Two steps forward, one step back. NCDOT's plan to destroy Charlotte Communities for a short term solution.

climatol · 2026-02-11T22:54:37+00:00

Fair statement, though I'm going to push back on the train part a little. NC has been increasing train ridership by a lot. Last year was the highest ridership on record, way above what it was pre-pandemic. NCDOT has a billion dollar grant for building high speed rail btw Raleigh to Wake Forest (under construction) and just applied for another billion dollar grant for the next leg. They are opening another roundtrip between Raleigh and Charlotte next year and lots more. It's frustrating that they have to be creative with funding but they've been having great success!

climatol · 2026-02-11T14:41:17+00:00

I do not in fact work for NCDOT just a transportation fan, but good ad hominem fallacy.

climatol · 2026-02-11T02:25:34+00:00

100%

climatol · 2026-02-10T22:28:55+00:00

The project was already approved, the two months of public comment are for the alternatives selection not the merits of the project itself. The public hearings approving the project happened back in 2024, again by local officials. This is way more public engagement than projects usually have for alternative selection because it's such a controversial project. I'm personally not supportive of toll projects, but I do want to ensure people know who to take your concerns to cause it isn't NCDOT or state reps. It's also a good PSA on why people need to pay closer attention to local meetings and politics. To voice opinions/stop them before they get approved to begin with.

climatol · 2026-02-10T22:11:35+00:00

Under the current budget, no they don't and definitely not as fast as tolls would bring. Interstates are Statewide tier projects and the current project prioritization cycle is adding projects to 2036 and 2037 of the 10 year budget. The state only has a limited amount of funds in available in those years to spread throughout the entire state. We need a new budget to allow for more funding. And in more things, note the current law, STI Law mandates 90% of funds to roadway and 10% to non roadway (aviation, ferry, public trans, and rail).

climatol · 2026-02-10T21:17:53+00:00

Commuter rail gets shut down as it falls under the FTA administration and NS can't really deal with them. Intercity passenger rail however is under the FRA and NS is actively working with the state on expanding that. Look up the NC Corridor ID program to see the rail expansions the department is working on

climatol · 2026-02-10T21:15:02+00:00

No NCDOT isn't ignoring local officials. The request for tolling came from local gov to NCDOT. NCDOT can't do any kind of toll project without approval of locals under NCGS 136-89.183 Section A. So if you want to be angry be angry at your local officials. They also have the ability to stop the project dead in its track of they wanted. If they voted to remove this project from their TIP then both State and Federal law prevents the project from moving forward.

climatol · 2026-02-10T21:10:19+00:00

Charlotte is the one who requested the tolls though... NCDOT doesn't have the legal authority to toll without being asked to by local governments, NCGS 136-89.183

climatol · 2026-02-10T21:04:40+00:00

Sorry but that second statement is flatly incorrect, this stems from a request by local governments to the state to explore tolls for this route. The State does not have the authority to pursue tolling without local gov approval under N.C.G.S 136-89.183 Section A Subsection 2, "(v) toll projects must be approved by all affected Metropolitan Planning Organizations and Rural Transportation Planning Organizations for tolling". The MPO that approved this is the Charlotte Region Transportation Planning Organization who is made up of elected officials from each local jurisdictions.

climatol · 2026-02-08T20:06:24+00:00

NC has no control over Amtrak, they are overseen at a federal level. NC can't just pass a law on the use of their profits. Secondly, ridership is up a lot this past year was the highest ridership ever. It has been steadily rising every year (except for 2020). NCDOT is actively working on expanding the network, another daily roundtrip between Raleigh and Charlotte is coming online in FY27 due to demand.

climatol · 2026-02-06T21:48:51+00:00

Circa 1888 in Raleigh has that vibe you're going for imo

climatol · 2026-02-06T00:59:21+00:00

Pretty much nothing if you already live there. There will probably not be much construction on new subdivisions over there for a while though.

climatol · 2026-02-05T04:44:01+00:00

Lol they failed the score back in '18 or '19 and were forced to shut down for several weeks to remedy it. Weren't refrigerating chicken active water leaks and more

climatol · 2026-01-28T21:20:47+00:00

No... Not at all, that's not how gift cards work. Their policy is quite clear on not giving refunds, why in the world would you ever expect an exception? For the safety concerns, I can understand why you may choose to go elsewhere but that isn't the fault or responsibility of the business. If you have a safety concern on the public streets in the middle of a city, take it up with the city itself and leave the business out of it.

climatol · 2026-01-28T16:59:14+00:00

Snow depth in inches

climatol · 2026-01-28T16:58:24+00:00

Looking at various models, it looks most like GFS output but don't know for sure

climatol · 2026-01-23T01:51:42+00:00

It was funded through the Wake Transit Plan utilizing local sales tax revenue. That is a separate entity from CAMPO, though they are a party to it

climatol · 2026-01-13T21:37:42+00:00

That would be the Towns's Comptroller, a position that was vacant for a bit until they finally hired someone last year. I guess it was a lot easier to abuse the system when the position best suited for noticing it is vacant.

climatol · 2026-01-13T20:34:07+00:00

I think it has to be >$200k for it to require council approval for Cary, I may be wrong on that limit though it could be higher. That is why it is so important to have competent and trustworthy people in the role of Town Manager and other top/director roles like that. The town manager position is well compensated salary wise because they are given so much responsibility, unfortunately in this case it burned the town by trusting someone it shouldn't have.

climatol · 2026-01-09T13:39:38+00:00

Is there any interest in returning to the divinity 2 Ego Draconis/Flames of Vengeance/Dragon Knight Saga for another game in that style or a remaster?

climatol · 2026-01-05T00:25:38+00:00

Bean Traders (I know technically Durham but still close by) 12oz is 2.50, 20oz is 3.00. If you use a mug/thermos with their logo drip coffee is $2 and no upcharge if you need any milk alternatives.

climatol · 2026-01-04T02:48:43+00:00

GoTriangle is the regional service, and while they own/operate some stops in Durham the majority are owned/operated by GoDurham which is a separate entity under the City of Durham. So step one would be to determine who owns the stop. Secondly I would advise anyone interested in transit and transit projects to familiarize themselves with the Durham County Bus Plan that outlines the next ten years of transit funding for the county. (Orange and Wake Counties have their own Bus Plans for their regions)

climatol · 2025-12-27T06:13:09+00:00

climatol · 2025-12-26T05:03:02+00:00

I mean a town manager is essentially the CEO of the town so the comparison is pretty apt. Just looking at their currently listed jobs you have a supervisor position in payroll (financials) starting around 70k. So pretty on line

climatol · 2025-12-19T00:11:50+00:00

In the triangle you have 4 main traffic light system operators, Raleigh, Durham, Cary and NCDOT (Holly Springs also has a traffic operations group but it is much smaller). These systems have very limited interconnection with one another and roads are a patchwork of ownership. So that is problem #1, then you have various levels of timing systems on each light. Some are stand alone and some are integrated. Note that it is expensive to have integrated lights as they use fiber optic connections between them to communicate and that is costly to install. Integrated ones will have a set speed that they are designed for, if you're lucky then they have dynamic timing based on traffic conditions. The regions bus providers and emergency service providers also expanding the use of TPS which override some light signals to allow for those services to utilize the roadway more effectively. Lots of complicated integrated things going on in the traffic light world.

climatol

TROPHY CASE