Wilmington MPO presents Cape Fear 2050 transportation plan; flags nearly $8 billion roadway shortfall

Beth King, a transportation planner with the Wilmington Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, presented the region—s long-range Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP), "Cape Fear Navigating Change 2050," and explained how the document relates to Pender County projects and priorities.

King said the MTP is a federally required, multimodal blueprint with a 25-year horizon; public outreach yielded more than 2,300 survey responses, 3,200 map comments and nearly 6,000 map pins. The plan includes ranked modal projects developed in coordination with member jurisdictions and a financial forecast intended to meet the federal fiscal-constraint requirement.

A key finding she highlighted: the region faces a projected $7.9 billion funding gap in unfunded priority roadway needs, plus nearly $3 billion in bicycle, pedestrian, ferry, rail and public-transportation needs. To address the gap, the board discussed alternative local funding mechanisms municipalities sometimes consider, such as a quarter-cent local option sales tax, vehicle registration fees or short-term rental taxes.

King also identified projects in Pender County that were submitted by county staff and are included in the plan's appendices. She urged continued Pender County engagement with WMPO project prioritization to increase chances of scoring projects into the State Transportation Improvement Program.

The board thanked WMPO staff and encouraged continued coordination, with commissioners noting Eastern Pender County project needs in particular.