Parker Poe's public transit practice represents one of the most experienced groups of attorneys in the Southeast addressing public transit issues today. We offer comprehensive advice on state and local laws affecting transit systems from planning and start-up through construction and operations. With our knowledge of federal transit regulations and practices nationwide, our attorneys provide comprehensive and innovative approaches to addressing the myriad of issues faced by public transit systems on a daily basis.

Experience Highlights

We offer state, regional and local public transit agencies a variety of legal services, including:

Real Estate

• Providing complete perspectives and approaches to transit-oriented real estate development, utilizing creative financing tools and facilitating public/private partnerships to leverage private investment with public funds.
• Representing transit agencies in the acquisition of real property and rights-of-way by negotiation and, when necessary, condemnation. We negotiate with railroads, public utilities and municipalities for the shared use of rights-of-way, the relocation of utility facilities and other public infrastructure and the improvement or elimination of grade crossings.
• Conducting title examinations on railroad corridors throughout North Carolina and advising clients on railroad corridor preservation initiatives.

Procurement and Construction

• Counseling clients on all aspects of state and federal procurement requirements for equipment and services, including preparing requests for proposals, litigating bid disputes and interpreting licensing standards.
• Preparing and negotiating a variety of contracts for planning, engineering and construction services, and representing transit agencies in the acquisition of equipment and warranty and insurance claims.

Lobbying & Regulatory Compliance

• Leading lobbying efforts locally, regionally and statewide on matters involving transit law and policy issues, including initiatives to implement special use taxes for transit purposes and limiting the liability of transit agencies.
• Advising transit agencies on compliance with state and federal regulatory requirements relating to issues such as funding, public financing, safety and drug-testing standards.
• Helping our transit clients minimize liability under state and federal environmental statutes and regulations.
• Providing governing transit boards with guidance on public meetings and public records laws, organizational and management issues, conflicts of interest and sovereign immunity.

Other Services

• Advising our clients on employment and personnel issues involving hirings, firings and promotions, restrictive covenants, employment discrimination, sexual harassment, workers compensation, Employment Security Commission disputes, Americans with Disabilities Act issues, employee handbooks and policy and procedure manuals.
• Counseling clients on tax matters, including public finance tax issues and issues regarding the implementation and use of taxing authority granted to public transit agencies.

Experience

• Represented major metropolitan public transportation agency in the successful defense of two major procurement awards for construction services totaling more than $100 million.
• Conducted condemnation proceedings for regional public transportation authority in the acquisition of more than 100 acres of land in downtown Raleigh.
• Performed title work on more than 200 miles of railroad corridors in North Carolina for state, regional and local public transportation agencies.

News

• Announcing Parker Poe's 2004 Fall Associates and Special Counsel
  November 4, 2004