The North Carolina Department of Transportation, Greater Hickory MPO and the Unifour RPO are developing a Comprehensive Transportation Plan to guide policy decisions on transportation issues for Alexander, Burke, Caldwell and Catawba Counties for the next twenty years.

The Greater Hickory Metropolitan Planning Organization and the Unifour Rural Planning Organization are also developing a Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) for Alexander, Burke, Caldwell and Catawba Counties along with their municipalities. The Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) is a federally required long-term planning document listing the transportation improvements and policies to be implemented in the MPO area.

The Plans provide an assessment of future area transportation needs, issues and recommendations, along with future transportation investment recommendations. The CTP and LRTP will be updated every four years and will cover at least the next twenty years into the future.

Three public meetings are scheduled for the following locations, dates and times:

• Morganton City Hall - 305 East Union Street – September 21st from 5pm – 7pm
• Lenoir City Hall – 801 West Avenue - September 22nd from 4pm – 6pm
• Western Piedmont COG – 736 4th Street, SW, Hickory - September 23rd from 5pm – 7pm

Citizen input is a component of the Plans being developed and updated by the regional transportation agencies. Transportation planners are seeking local opinions on the transportation plan that include highway, transit, rail, bicycle and pedestrian projects.

Staff from the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), Greater Hickory MPO and the Unifour RPO will be present to provide information and answer questions on transportation issues.

For more information please contact one of the following staff persons:

John Tippett                                           John Marshall
(828-485-4237)                                      (828-485-4232)
john.tippett@wpcog.org                           john.marshall@wpcog.org