Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Sustainable Stimulus Projects in Raleigh


Yesterday, I was able to spend some time with our US Congressmen Bob Etheridge, Brad Miller, and David Price. We were able to tour a few projects that were made possible by the ARRA Stimulus Funds that North Carolina was granted last year.

We started the tour at the new Transit Operations Center that is being built on a 23-acre site on Poole Road. More than half of the total cost of the project is covered by ARRA funds, and the facility will be the first of its kind in the nation. The CAT Operations Center will integrate administration and maintenance into one facility, and the facility will also be nominated for LEED Platinum Certification. Some of the sustainable features of the facility include geothermal heating and cooling, reflective roofing and other building materials, sensored light fixtures, a rainwater collection system, and the use of local materials throughout.

After touring the Transit Operations Center, we stopped by the City's Wetlands Center, and then moved on to the Wilder's Grove Solid Waste Services Center. As with the Transit Operations Center, half of the cost of the Solid Waste Services Center is covered by ARRA funds. The Solid Waste Services Center also features geothermal heating and cooling, which is expected to result in a 35-52% energy cost savings! The Solid Waste Services Center is seeking LEED Gold Certification upon completion next Summer.

Our tour concluded at the Upper Neuse Greenway Trail segment at Falls Lake. ARRA funds are being used to complete the Neuse River Trail thru the Johnston County line. All together, the length of the trail is more than 28 miles! Raleigh's greenway system is one of our most treasured projects, it is great to see it keep expanding.

It is great to see Raleigh leading the way for sustainability with our public facilities and projects. I look forward to continuing in the same direction!

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