The Sandhills Metropolitan Planning Organization (SMPO) is narrowing its transportation priorities as it prepares to put a new Metropolitan Transportation Plan out for public comment next month.
At its Oct. 7 meeting, the SMPO’s Technical Coordinating Committee reviewed three alternatives for the long-range plan, which must be adopted in December. Members ultimately approved a revised version of the first alternative that adds several projects while removing a proposed interchange project.
The revised alternative removes the previously proposed U.S.15/501- Morganton Interchange project and adds:
• I-32, involving Airport Road and McCrimmon Road.
• Modernization along N.C. 22 from Pee Dee Road to Aviation Drive.
• Modernization continuing along N.C. 22 from Pee Dee Road to N.C. 2.
• I-05, an intersection improvement at N.C. 2 and Pee Dee Road.
The committee approved the revised alternative unanimously.
Members discussed the need to prioritize projects that address major regional transportation needs while recognizing that project schedules and funding priorities can change as the plan is updated.
However, funding remains a major concern. The SMPO received four projects through the regional-impact portion of the state’s prioritization process, but the outlook is less favorable for projects competing at the Division 8 level, which includes multiple other counties and the city of Charlotte.
SMPO members said the division’s available funding deficit has grown from about $21 million to $48 million. Because the state overprograms the State Transportation Improvement Program by about 10%, some projects could still receive funding, but the SMPO must compete for the limited dollars.
The SMPO has 1,200 points available to distribute among projects. Members discussed simplifying the process by concentrating points on the highest-scoring projects rather than strictly following a previously approved formula.
Board members also noted that the Carthage Bypass is scoring competitively among Division 8 projects.
The SMPO expects to release the draft Metropolitan Transportation Plan for public comment at the beginning of November. A 14-day public comment period will follow, with final adoption scheduled for December.
In other business, it was reported that the contract for the regional bicycle and pedestrian master plan has been signed. A steering committee meeting is expected later this month or in early November, with the study expected to take about a year.
Abegail Murphy | Assistant Editor
Article and photo by Sandhills Sentinel assistant editor Abegail Murphy. Abegail has been writing for Sandhills Sentinel since 2021.
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