Missed our recent Centralina Learns session? We recap highlights, what planners need to know about Transportation Demand Management, and how Centralina is working to expand transportation choices for the region we serve.

The Centralina Clean Fuels Coalition (CCFC) is the designated Clean Cities Coalition for the greater Charlotte region through the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). This year saw CCFC redouble our efforts through a variety of innovative, collaborative projects. As 2022 draws to a close, let’s look back at the top five successes for clean, equitable transportation across the region over the last year.

Transportation choice – the ability to select from a variety of transportation modes to meet one’s daily needs – is critical to ensuring a high quality of life, access to opportunities, and economic vitality. How can our region enhance connectivity and accessibility through expanded transportation choices without breaking the bank on infrastructure investments? Transportation Demand Management is one proven strategy.

In March 2022, Centralina awarded the Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) Electric Vehicle (EV) Bus Fleet the Clean Cities Award. The CLT EV Bus Fleet provides sustainable solutions to employees, tenants, passengers, the local community and region.

The greater Charlotte region is nearing three million residents and is expected to add over one million more by 2045. To meet growing transportation challenges, Centralina adopted CONNECT Beyond’s regional mobility plan in October 2021. We want to acknowledge the one-year milestone and recognize all the work being done in the region to implement and move forward the plan’s recommendations. 

Mobility Hubs are places of connectivity where people can conveniently access multiple travel options. A mobility hub is a focal connection point and can signify a downtown, major activity center, transit station or stop location where multiple different mobility options meet up and allow a use to transfer from one mode to another.

Does Our Region Have an EV Infrastructure Plan? There is a flood of transportation-related funding coming to North Carolina thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). To assist our member communities, Centralina is developing resources that support planning and funding activities on a regional level. We are also working with the NCDOT to update state EV plans, such as the 2019 zero-emission vehicle plan, as mandated under the federal BIL and NC Executive Order 246.

On Thursday, Feb. 24th Centralina, along with project partners UNC Charlotte, the City of Charlotte and Duke Energy, unveiled the PoleVolt electric vehicle charging station at the Ritz at Washington Heights. The one-year pilot project is the culmination of a three-year collaboration between government, business, research and community.

Mobility is the driving force that shapes our community. As our region continues to grow, mobility will be one of the most critical factors that ensure everyone has access to reliable, efficient and well-connected transportation. Our 12-county community is nearing three million residents and is expected to add over one million more by 2045. This growth will continue to bring new opportunities as jobs and businesses set up shop in our cities and towns. But with this growth, we expect to see additional strain and usage of our existing private and public transit and mobility services.