Department of Transportation Legislative Changes.

This bill establishes a new Transportation Emergency Reserve fund of $125 million to help North Carolina cover costs during major disasters, with funds accessible only after a federal declaration and subject to strict reporting requirements. It also creates a pilot program allowing the Department of Transportation to use a specific "Progressive Design-Build" procurement method for up to five projects under $500 million, where contractors are selected based on qualifications before finalizing costs. Additionally, the legislation authorizes the department to increase the project cap for this pilot program, enabling larger infrastructure initiatives to be tested under this new delivery system.