On June 19, the North Carolina General Assembly ratified Governor McCrory’s revamp of state transportation planning and funding. The new law is officially called “An Act to Strengthen the Economy through Strategic Transportation Investments,” or “Strategic Transportation Investments” for short. It is a response to an anticipated $1.7 billion funding shortfall for North Carolina’s roadways—and this comes at a time when our population is expanding. The Act attempts to find a way to distribute the money we do have more fairly and sensibly.
We wanted to make you aware of the Act because it will affect the Land Condemnation status of many people whose property had been identified as likely to be taken during construction. Is that good news or bad news? It depends on how you felt about the prospect of having the government buy your land.
First, it’s important to know which roadway projects are still on the schedule. You won’t know anything for sure until October 1, 2013. As of that date, only projects that are scheduled for construction no later than 2015 will be constructed as previously publicized.
Landowners who are concerned about possible delays in land condemnation and construction of pending roadway projects affecting their land should check with NCDOT to determine whether their project is likely to be delayed. Of course, you may not be able to get a straight answer until after October 1.
HensonFuerst Attorneys will be following the status of NC road projects very closely. We’ll update you when we have more information. If you are facing Land Condemnation, you may want to consult a lawyer before talking to anyone about a “deal” and before signing any legal documents. We are available to help you through this difficult process. For a free consultation, contact us at 1-800-4-LAWMED, or visit our website at www.hensonfuerst.com/landcondemnation/.
