Information Items:
   -  Utilities Receive NC Department of Labor Safety Awards
   -  Results of MUMPO Meeting - May 18, 2005

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Information Items:
Utilities Receive NC Department of Labor Safety Awards
Staff Resource: Doug Bean, 704-391-5070

On May 19, 2005, the North Carolina Department of Labor recognized 13 workgroups within Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities for achievements in safety and health. Four of those workgroups received awards for the fifth consecutive year.

The safety achievement awards are presented to industry and public sector employees annually based on a formula that includes hours worked, lost workday cases and cases with days away from work.

Results of MUMPO Meeting on May 18, 2005
Staff Resource: Jim Humphrey, 704-336-3883

At the Mecklenburg-Union Metropolitan Planning Organization (MUMPO) meeting last Wednesday, the MUMPO voted to approve all of the recommendations from the Technical Coordinating Committee (TCC). These recommendations concerning the Proposed FY06 - FY12 North Carolina Transportation Improvement Program have been submitted to the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) for their consideration. You may recall that there is a long list of recommendations. Those adopted by the MUMPO include:

• Requesting that NCDOT do all that is necessary to return the Weddington Road/I-485 interchange and Graham Street extension/Mallard Creek Road widening projects to the TIP. Failure to return the two projects would trigger another Air Quality Conformity determination if these projects are not shown as complete by 2010; and
  
• Requesting that the remaining construction for I-485 North (between NC-115 & I-85) be slowed down by no more than one additional year in order to fully fund widening to six lanes a portion of I-485 South (between US-521 and I-77); and
  
• Requesting that $17 million of the federal Surface Transportation Program Direct Allocation funds available in FY11 & FY12 should be committed to a list of five small projects. Council member Mumford registered the lone vote to direct the funds to the Independence Boulevard project. Those in favor cited the ability to fully fund much needed small projects across the MPO geography.

Negotiations with the NCDOT regarding changes will begin immediately. We will update the Mayor and Council regarding the outcome in a future memo.