NCDOT seeks input on Draft 10-Year Transportation Plan
The public is invited to learn more about and comment on the N.C. Department of Transportation’s draft 10-year transportation plan for 2024-2033, called the State Transportation Improvement Program, or STIP, during a weeklong open house for Alexander, Catawba, Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell, and Lincoln counties.
From Sept. 12-16, during normal business hours, members of the public can visit the Division 12 Office at 1410 East Marion Street, Shelby, N.C. 28150. The sessions will serve as opportunities for people to review the funding and proposed schedules for projects in their area, ask questions of local NCDOT staff and submit comments.
The public can contact Division Planning Engineer Anil Panicker at (980) 552-4210 or by email via our online portal to answer questions. Division 12 includes Alexander, Catawba, Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell, and Lincoln counties.
The department will provide auxiliary aids and services under the Americans with Disabilities Act for disabled persons who want to provide input. Anyone requiring special services should contact their local NCDOT division as early as possible so that arrangements can be made.
People who cannot attend the public comment sessions have the opportunity to submit comments online (https://www.ncdot.gov/initiatives-policies/Transportation/stip/development/Pages/public-involvement.aspx) and participate in an online survey (https://live.metroquestsurvey.com/?u=ew73x#!/?p=web&pm=dynamic) to indicate which projects matter most to them.
The department initially unveiled its proposed funding and construction plan in May (https://www.ncdot.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/2022/2022-05-31-draft-stip-transportation-plan-release.aspx) and has revised the draft document to reflect new sources of revenue.
The STIP is typically updated every two years. This draft plan, however, was developed under unique circumstances. Material and labor cost escalations led local, regional and state transportation planning partners to recommend, and the Board of Transportation to concur, with foregoing the usual process for prioritizing projects. Instead, they decided the new plan should be built from existing projects in the current (2020-29) STIP to the extent that funding allows, while giving planning organizations the opportunity to propose project swaps that meet the needs of their communities.
The draft plan still adheres to the Strategic Transportation Investments law using the required data-driven process and input from local officials and the public.
Projects scheduled in the first five years are generally considered to be committed, while those on the latter half of the schedule are subject to be re-evaluated when the next STIP is developed.
The NCDOT plans to use public input and the requests of planning organizations from around the state to produce a final draft STIP that will state transportation officials will adopt next year. More information on the STIP process can be found on the NCDOT webpage, https://www.ncdot.gov/initiatives-policies/Transportation/stip/Pages/default.aspx
i do not see any need to ruin the only place that is left to be rural, I could not give a knats behind for someone to get into mecklenburg county. I fought traffic for years let the new folks fight it same as I did. build new road going north and south and east west,.build more business in gaston county so will not need to go into mecklenburg county.