A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO IMPLEMENT NORTH CAROLINA:  MOVING AHEAD! BY ALLOWING CASH BALANCES IN THE HIGHWAY TRUST FUND TO BE USED TO MEET CRUCIAL TRANSPORTATION NEEDS.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 136‑176 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
"(a2)	The Department may use three hundred million dollars ($300,000,000) in fiscal year 2003-2004 and four hundred million dollars ($400,000,000) in fiscal year 2004-2005 of the cash balance of the Highway Trust Fund for the following purposes:
(1)	For highway system preservation and maintenance; modernization of existing roadways, signs, signals, and traffic control devices; and resurfacing of roadways.
(2)	For improving the modal choices available by funding, planning, and implementation of regional public transit systems; modernization of rural and urban transit systems operating equipment; improvements to rail facilities; improvements to the ferry system; and to assist municipalities in incorporating bicycle and pedestrian options into their transportation plans."
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2003.