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Globally Connected

Imagine living in a world where significant economic activity creates a variety of jobs and starts new businesses and industries in more places. This opens up new ways to buy and sell products. Machines produce parts in minutes – not days – and those parts get to where they need to go faster. Small trucks and drones frequent your neighborhood to pick up and drop off packages, and larger trucks, trains and planes use less fuel but carry more goods longer distances. High-speed communication allows companies and individuals to collaborate more closely, share space, receive cutting edge training and make on-demand services commonplace.

In this future, North Carolina is recognized around the world as an attractive place to live and conduct business.

Click on the following places to learn more about what the future may look like in each area.

Path to 2050

Move into the Globally Connected future by selecting the button below.

2020

  • E-commerce is allowing more North Carolinian companies and shoppers to order and receive products from businesses around the world.
  • Companies like Amazon are locating warehouses, creating more local jobs and increasing the need for cargo capacity.
Amazon Warehouse

2030

  • Population growth and increased travel are expected demand nearly $110 billion dollars in statewide transportation needs by 2030. Additional investments in highway capacity and stronger, longer lasting bridges and pavement make up almost one-third of this estimate.
  • However, if the growth and dispersion of goods increases faster than expected, North Carolina’s transportation system may require more new lanes, more durable pavement and bridges and experience greater activity at air, sea and inland ports.
  • Such a scenario could result in up to a 20 percent increase in anticipated transportation needs through 2030. This scenario would require strengthening North Carolina’s pavement and bridges and making critical last-mile transportation connections between ports and concentrated locations of businesses and industrial centers.

2030

If this globally connected environment is realized in the next 10 years, what choices would you make differently from today?

How would more convenient, affordable and environmentally friendly transportation options influence those choices?

2050

  • Local production and manufacturing processes are optimized and interconnected such as parts and goods produced through 3D printing.
  • There is a substantial focus on international trade, resulting in more demand for efficient, seamless transportation options and connections within and between regions.
  • Vehicle miles traveled increases by 30 percent in relation to total travel activity, a result of an expanded, more diverse economy. While congestion remains mostly during peak travel hours for North Carolina’s largest cities, there are less bottlenecks in the system due to a more operationally efficient network.
  • By 2050, the state’s transportation needs are significantly higher than 2030 due to the intense volume, frequency and continuous movement of goods across North Carolina.

2050

If this globally connected environment is realized by 2050, what choices would you make differently from today?

How would your choices be influenced by fast moving services and transportation options?

Do you think this future may take longer to realize, and would the transportation system be resilient enough to provide reliable, efficient connections that support North Carolina’s robust economy?

Globally Connected
Strategies & Actions

To prepare for this potential future, the NC Moves 2050 Plan proposes a set of objectives, strategies and actions that aim to provide a responsive, diverse and inclusive transportation system.

Objectives – Overarching investment strategies and policy themes to address multiple needs.

Strategies – Guiding principles to carry out the objectives consistent with NCDOT goals, executive priorities, and NC Moves 2050 goals.

Actions – Specific planning, policy, and partnership recommendations to prepare North Carolina's transportation system for future change. Each action will be implemented in one of three tiers, based on the readiness, risk, resources and partnerships for each action. Tier 1 actions will be fully implemented in the next ten year and are already being implemented, have planning or strategy development underway, require minor resources, and follow commitment with recent plans. Tier 2 actions focus on the next 20 years until 2040. Tier 3 actions look even further out to the next 30 years until 2050.

Click on each objective to learn about the strategies and actions that NCDOT will take to address the Globally Connected Future.

Implementation of NC Moves 2050

NCDOT is working closely with partners and stakeholders to identify resources and staff support that will make these actions real and effective. As with any planning endeavor, these changes will not occur overnight but require steady, disciplined progress and accountability to achieve and realize results.

Click here to learn more about the Implementation Plan for NC Moves 2050

2/15/2021 11:55 AM