§ 136‑66.5. Improvements in urban areas to reduce traffic congestion.
(a) The Department ofTransportation is authorized to enter into contracts with municipalities forimprovement projects which are a part of an overall plan authorized under theprovisions of section 135 of Title 23 of the United States Code, the purpose ofwhich is to facilitate the flow of people and goods in urban areas. Inconnection with these contracts, the Department of Transportation and themunicipalities are authorized to enter into contracts for improvement projectson the municipal system of streets, and pursuant to contract with themunicipalities, the Department of Transportation is authorized to construct orto let to contract the said improvement projects on streets on the municipalstreet system or other transportation system; provided that no portion of thecost of the improvements made on the municipal system shall be paid fromDepartment of Transportation funds except the proportionate share of fundsreceived from the United States Department of Transportation and allocated forthe purposes set out in section 135 of Title 23 of the United States Code.Pursuant to contract with the Department of Transportation, the municipalitiesmay construct or let to contract the said improvement projects on the municipalsystem and the Department of Transportation is authorized to pay over to themunicipalities the proportionate share of funds received pursuant to section135 of Title 23 of the United States Code; provided that no portion of thecosts of the improvements made on the municipal system shall be paid for fromthe State Highway Fund except those received from the United States Departmentof Transportation and allocated for the purpose set out in section 135 of Title23 of the United States Code.
(b) The municipalitiesare authorized to enter into contracts with the Department of Transportationfor improvement projects which are a part of an overall plan authorized underthe provisions of section 135 of Title 23 of the United States Code, thepurpose of which is to facilitate the flow of traffic in urban areas, on theState highway system streets within the municipalities with the approval of theUnited States Department of Transportation. Pursuant to contract for theforegoing improvement projects, the municipalities are authorized to constructor let to contract the said improvement projects and the Department ofTransportation is authorized to reimburse the municipalities for the cost ofthe construction of the said improvement projects.
(c) The municipalitiesin which improvements are made pursuant to section 135 of Title 23 of theUnited States Code shall provide proper maintenance and operation of suchcompleted projects and improvements on the municipal system streets and othertransportation infrastructure or will provide other means for assuring propermaintenance and operation as is required by the Department of Transportation.In the event the municipality fails to maintain such project or provide fortheir proper maintenance, the Department of Transportation is authorized tomaintain the said projects and improvements and deduct the cost fromallocations to the municipalities made under the provisions of G.S. 136‑41.1. (1969, c. 794,s. 1; 1973, c. 507, ss. 5, 19; 1977, c. 464, s. 7.1; 2009‑266, s. 24.)