The following definitions apply in this Article:

(1) Distribution Regions. – The following Distribution Regions apply to this Article:

a. Distribution Region A consists of the following counties: Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Edgecombe, Gates, Halifax, Hertford, Hyde, Johnston, Martin, Nash, Northampton, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyrrell, Washington, Wayne, and Wilson.

b. Distribution Region B consists of the following counties: Beaufort, Brunswick, Carteret, Craven, Duplin, Greene, Jones, Lenoir, New Hanover, Onslow, Pamlico, Pender, Pitt, and Sampson.

c. Distribution Region C consists of the following counties: Bladen, Columbus, Cumberland, Durham, Franklin, Granville, Harnett, Person, Robeson, Vance, Wake, and Warren.

d. Distribution Region D consists of the following counties: Alamance, Caswell, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Guilford, Orange, Rockingham, Rowan, and Stokes.

e. Distribution Region E consists of the following counties: Anson, Cabarrus, Chatham, Hoke, Lee, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Moore, Randolph, Richmond, Scotland, Stanly, and Union.

f. Distribution Region F consists of the following counties: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Caldwell, Catawba, Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Surry, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yadkin.

g. Distribution Region G consists of the following counties: Buncombe, Burke, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, and Yancey.

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(2) Division needs projects. – Includes only the following:

a. Projects listed in subdivision (3) or (4) of this section, subject to the limitations noted in those subsections.

b. State highway routes not included in subdivision (3) or (4) of this section.

c. Airports included in the NPIAS that are not included in subdivision (3) or (4) of this section, provided that the State’s total annual financial participation under this sub-subdivision shall not exceed eighteen million five hundred thousand dollars ($18,500,000).

d. Rail lines not included in subdivision (3) or (4) of this section. This sub-subdivision does not include short-line railroads.

e. Public transportation service not included in subdivision (3) or (4) of this section. This sub-subdivision includes commuter rail, intercity rail, and light rail. Nothing in this sub-subdivision shall be construed as authorizing total State funding in excess of the maximum established in sub-subdivision g. of subdivision (3) of this section for commuter rail and light rail projects.

f. Multimodal terminals and stations serving passenger transit systems.

g. Federally funded independent bicycle and pedestrian improvements.

h. Replacement of State-maintained ferry vessels.

i. Federally funded municipal road projects.

(3) Regional impact projects. – Includes only the following:

a. Projects listed in subdivision (4) of this section, subject to the limitations noted in that subdivision.

b. U.S. highway routes not included in subdivision (4) of this section.

c. N.C. highway routes not included in subdivision (4) of this section.

d. Commercial service airports included in the NPIAS that are not included in subdivision (4) of this section, provided that the State’s annual financial participation in any single airport project included in this subdivision may not exceed three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000).

e. The State-maintained ferry system, excluding passenger vessel replacement.

f. Rail lines that span two or more counties not included in subdivision (4) of this section. This sub-subdivision does not include short-line railroads.

g. Public transportation service that spans two or more counties and that serves more than one municipality. Programmed funds pursuant to this sub-subdivision shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of any distribution region allocation. This sub-subdivision includes commuter rail, intercity rail, and light rail. Total State funding for a commuter rail or light rail project shall not exceed the lesser of ten percent (10%) of the distribution region allocation or ten percent (10%) of the estimated total project costs used during the prioritization scoring process. The State shall not be responsible or liable for any project costs in excess of the maximum established under this sub-subdivision. Any agreement entered into by the State to fund a commuter rail or light rail project shall include language setting out the limitations set forth in this sub-subdivision.

(4) Statewide strategic mobility projects. – Includes only the following:

a. Interstate highways and future interstate highways approved by the federal government.

b. Routes on the National Highway System as of July 1, 2012, excluding intermodal connectors.

c. Highway routes on the United States Department of Defense Strategic Highway Network (STRAHNET).

d. Highway toll routes designated by State law or by the Department of Transportation, pursuant to its authority under State law.

e. Highway projects listed in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 136-179, as it existed on July 1, 2012, that are not authorized for construction as of July 1, 2015.

f. Appalachian Development Highway System.

g. Commercial service airports included in the Federal Aviation Administration’s National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) that provide international passenger service or 375,000 or more enplanements annually, provided that the State’s annual financial participation in any single airport project included in this subdivision may not exceed five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000).

h. Freight capacity and safety improvements to Class I freight rail corridors. (2013-183, s. 1.1(a); 2013-410, s. 38(a); 2016-94, ss. 35.12(c), (d); 2018-97, s. 7.5(c).)