Senate Bill 580 - DOT Legislative Changes Summary

• Expands Transportation Emergency Reserve use to cover unreimbursed emergency expenditures for both past and present emergencies, with $125 million maximum fund balance and requires biennial evaluation reports.

• Authorizes pilot program for up to five transportation projects using Progressive Design-Build procurement method for projects under $500 million, with pre-award and post-completion reporting requirements.

• Increases turnpike processing fees from maximum $6.00 to $9.00 per violation and raises annual processing fee cap from $48.00 to $72.00, effective July 1, 2023.

• Raises ferry priority boarding pass fee from $150 to $500 annually and establishes new resident priority pass program for Hatteras-Ocracoke ferry route.

• Authorizes pilot program for automatic license plate reader systems on DOT rights-of-way in cooperation with State Bureau of Investigation for law enforcement purposes, expires June 1, 2024.

• Increases sales tax revenue transfers to Highway Fund from quarterly to monthly frequency and adjusts percentages (1% to 1.5% for Highway Fund; 3% to 4.5% for Highway Trust Fund by 2024-25).