Uncategorized – Page 102 – Foothills RPO (formerly Isothermal RPO)

Data Series–Cohort-Based High School Graduation Rates

March 4, 2016 by Karyl Fuller

Cohort Graduation Rates

This chart shows those students who entered school in 9th grade and graduated within 4 years. Generally, there is an upward trend with Rutherford County’s percentage rising from 67.1% in 2009-2010 (graduation year) to 81.9% in 2014-2015. Both Rutherford and McDowell Counties were below North Carolina’s average. Polk County’s percentage show greater variability which is largely the result of the small number of graduates (less than 200). Tomorrow, we will look at percentage of the population (25+) who have a Bachelor’s degree.

US 221 Widening in the Isothermal Region

March 2, 2016 by Karyl Fuller

In 2015-2024 STIP, R-2233BB is funded with ROW (property acquisition) starting in FY 17 and construction slated for FY 20. All other sections in Rutherford County are currently unfunded.

In 2015-2024 STIP, all sections of US 221 in McDowell County are currently unfunded. All of the unfunded sections will be in SPOT 4 which is going on currently and new scores will be available in Spring 2016. The RPO and the Division will be setting their priorities in the Spring and Summer, which will be used as a part of programming. See pdf with better resolution here.

Rise of the Millennials or Not? –In the Isothermal Region

March 1, 2016 by Karyl Fuller

■In 2015, the Pew Research Center projected that the Millennials (born 1981-2000) would overtake the Boomers (1946-1965) as the largest living generation in the US (http://pewrsr.ch/1y5iEZj)

■In NC, the Millennials have overtaken the Boomers but not in our Region

■Implications for our Region’s Economy/Schools/Housing/Health Care?

Shared by IRPO–New Bridge Construction Will Close Section of Whitesides Road Starting Feb. 24

February 23, 2016 by Karyl Fuller

Raleigh – A bridge replacement project in Rutherford County will close a section of Whitesides Road east of Rutherfordton starting next week. Apple Tuck and Associates of Rutherfordton was awarded the $712,000.00 contract, which involves removing the 49-year-old bridge over Hunting Creek and replacing it with a concrete box culvert. The closure starts on Wednesday, Feb. 24, with the road scheduled to re-open by mid-August 2016.

The current bridge is considered functionally obsolete, which means it was built to design standards no longer in use. It also had weight restrictions, which limited the type of vehicles that could use the bridge.

A detour will be in place using Mt. Lebanon Church and Pea Ridge roads.

NCDOT reminds motorists to watch for detour and construction warning signs, stay alert and obey the posted speed limit.

For real-time travel information, visit the Traveler Services section of NCDOT.gov or follow NCDOT on Twitter.

***NCDOT***

Isothermal RPO’s SPOT 4.0 Submissions

February 17, 2016February 17, 2016 by Karyl Fuller

Below is a spreadsheet of all of Isothermal RPO’s SPOT 4 submissions. There was a total of 43 projects. There were three aviation projects, 14 bike/ped projects and 26 highway projects. Geographically, 17 projects were in McDowell County, 11 projects in Polk County and 17 projects in Rutherford County (2 projects span counties).

Download the entire spreadsheet here.