WMPO votes to support NCDOT evaluating tolls as Cape Fear Memorial Bridge funding option

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The Wilmington Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (WMPO) voted Wednesday to support the North Carolina Department of Transportation exploring all funding options for replacing the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge — including the possibility of a toll.

The resolution passed in an 8-4 vote. While it does not explicitly endorse a toll, it backs the idea of further evaluating tolling as a viable funding solution. The resolution also states that WMPO reserves the right to withdraw support for a toll option at any time before a construction contract is signed.

Leland Mayor Brenda Bozeman, who voted against the measure, raised concerns about how a toll could affect surrounding infrastructure.

“We are concerned that the impact of nearby infrastructure by introducing toll infrastructure to the transportation network is not being fully considered and evaluated,” Bozeman said during the meeting.

NCDOT Division 3 Engineer Trevor Carroll told the board that the resolution could help the project score higher in the State Transportation Improvement Program, or STIP, which will be voted on in the coming months.

Carroll said the tolled version of the project currently ranks significantly higher in the STIP evaluation process.

“The tolled option project scored within the top 10 of the statewide mobility STIP,” Carroll said. “The non-tolled option did not score well at all — I think it was down around the 100s. So, there’s not a project to move forward outside of the tolled option in the STIP.”

Board members voting in favor of the resolution included New Hanover County Commissioner Dane Scalise, Carolina Beach Mayor Lynn Barbee, Belville Mayor Mike Allen, Pender County Commissioner Brad George and Brunswick County Commissioner Mike Forte.

Joining Bozeman in voting against the resolution were Wilmington City Council members Luke Waddell and Kevin Spears, along with Navassa Mayor Eulis Willis.

Carroll also noted that the NCDOT cannot publicly support tolling or any specific funding mechanism for a project.

Meanwhile, the WMPO announced that a 30-day public comment period  is now open for the Cape Fear Navigating Change 2050 plan, which outlines regional transportation priorities for the next 25 years. The plan includes all of New Hanover County and parts of Brunswick and Pender counties.

If adopted, the long-range plan would help determine which projects qualify for funding through future statewide and regional improvement programs.