New Releases

Draft Plan

The Draft 2040 Plan has been released. Please let us know what you think of the draft plan by taking our survey. You can also Contact Us and submit your comment by May 25, 2012. Detailed information about the plan contents are contained in the following technical reports below.

Survey

NCDOT has been soliciting public input on development of the 2040 Plan throughout the past year. The Spring 2011 survey focused on general ideas about the future of North Carolina's transportation infrastructure. The second survey, held in the Fall of 2011, asked the public to provide input on specific transportation and funding options. The final survey, which is currently available through May 25, 2012, requests your views regarding the priorities for the 2040 Plan. Please communicate your opinion by taking the survey online.

Fact Sheet

An updated 2040 Fact Sheet has been released communicating work completed, priorities identified and recommendations for North Carolina. Click Fact Sheet to download and review the full document.

Background

The previous update of NCDOT’s Statewide Transportation Plan in 2004 established targeted investments for maintaining, preserving, modernizing and expanding our transportation system. It also formally introduced the North Carolina Multimodal Investment Network (NCMIN), which set a framework for establishing the needs of each transportation type (mode), estimating the impacts of congestion within certain areas of the state, and allocating current and future funds. In addition, the concept of Strategic Highway Corridors (SHC) was developed, establishing a key network of roadways critical for statewide and/or regional mobility.

2040 Plan Goals

The 2040 Plan focuses on the policies and programs that are needed to enhance safety, improve mobility and reduce congestion for North Carolinians, as well as addresses all types (modes) of transportation for which NCDOT has responsibility: highways, aviation, ferries, rail, bicycling, walking, ports and public transit.

Key Goals of the 2040 Plan:

  • Establish a clear understanding of the challenges that will affect transportation in the future.
  • Update prior projections of future transportation funding needs and compare those needs to expected revenues to identify the funding gap.
  • Determine the performance standards that will be used to estimate needs.
  • Expand the Strategic Highway Corridors to fully encompass a multimodal transportation system that includes highways, passenger and freight rail, public transportation, bicyclists, aviation, ferries and pedestrians.
  • Look beyond the gas tax to establish a set of long-term financial strategies that recognize the likelihood that the gas tax will be insufficient as a primary source for funding future transportation projects.
  • Identify any opportunities that would support NCDOT’s long-range plans.
  • Clearly link North Carolina’s long-term transportation investment strategies to jobs, economic opportunities, and both environmental and financial sustainability.
  • Improve NCDOT’s program delivery processes to fully leverage relationships with its public and private partners.
Linking People & Places. Creating Quality of Life.

As you envision North Carolina's future, you likely picture many of the things true about our state today – a place with strong communities, a vibrant economy and beautiful natural assets enjoyed by all. We use transportation to connect us to people and places around the state, and to have the quality of life we want. The transportation decisions we make today can help us sustain this for future generations. The long-range transportation planning process focuses on identifying investment strategies that will ensure our state remains an attractive place for living, working and visiting – for you, your children and future generations.

How To Get Involved

Knowing which transportation needs North Carolina residents and visitors think will be necessary in the future, and which of those will be most critical is vital to the plan’s success, so we need your thoughts and ideas. Here are several ways you can help us plan the future of North Carolina’s transportation!

  • The third survey is currently available for public input. Please share your thoughts on 2040 Plan priorities by May 25, 2012.
  • Follow progress on the plan by checking this site for new information and postings.
  • Sign up to receive email notices about new postings and new activities for the 2040 Plan, or join our postal mailing list to receive copies of the 2040 Plan Fact Sheet updates by calling (919) 707-0963.
  • Ask NCDOT to make a presentation to your favorite local organization by calling (919) 707-0963.