Mobility is a challenge for each of our counties, cities, towns and communities. New developments are approved every day that drive increased interest in local businesses and attractions, and on top of that, our region is home to the fifth hottest real estate market in the country. This growth can be a good thing, but it can also present many challenges for transportation infrastructure and our overall ability to get around.
Your community has likely experienced this strain first-hand and local governments and transportation planning organizations have identified projects to alleviate congestion and provide alternative transportation options. However, transportation projects can take years to get underway and require massive funding. On top of that, some transportation projects are yours alone while others may require approval from transportation planning organizations or from the federal government. The process is difficult, especially for municipalities with limited resources.
To meet these challenges, Centralina has formed the Integrated Mobility Center (IMC) to serve as a regional hub for technical assistance, regional coordination and knowledge sharing to meet the needs of our region and communities. The US DOT Build America Bureau has identified Centralina as a key partner to facilitate regional projects and provide resources to help communities plan for increased accessibility. Any local government in the Centralina region can call on IMC for help. We’ll put you at the table with other key transportation players and facilitate conversations that bring to light shared challenges, create universally beneficial solutions and help make mobility planning more intentional in your community. Utilizing IMC’s collaborative approach, you’ll be able to keep up with growth while planning for transportation instead of playing catch-up.
Recently, IMC was able to facilitate a discussion regarding future passenger rail corridors in the region. Staff brought together representatives from four transportation planning organizations to develop a list of concerns and questions for the NCDOT Rail Division. This allowed NCDOT to provide the same information to all organizations at once so that local staff could discuss these concerns with their elected officials. Breaking down information silos in this way ensures that no jurisdiction is left in the dark and that important planning details don’t fall through the cracks.
InFY25,Centralina Learns will highlight IMC successes and outline strategies for integrating local land use and mobility, so stay tuned for this year’s event calendar.
