Capital Blvd toll road option, among alternatives presented to Raleigh City Council

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- The project has been talked about for years and on Tuesday, the Raleigh City Council received an update on a tolling study that was commissioned.

Chris Lukasina, executive director of the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO), presented his organization's findings on different options to alleviate congestion.

"I think we looked at how to get the full project accomplished. And I think part of the challenge is we aren't looking for a project to go toll," said Lukasina. "I think probably everyone would agree that if we can get something not tolled, we would take it."

CAMPO enlisted the help of the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) and the North Carolina Turnpike Authority (NCTA) for the tolling study. The NCTA ultimately came back with four different tolling scenarios that include two expressway options and two express lane alternatives.

"Tolling in North Carolina is a local decision, said the NCTA's David Roy. "NCDOT, the Turnpike Authority, is not advocating for a particular path forward."

Roy assured the council that funds from the Triangle Expressway would not be used toward the financing of the Capital Boulevard option and drivers on the Expressway would not be subject to a price increase.

The proposed project aims to transform a 10-mile stretch from I-540 in Raleigh to Harris Road in Wake Forest into a highway, removing all traffic lights along that section.

However, Lukasina stressed that the original $93 million proposal, which should have been completed in 2023 if not for significant delays, has now ballooned to roughly $1.34 billion.

"In other words, time is money. The longer it takes to implement the project, the more expensive it's going to be," said Lukasina. "I think the real issue coming in was this being the fifth delay for this project and seeing the writing on the wall that our region saw early on in the early 2000s with 540. And do we want to wait two more years for what will likely be another delay and another delay and another delay," he asked.

Lukasina also noted that steering away from a tolled option and looking at an alternative, along with leaving Capital Blvd as is are also options on the table.

"I think we looked at how to get the full project accomplished. And I think part of the challenge is we aren't looking for a project to go toll. I think probably everyone would agree that if we can get something not toll, we would take it," said Lukasina.

SEE ALSO | These 21 intersections are most 'dangerous' in Raleigh, NCDOT says