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37-763: The nine-member Authority Board consist of eight appointees, from the General Assembly (four members) and Governor (four members), and the Secretary of Transportation. The General Assembly appoints four members, two by recommendation by the President pro tempore of the Senate and two by recommendation by the Speaker of the House of Representatives . Appointments to the board are four-year staggered terms. The Chair of

74-466: A discounted toll rate, non-users will be invoiced at a higher toll rate through the bill by mail program. This is done when a vehicle passes through a toll gantry, where an overhead camera will take a video image of the license plate. The registered owner of the vehicle is identified through the Division of Motor Vehicles and a bill by mail is sent for payment. If the bill is not paid within 30 days from

111-526: Is a pre-paid account used for all electronic toll collection (ETC) facilities in North Carolina. Three types of transponders are available: transponder sticker (free version), E-ZPass (hard case) transponder and E-ZPass bumper-mounted transponder. Personal (limited to five transponders/vehicles) and business accounts (unlimited) are available; a $ 1 fee is imposed per month if the account has been inactive for 12 months. While NC Quick Pass users receive

148-652: Is charged. California Highway Patrol officers have in-vehicle devices which display the declared occupancy of a vehicle, which they can verify visually and cite any driver(s) with fewer occupants than declared (and tolled for). The new system proved itself to be highly effective in reducing the rate of lane-use violations, with it falling to 40-50% of the violation rates of other comparable California highways, from more than 20-25% (nearly one out of four or five) to just 10% (one in ten). Other transportation officials in California took note of this, subsequently leading to

185-410: Is displayed prominently at entry points to the lanes, is adjusted in response to demand to regulate the traffic volume and thereby provided a guaranteed minimum traffic speed and level of service . The Los Angeles Metro ExpressLanes HOT system requires vehicles to be fitted with manually "switchable" transponders where the driver selects the number of occupants, based on which the appropriate fee

222-622: Is fully funded for construction: Any other project proposed by the authority requires prior consultation with the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations. For a project to be considered a turnpike project, it must meet the following conditions prior to the letting of a contract for the project: 1) Two of the projects must be ranked in the top 35 based on total score on the department-produced list entitled "Mobility Fund Project Scores" dated June 6, 2012, and, in addition, may be subject to G.S. 136-18(39a). 2) Of

259-504: Is not charged. Express toll lanes , which are less common, operate along similar lines, but do not exempt high-occupancy vehicles. The HOT concept developed from high-occupancy vehicle lane (HOV) systems in order to increase use of the available capacity, as it was found that HOV lanes were underutilized compared to general purpose lanes. Most implementations are currently in the United States. The first practical implementation

296-469: The Bay Area officials of Alameda County to adopt a similar system for the (then) planned Interstate 580 . Implementation of these systems can be prohibitively expensive, due to the initial construction required—particularly with regard to providing access to and from the express toll lanes at interchanges. However, the long-term benefits—the decrease in delay to able motorists and increased funding for

333-743: The 2013 law, proposed toll road and bridges must go through same process as other transportation projects, have an STIP score and rated with other criteria contained in the Strategic Mobility Formula. NCDOT will circulate a draft of the STIP for public comment in December 2014. NCDOT anticipates the Board of Transportation will adopt it in June 2015. Listed below are proposed projects, currently in review and subject to change: The NC Quick Pass

370-618: The Authority is selected by the Authority Board. Members of the North Carolina Board of Transportation may serve as members of the Authority Board. Upon end of term, all members of the Authority Board will remain in office until their successors are appointed and qualified. The original appointing authority may appoint a member to serve out the unexpired term of any member. Each member of the Authority Board serves at

407-565: The Mid-Currituck Bridge. reestablishing the turnpike project limit to nine, with the existing Triangle Expressway counting as three and the Monroe Connector/Bypass as one. New turnpike projects must follow new conditions prior to the letting of a contract for project. A limit of up to three agreements with a private entity, with an agreement of no more than 50 years from the date of the beginning of operations on

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444-479: The Senate: High-occupancy toll lane A high-occupancy toll lane ( HOT lane ) is a type of traffic lane or roadway that is available to high-occupancy vehicles and other exempt vehicles without charge; other vehicles are required to pay a variable fee that is adjusted in response to demand. Unlike toll roads , drivers have an option to use general purpose lanes, on which a fee

481-617: The Triangle Expressway was open to traffic and immediately began toll collection. In December 2012, phase three of the Triangle Expressway was opened to traffic; on January 3, 2013, toll collection began on the final section. In 2013, House Bill 817 (S.R. 2013-183) made sweeping changes to the authority, including: removal of several turnpike projects, including the Triangle Expressway Southeast Extension, Garden Parkway, Cape Fear Skyway and

518-417: The authority was independent and only able to establish the first three projects in the following conditions: one project located in whole or in part in a county with a population equal to or greater than 650,000 persons; one project located in a county or counties that each have a population of fewer that 650,000 persons; and one project shall be a bridge of more than two miles (3.2 km) in length going from

555-582: The authority. In December 2006, FHWA approved the tolling project on what was going to be I-540 along the Western Wake Freeway. In 2008, Senate Bill 1697 (S.L. 2008-225) established the enforcement of tolls on turnpike projects and clarified and revised several sections, including: removal of I-540 from project list, collection of tolls (via mail or transponder), payment system for tolls, civil penalties for not paying tolls and procedures for contesting liability for unpaid tolls. The Triangle Parkway

592-500: The daily administration of the toll roads and bridges constructed, maintained or operated. The Executive Director or his/her designee shall appoint, employ, dismiss and, within the limits approved by the Authority Board, fix the compensation of administrative employees as the executive director deems necessary. The North Carolina Turnpike Authority was established on October 3, 2002, by ratification of House Bill 644 (S.L. 2002-133) and signed by Governor Mike Easley . In its original draft,

629-744: The date of the bill, it may escalate to include fees, civil penalties, DMV registration holds, submission to a collection agency, or all of the above. NC Quick Pass is interoperable with the following ETC systems: The toll collection equipment used in North Carolina, Florida, and Georgia are compatible, so that NC Quick Pass drivers may simply use any NC Quick Pass transponder in Florida and Georgia, and vice versa (SunPass and Peach Pass drivers may simply use their transponder in North Carolina). The North Carolina Turnpike Authority and North Carolina Department of Transportation received criticism following

666-443: The first phase of the Triangle Expressway. On May 4, 2010, the Authority signed a contract with TransCore to provide transponders. In December 2011, phase one of the Triangle Expressway was open to traffic; on January 3, 2012, toll collection began. On June 26, 2012, Senate Bill 895 (S.L. 2012-85) gave the authority the ability to enter into reciprocal toll enforcement agreements with other toll agencies. In August, 2012, phase two of

703-744: The flawed environmental studies. Both the Cape Fear Skyway and Mid-Currituck Bridge were criticized as expensive pork projects . In response to the criticism the North Carolina General Assembly removed the Garden Parkway, Cape Fear Skyway and Mid-Currituck Bridge from the authority's purview. A more recent contract between the authority and Cintra to build I-77 HOT lanes and operate them for 50 years provoked local groups to hire legal counsel and attempt to have it nullified. Additional criticisms have stemmed from

740-417: The introduction of a law allowing toll highways and bridges in the state in 2002. Introduced to speed along the implementation of transportation improvements, many of the projects selected by the Authority were controversial, leading to delays. Originally planned to be an extension of I-540, the Triangle Expressway garnered criticism from both politicians and residents for tolling the Western Wake Freeway and for

777-736: The irregular distribution of toll roads recommended by the authority throughout the state. President pro tempore of the North Carolina Senate The president pro tempore of the North Carolina Senate (more commonly, "Pro-Tem") is the highest-ranking (internally elected) officer of one house of the North Carolina General Assembly . The president of the Senate is the Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina , but

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814-537: The mainland to a peninsula bordering the state of Virginia. In 2005, Senate Bill 622 (S.L. 2005-276) added new language regarding establishing tollways on Federally funded highways designated as interstates; the purpose was so that the state can possibly add tolls along Interstate 95 (I-95), if approved by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and all interested parties along the route. In 2006, Senate Bill 1381 (S.L. 2006-228) focused

851-419: The morning commute and in the reverse direction during the evening commute. The toll is typically collected using electronic toll collection systems, automatic number plate recognition , or at staffed toll booths . Exempt vehicles typically include those with at least two, three or four occupants, those that use approved alternative fuels, motorcycles, transit vehicles and emergency vehicles. The fee, which

888-419: The most powerful North Carolina Senate leader in history and one of the state's most influential politicians when he served a record nearly 18 years as president pro tempore. Upon Republican Jim Gardner 's assumption of lieutenant gubernatorial office in 1989, Democrats in the Senate modified the body's rules, transferring the powers to appoint committees and assign bills away from the lieutenant governor and to

925-511: The number of existing non-toll general purpose lanes. In making such designations, the authority will specify the high-occupancy requirement or other conditions for use of such lanes, which may include restricting vehicle types, access controls, or the payment of tolls for vehicles that do not meet the high-occupancy requirements or conditions for use. As of 2023, two additional managed lane projects were fully funded and are either scheduled or are under construction: As of 2018, one turnpike project

962-417: The organisers being unable to sell bonds to fund the project. Following its opening, criticism shifted onto its expansion with towns raising issues about its routing and environmental concerns . Other projects, such as the Garden Parkway and Monroe Connector/Bypass prompted fear of additional urban sprawl , the criticism of politicians who had land deals along the routes, and generated lawsuits stemming from

999-401: The pleasure of the appointing authority. The Chair of the Authority serves at the pleasure of the Authority Board. The appointed members of the Authority Board receives no salary for their services; however, are entitled to receive per diem and travel allowances. An executive director, appointed by the Authority Board, serves as the Authority's chief administrative officer and is responsible for

1036-447: The president pro tempore actually holds most of the power and presides in the absence of the Lt. Governor. The president pro tempore, a senior member of the party with a majority of seats, appoints senators to committees and also appoints certain members of state boards and commissions. From 1777 to 1868, North Carolina had no Lieutenant Governor, and the highest-ranking officer of the Senate

1073-499: The president pro tempore. This dramatically increased the influence of the latter position. The president pro tempore is responsible for appointing the members of the Senate's committees at the opening of each legislative session. They also have the power to appoint some members of state executive boards. The following members were elected speakers of the Senate: The following members were elected president pro tempore of

1110-651: The project to the following: The 2006 law also made an exception to the prohibition of converting any segment of the nontolled state highway system to toll by specifically identifying I-540 (under construction in 2006) in Wake and Durham counties and extending from I-40 southwest to North Carolina Highway 55 (NC 55). In addition, the law also mandates the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) to maintain an existing, alternate, comparable non-toll route for each toll route constructed by

1147-443: The projects not ranked as provided in (1), one may be subject to G.S. 136-18(39a). 3) The project shall be included in any applicable locally adopted comprehensive transportation plans. 4) The project shall be shown in the current State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). 5) Toll projects must be approved by all affected Metropolitan Planning Organizations and Rural Transportation Planning Organizations for tolling. Stipulated in

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1184-714: The toll facility. The designation of HOT and managed lanes. As of 2018, the Authority operates 37.5 miles (60.4 km) of tollways in four counties in North Carolina: The authority currently has one set of HOT lanes in North Carolina: Unlike the turnpike projects, the Authority is not limited to the number of managed lane projects it may construct and operate. The authority may also convert lanes that may previously have been designated as high-occupancy vehicle lane (HOV) or other type of managed lanes; provided that such designated does not reduce

1221-537: The transportation agency—may outweigh the costs. To offset costs of construction, many transportation agencies lease public roads to a private institution. As a result, construction may be partially or fully funded by the private institution, which receives all of the income from tolling for a specified period. Because HOT lanes and ETLs are often constructed within the existing road space, they are criticized as being an environmental tax or " Lexus lanes" solely beneficial to higher-income individuals, since one toll rate

1258-584: Was California 's formerly private toll 91 Express Lanes , in Orange County, California , in 1995, followed in 1996 by Interstate 15 in northern San Diego . According to the Texas A&;M Transportation Institute, as of 2012 there were 294 corridor-miles of HOT/Express lanes in operation in the United States and 163 corridor-miles under construction. The first HOT lane implementation in Canada

1295-665: Was along the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) freeway in Ontario . Existing high-occupancy vehicle lanes were redesignated as HOT lanes for a 16.5-kilometre (10.3 mi) stretch of the QEW between Oakville and Burlington . The initial system consisted of $ 180 permits valid for three months, though HOT lanes with electronic tolling infrastructure were announced as part of forthcoming expansions to Ontario Highway 427 . Some systems are reversible, operating in one direction during

1332-507: Was also renamed the Triangle Expressway, which incorporated segments also known as NC 147 (Triangle Parkway) and NC 540 (Western Wake Freeway), in Wake and Durham counties. In 2009, House Bill 1617 (S.L. 2009-343) transferred the functions and funds of the North Carolina Turnpike Authority to NCDOT to conserve expenditures and improve efficiency. In August, the groundbreaking ceremony took place on

1369-460: Was known as the "Speaker". The Speaker of the Senate was next in line if the office of Governor became vacant. This occurred on two occasions. Presidents pro tempore are elected at the beginning of each biennial session, currently in January of odd-numbered years. Between 1868 and 1992, it was rare for a president pro tempore to serve more than two terms. Marc Basnight , however, became arguably

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