIS BELTWAY TEN YEARS AGO!  LET'S NOT LET ANOTHER YEAR GO BY THAT THIS ISN'T A PRIORITY FOR ALL OF US.

http://www2.journalnow.com/content/2010/may/22/the-northern-beltway/

JUDGE DISMISSES SUIT!

We can finally see the "Light at the end of the Tunnel". 

"Federal District Court Judge Thomas Schroeder has given the green light to the state's Northern Beltway project around Winston-Salem, dismissing two court cases in which opponents of building the road had sought to block the project."

Click on link to read the complete article:
http://www2.journalnow.com/content/2010/may/20/judge-northern-beltway-can-be-built-around-winston/news/

UPDATE IN MAY

The article (DOT Work in Triad) in last week's Winston-Salem Journal has sparked a lot of people's attention because of the Northern Beltway.  Some of you thought this included the Northern Beltway.  The article says,

"The rankings do not include urban-loop projects, such as the long-proposed Northern Beltway for Forsyth County.  The department expects to provide an update on those plans by May". 

We should all know something by May, if the State plans to move on this project or NOT.  We have an opportunity at the upcoming March 11 meeting to show everyone --- ALL the people that have waited too long for the "long-proposed" Northern Beltway.

Recently, we have gone to some of the neighborhoods in the corridor of the beltway, where houses have been torn down and there are people still living there and waiting for the State to buy their property.  It was very disturbing and sad to see.  Many of these people are older and really need to move on with their lives.

Our elected officials should take this tour and meet some of these people, like we did.  Maybe after this tour, they would realize the "priority" of this urban-loop.  In fact, it should be ranked NO. 1 on the list of the "Urban-Loop Prioritization" and just make it happen in 2010 -- without hesitation.

NOW Is the Time for Everyone to Show their Support for the beltway and attend the meeting on March 11th.   ---- Northern Beltway NOW!