Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transportation Planning topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Western Piedmont MPO gives Burke County overview of regional transportation priorities
Summary
Avery Ritchie of the Western Piedmont Council of Governments briefed Burke County commissioners on MPO roles, project prioritization, multi‑modal funded projects and the ongoing passenger‑rail planning between Asheville and Salisbury.
A regional transportation planning manager told Burke County commissioners on Tuesday that the Western Piedmont Council of Governments and the Greater Hickory Metropolitan Planning Organization are working on several projects that could affect local roads, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, and future passenger rail.
Avery Ritchie, transportation planning manager for the Greater Hickory MPO and the Western Piedmont Council of Governments, outlined MPO responsibilities under federal law, regular planning documents, and the MPO’s prioritization submittal system used every two years to nominate projects for North Carolina Department of Transportation funding. She said the MPO seeks to include bicycle and pedestrian facilities in highway projects where feasible and noted funding programs across modes: highway, bike/ped, rail and aviation.
Ritchie described funded projects in the State Transportation Improvement Program, including right‑of‑way and construction timing for projects at Exit 118, current flex transit routes in Morganton and a surrounding micro‑transit service area, and long‑range plan recommendations that are not guaranteedly funded. She also summarized the status of passenger‑rail planning for a corridor between Asheville and Salisbury, noting only a small phase of the project is funded at present and additional phases remain under study.
The presentation was offered as an overview and the presenter said she could shorten or expand material at the board’s request; commissioners did not engage in extended Q&A during the pre‑agenda session. The transportation briefing will remain on the regular agenda for a fuller session.
Ritchie asked commissioners whether to shorten parts of the presentation at the subsequent regular meeting and said she welcomes questions and suggested that several new TAC (Transportation Advisory Committee) members from Burke County would benefit from the overview.
No formal action was taken during the pre‑agenda session.
