Transportation Planning Process

Executive Order No. 2 (2009) required transportation projects to be awarded based on professional standards that meet the needs of citizens and not other considerations. To support this, NCDOT developed a "strategic prioritization process." The initial process focused primarily on highway projects and was based on data, multimodal benefits and stakeholder input inclusive of MPOs, rural planning organizations and NCDOT staff. After projects were categorized, a series of investment summits were held to determine funding allocation for each category using level-of-service grades. Then, other financial and scheduling constraints were applied, including restrictions on funding distribution. The initial prioritization effort was completed with the release of the draft State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) in June 2010. Executive Order No. 2 also transferred some authority of the Board of Transportation to NCDOT, so the roles of these entities are in transition.

Legislative Role in Transportation Planning

The General Assembly reviews transportation plans, and NCDOT submits regular reports to the Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee (N.C Gen. Stat. §136-12). The General Assembly also reviews the NCDOT budget as part of the appropriation process. NCDOT selects and approves highway projects, but transit and rail projects are approved as part of the appropriation process.