The N.C. Senate has transformed a one-page House bill on gravel-transport regulation into 54 pages of omnibus provisions that would, among other things, raise the stakes for conservationists seeking to halt state transportation projects. House Bill 765 includes many proposals ...

Tagged with: N.C. Senate Southern Environmental Law Center

Environmental groups that are suing state and federal transportation agencies over the proposed construction of the Monroe Bypass have asked a federal judge to halt any new work on the project until the lawsuit is settled. The Southern Environmental Law ...

Tagged with: Clean Air Carolina Monroe Bypass North Carolina Department of Transportation North Carolina Wildlife Federation Southern Environmental Law Center Yadkin Riverkeeper

A ruling from a federal judge last week granting summary judgment to two conservation groups in their lawsuit against the N.C. Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration could potentially dead-end the proposed $900-million Garden Parkway toll road project. ...

Tagged with: Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation Clean Air Carolina NC Department of Transportation Southern Environmental Law Center

The Southern Environmental Law Center is again challenging in court the state and federal decision to build a 19.7-mile high-speed bypass around congested U.S. Highway 74 in Monroe. The SELC filed suit in U.S. District Court in Charlotte on Monday ...

Tagged with: Monroe Bypass Southern Environmental Law Center

MONROE – A new 20-mile toll road is still the best option for relieving traffic congestion along U.S. 74 in Union County, according to a revised report issued recently by federal and state highway officials. The N.C. Department of Transportation ...

Tagged with: Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization Mecklenburg Union Metropolitan Planning Organization Monroe Bypass N.C. Department of Transportation Southern Environmental Law Center Union County

The state Department of Transportation will hold three meetings to receive comments on its revised analyses of the potential ecological impacts of building the Monroe Bypass, which it says is needed to alleviate traffic congestion in Monroe. The department was ...

Tagged with: Boggs Paving Inc. John Styx Cuthbertson trucking Monroe Bypass N.C. Department of Transportation Southern Environmental Law Center

The Council plans to vote on the Fairview Park master plan and to set a date for a public hearing during which input on the plan will be accepted. The town is applying for a state matching grant of about ...

Tagged with: Fairview Town Council Monroe Bypass N.C. Department of Transportation Southern Environmental Law Center

For a portion of the Indian Trail Town Council meeting Tuesday night, it seemed like a sanctioned parade for the proposed Monroe Bypass. Officials from state, county and local organizations raved about how the 19.7-mile toll road that would run from Stallings to Marshville would boost economic viability on U.S. Highway 74. They made a good case for the bypass, spouting facts about long commute times, heavy tractor-trailer use and how local businesses would benefit. But the opposition to the scrutinized bypass proposal wasn’t invited to speak at the council meeting, making the job easier.

Tagged with: Indian Trail Town Council Monroe Bypass Southern Environmental Law Center

State and federal transportation officials are putting the final touches on a second draft environmental report on the proposed Monroe Bypass, as nearby towns debate the project’s merits. Meanwhile, a lead bypass construction contractor continues to collect payments even though all work on the project has been suspended – and even as the company and four of its employees face federal fraud charges not related to the bypass work.

Tagged with: Fairview Town Council Federal Highway Administration Greg MIller Greg Tucker Indian Trail Town Council John Styx Cuthbertson trucking Kevin HIcks Monroe Bypass Monroe City Council N.C. Department of Transportation Southern Environmental Law Center Stallings Union County Board of Commissioners Weddington

The Southern Environmental Law Center is challenging a ruling that paves the way for the more than $700 million Monroe Bypass project to move forward. On Monday, the SELC filed an appeal in federal court after U.S. District Court Judge James Dever III ...

Tagged with: Boggs Paving Clean Air Carolina Federal Highway Administration Monroe Connector-Bypass North Carolina Department of Transportation North Carolina Turnpike Authority North Carolina Wildlife Federation Rummel Klepper & Kahl Southern Environmental Law Center United Infrastructure Group Yadkin Riverkeeper