North Carolina's fund, which was created this year, is designed to pay for major transportation projects of statewide significance that are so expensive it is difficult to fund them using current methods, the Triangle Business Journal reported.

The department has an additional $40 million in the mobility fund and is currently accepting recommendations through Citizens Connect for where and how the money should be spent. The goal of this forum is to provide citizens with a place to engage in online conversations about the fund and help generate new ideas, according to NCDOT.

Kansas' Department of Transportation launched a similar system in early 2009 called the Kansas Transportation Online Community. It is a professional networking site, a virtual meeting place, and conversation center for everyone in the Kansas transportation community.

"We were aware of KTOC and have been in touch with [KDOT staff] on several issues being advanced by Kansas," said Don Voelker, NCDOT's Strategic Planning Office of Transportation director. "This forum is intended to be one of several mechanisms the department is using to reach out to the public to obtain feedback on how to develop project criteria and a selection process for projects for the mobility fund. The more feedback we receive, the more likely the end product will reflect the desires and expectations of the public."

More information about Citizens Connect is available at ncdot.newkind.com.