RALEIGH – The following are highlights from this week at the N.C. Department of Transportation. The stories below are also featured in NCDOT Now, the department’s weekly newscast.
NCDOT Tests Masks Material in Asphalt
NCDOT, East Carolina University and S.T. Wooten construction company are teaming up to find out if recycled face masks can be used in asphalt mix to pave and improve roads.
The idea is in the very early stages of testing – which involves shredding recycled masks, then adding the material to the hot mix asphalt. With paving conducted at up to 300 degrees, the plastic fibers in masks become a fluid and act as a binding agent. Officials believe this could reduce indentations of the road.
A decision whether to fund the proposal for additional testing is expected later this year.
CASSI to Wrap Up at Wright Brothers National Memorial
Visitors at the Wright Brothers National Memorial have one more week to ride a first-of-its-kind electric, self-driving public transit shuttle. The Connected Autonomous Shuttle Supporting Innovation, or CASSI, will wrap up its three-month trial program Friday, July 16. So far, about 700 trips have taken more than 3,000 riders on the CASSI.
This marks the first trial of a self-driving vehicle at a recreational public lands site in the country. Once complete, NCDOT and the National Park Service hope the testing of the shuttle at a national park helps them learn more about how autonomous vehicles can safely and effectively be used.
For more information about NCDOT Now, contact the NCDOT Communications Office at (919) 707-2660. Additional news stories from throughout the week can be found on NCDOT.gov.
NCDOT’s Weekly Cash Watch Report
RALEIGH – To be open and transparent and to comply with Session Law 2019-251 of the N.C. General Assembly, the N.C. Department of Transportation will issue a news release each Friday publishing the weekly “NCDOT Cash Watch Numbers” report, which is a snapshot of NCDOT expenditures.
For holidays when NCDOT offices are closed, the release and report will be published on the closest business day.
The latest cash report, as well as previous reports, can be viewed on this NCDOT webpage.
Each report opens with what the combined cash balance was in the preceding report. The report includes receipts; a list of disbursements in broad categories; and ending combined cash balance. In addition, the report includes a snapshot of “reserved cash” balances. These funds are dedicated to specific projects and are held in what is called a “Trustee Account” until they are disbursed to pay for work completed on projects funded with Build NC bonds, GARVEE bonds or Energy Savings-Roadway lighting funds.
Cash balance fluctuates from day to day as revenue comes in and disbursements are made. The official monthly cash balance is determined at the close of each month as line items are reconciled. Weekly balances are not indicative of what the final monthly cash balance will be.
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