Land Condemnation and Eminent Domain
What You Should Know About the NCDOT 2024-2033 STIP Revision Process
Every two years, the North Carolina Department of Transportation releases a massive document called the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). The STIP outlines transportation projects scheduled within the next decade and the associated costs. However, with inflation on the rise and department funds quickly dwindling, this blueprint will see some significant changes in the decade ahead. Delayed…
Read MoreChallenging Eminent Domain in North Carolina
When the government contacts you about seizing (or condemning) your property under the power of eminent domain, you may be left wondering what to do. As a property owner in North Carolina, you reserve the right to contest condemnation of your property through eminent domain if it was not conducted properly or in good faith.…
Read MoreNorth Carolina Sees Construction Project Delays Statewide
Now that the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal is in effect, many North Carolinians anticipated that construction projects would resume across the state. However, that may no longer be the case as project contractors face staffing shortages and supply chain issues. The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) reports that there will be significant delays before a number of…
Read MoreNCDOT Plans For New US-1 Freeway May Compromise Many Private Properties
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is seeking public input on its plan to convert Capital Boulevard into a 10-mile controlled-access highway up to 8 lanes wide between I-540 in Raleigh and Purnell/Harris roads in Wake Forest. While NCDOT intends to decongest traffic and reduce long and unpredictable commute times, unfortunately, the project requires…
Read MoreWhat Federal Infrastructure Bill Means For Property Owners in North Carolina
This month, President Biden signed a $1 trillion infrastructure plan into law, allocating billions of government dollars to bridge replacement, public transportation, electric vehicles, broadband internet, and the nation’s highway programs. This significant, bipartisan government package is known officially as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. North Carolina can expect to see around $9 billion…
Read MoreNCDOT “Billions Short” For Future Projects After Refigured Costs
A state audit and reworked cost estimates revealed that NCDOT was planning projects that were billions of dollars more than it could afford. Consequently, current and future projects are expected to either be put on hold or stop altogether. Though it is normal for cost estimates and projects to be reevaluated periodically, this instance is…
Read MoreNCDOT Still At Risk of Overspending Despite Higher Funds
The NC Department of Transportation is not out of the woods just yet in its ongoing financial crisis. After a recent state audit of NCDOT, its findings showed that despite the DOT’s skyrocketing financial status since 2020, the department is still expected to exceed its budget. Furthermore, the audit determined that if there are no…
Read MoreSenate Approves $1.2T Infrastructure Bill: What It Means For North Carolina Roadways, Bridges, and More
The Senate approved a $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure plan on August 10th, 2021, with a rare coalition of Democrats and Republicans joining in overcoming skeptics and delivering a cornerstone of President Joe Biden’s agenda. The 69-30 tally provides momentum for this first phase of Biden’s “Build Back Better” priorities, now headed to the House. A…
Read MoreNC House Of Representatives Approves HB 271 To Limit Eminent Domain And Strengthen Property Owner Protections
State and local governments around the country have a long history of exploiting their power to help well-connected industrialists and real estate developers at the expense of the general public. On Tuesday, March 23rd, House Bill 271 was approved by the House Committee on Judiciary 1. It would allow North Carolinians to vote on whether…
Read MoreArcheologists Discover 10,000 Year-Old Artifacts While Clearing Land for I-540 Project
Before the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) began clearing land for the final portion of the Triangle Expressway, its archeology unit searched for campsites used by North Carolina’s earliest settlers. Anytime NCDOT proposes a large construction project, federal law requires documenting of historic or prehistoric sites in the construction corridor. As a result of…
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