Bill > S519

This bill modernizes North Carolina's transportation funding and planning processes by making several key changes to transportation project categorization, funding allocation, and local government transportation regulations. The bill expands the definition of transportation projects to include more multimodal options like bus rapid transit, bicycle, and pedestrian improvements, and adjusts the funding distribution formula to ensure at least 20% of funds go to non-highway projects. It modifies the project prioritization criteria by removing some narrow metrics like lane width and congestion, and adding broader considerations such as environmental quality, vehicle miles traveled, and accessibility to employment centers and essential services. The bill also changes the funding breakdown, increasing Regional Impact Projects funding from 30% to 40% and reducing Statewide Strategic Mobility Projects from 40% to 30%. Additionally, the legislation provides more flexibility for local governments in transportation planning, allowing them to consider a wider range of transportation infrastructure in zoning and development regulations, and expands potential local sales tax options for funding public transportation systems. The overall goal is to create more flexible, sustainable, and comprehensive transportation planning that supports multimodal transportation options and considers broader community needs.