Draft Alleghany County comprehensive transportation plan presented; adoption planned next month

Representatives from the North Carolina Department of Transportation, the High Country Rural Planning Organization and county staff presented a draft Alleghany County Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP) to the Board of Commissioners on Jan. 7.

The presenters said the year-long planning effort, guided by a local steering committee and public input, produced: three highway intersection improvement recommendations, four deviated fixed-route public-transportation recommendations, 25 pedestrian recommendations and four multi-use path recommendations. The draft core document contains maps, an executive summary, goals and a recommendations list; an appendix with data and supporting maps is still being completed.

Ruben (last name not provided), a staff member involved with the plan, said the draft is intended to position local governments to compete for project funding in the State Transportation Improvement Program and other grant programs. He told commissioners, “we’re not asking for approval at this time. This is where we’re at. We’re getting ready to button this study up.” The presenters said they plan to seek formal adoption by the Board of Commissioners and the Sparta town council next month, and an endorsement from the High Country RPO.

Commissioners asked about grant-readiness and the data sources used for population projections. Staff said the CTP uses a 2022 base year and a 2050 forecast year and that recent projections draw on a statewide travel model and a commercial demographic dataset (referred to in the presentation as Data Axle). Staff also said public comment received during a December outreach period was minimal.

The county will receive the finalized core document and appendix when the consultant completes the remaining appendix content and will schedule adoption and endorsement actions as described.