Roanoke Rapids City Council tonight, with one member absent, voted in favor of a resolution opposing the tolling of Interstate 95.
The resolution passed by council at its work session tonight is similar to one approved by the chamber, tourism, county commissioners and other agencies.
“Interstate 95 is the primary transportation artery in Halifax County and a major catalyst for tourism and economic development,” the resolution says. “The I-95 Corridor Planning and Finance Study reveals that 30 percent of the travelers on the Interstate 95 corridor will divert to other roads to avoid tolls.”
The resolution states the diversion rate represents a loss of 12,000 cars a day, “Which will have a significant negative impact for communities and businesses that depend on Interstate 95 travelers for their livelihood. The Roanoke Rapids City Council believes that the I-95 Corridor Planning and Finance Study does not provide sufficient information on alternative funding sources for future improvements to Interstate 95 and further believes that the $6.4 million I-95 Corridor Planning and Finance Study completed by (the state Department of Transportation) does not provide sufficient information on the economic impact of tolling to the citizens, businesses and communities in Halifax County and the Interstate 95 corridor.”
The resolution requests the department of transportation to fully investigate alternative sources of revenue for the project and to do a comprehensive study of the economic impacts of tolling along the corridor.
In other matters tonight:
Council gave Public Works Director Larry Chalker permission to apply for a $67,500 North Carolina Rural Center grant for a storm drainage camera system. The city would provide a $7,500 matching grant.
“It would be deployed immediately,” Chalker told council. “We’ve got several storm drains with issues.”
Currently, workers are sent down manholes with ropes and flashlights. “It would be a very quick payback.”
The rural center has alluded the city appears to be eligible for the grant, Chalker said following the meeting.
Emergency personnel could use the system for confined searches, he said. “We could make it available for other communities.”
Council went into closed session to apparently continue discussions of the sale of the Roanoke Rapids Theatre. City Attorney Gilbert Chichester said no action was expected following the session.
