Transportation Planning
Transportation planning helps meet the region’s transportation needs, determine “first things first” priorities, and avoid expensive construction mistakes. It is the basis for the MPO’s long-range Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) as well as the Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program (MTIP), and serves to guide the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) and the member jurisdictions in the construction of streets and highways. It has enabled the region to use federal and state funds to serve local needs.
Improving Transit Services
Transportation planning is instrumental in improving transit services as well. Planning funds from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) allow local transit providers to plan for service improvements. With the addition of the Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation (PART), transit improvements on a regional basis will occur.
Providing a Framework
Transportation planning also provides a framework for sound and orderly land development. Advance knowledge of transportation needs make possible the dedication of future right-of-way, and the coordination of transportation with the zoning process. This has saved the member jurisdictions millions of dollars in land acquisition costs and reduced the amount of disruption the building of transportation facilities can cause.