NC Moves 2050 is a strategic transportation plan connecting communities across North Carolina. The plan is focused on creating a more responsive, diverse and inclusive transportation system for keeping people and freight moving safely and efficiently.
A million more people are predicted to move to North Carolina each decade through 2050 – two-thirds of whom will create a string of metropolitan areas along the I-85 corridor from Charlotte to Durham.
This growth pattern will increase congestion along I-85 and could reduce highway reliability, necessesitating more opportunities for multimodal travel options. Conversely, rural communities (such as areas east of I-95) will shrink in population, yet reliable, long-distance transportation networks and connections will still be critical to maintain their economic vitality.
These trends make this an opportune time to produce a bold, forward-looking transportation plan to guide investment policy and performance goals that will be proactive to the dynamic change on the horizon.
To develop the plan, the N.C. Department of Transportation conducted a two-year, multi-phased study that examined all aspects of North Carolina’s transportation system, collected data and information about its performance and anticipated challenges in the future, and
engaged the public to capture thoughts and ideas about the biggest challenges in the future.
The study informs research into the drivers and opportunities that will potentially shape and have an impact on how the state’s transportation system operates in the future. The research will be a factor in developing several potential alternative futures for the year 2050, while considering regional and statewide goals and challenges.
The study provides an implementation plan that aligns future needs and opportunities with infrastructure recommendations and transportation policies.