Impact 704 Academy: Transportation Choices

On Thursday, several dozen folks gathered for Impact 704 Academy: Transportation Choices, the last of three-part series that helps residents build the skills, knowledge, and relationships to advocate successfully.

This week’s event featured presentations from Charlie Jones, Deputy Director at Charlotte Department of Transportation (CDOT), and Andy Mock, Senior Project Manager at Charlotte Area Transportation System (CATS), both of whom spoke about how the city is planning to meet the mobility needs of our growing population and ways you can get involved. 

Jones spoke about safe and equitable mobility options for the Charlotte area, beginning with the policy framework set forth by the Charlotte Future 2040 Comprehensive Plan. 

To effectively implement the mobility goals outlined in the Strategic Mobility Plan, we needed to change the methods we have used for years to deliver mobility projects,” Jones said. This started with identifying mobility needs throughout Charlotte by using the data, such as gaps in bicycle and sidewalk networks and intersections with capacity constraints. This information was used to identify broad areas where projects could be grouped to achieve mobility goals.  We are calling these Strategic Investment Areas or SIAs.”

An interdepartmental team to focus on project delivery in two SIAs: Arrowood and Harrisburg.  To further the work of the Strategic Investment area program, $55M was included in the bond referendum that voters approved in November.  In addition to the SIA funding, many other mobility focused programs were funded at significant levels.

This new program is also informing how other programs and projects are completed regardless of whether or not the area is part of a SIA.  

Check out CDOT’s presentation.

Mock began with an explanation of CATS’ transit plan update, which is meant to weave together the city’s transit vision for bus and rail into a balanced plan of transit service and investment. The overarching goals are reliability and rail for all. 

The update process has begun with an engagement strategy, during which the public can weigh on what’s important to them. The next steps will be to develop potential approaches and then involve the Metropolitan Transit Commission to formalize the plan and begin implementation. 

Learn more about CATS’ transit system plan update and take the survey today. 

Check out the CATS transit plan presentation. 

Thank you to everyone who participated in our Impact 704 Academy this year. We hope that you better understand smart growth and feel equipped to advocate for the policies that will ensure a sustainable future for the Charlotte area! 

Couldn’t make the third session? Watch a replay! 

Thanks for reading!

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