Whistleblower 9: NCDOT Spending Thousands On Trees

None — The North Carolina Department of Transportation is spending thousands of dollars on trees, instead of on projects like road improvements and fixing potholes, because of a mandate in the federal stimulus package.

DOT engineers are cutting down Bradford pear trees along Highway 74 in Union County and along Highway 52 near Albemarle. The ornamental trees seemed like a good choice, but DOT engineer Tim Boland said they're weak and break apart during wind and ice storms. Cherry trees will be planted in their place.

The DOT estimates cutting down the trees and planting news ones will cost taxpayers $300,000. The department plans to spend another $40,000 in federal stimulus money planting trees at interchanges along Interstate 485, including Johnston Road.

Boland said the federal stimulus package requires that at least 3 percent of road money each state received be spent on "transportation enhancements" -- things like landscaping, bike trails and museums.

The NCDOT's 10th division, which includes Charlotte, got almost $72 million of stimulus funding. Officials plan to spend $500,000 on things other than fixing roads.

Democratic North Carolina Rep. Mel Watt voted for the stimulus package and defended the language in the bill, saying it was meant to create jobs first.

"I think we can stimulate jobs by providing money to do anything that allows someone to be employed," he said, "whether that's planting trees or doing greenways."

Boland admitted if it weren't for the required "transportation enhancements," the department might be leaving the trees in place for now.

"We are doing projects like that that we might not be able to do had the stimulus not come along," he said.

Boland said they've learned their lesson and won't be using Bradford pear trees along streets anymore. At $300,000, it's a costly lesson for taxpayers.

Channel 9 also contacted Rep. Sue Myrick, who voted against the stimulus package. She had no comment on this aspect of DOT spending.

WSOC