WMPO annual report highlights funding tools and explores options to close Cape Fear Memorial Bridge gap

Mike Keslowski presented the Wilmington Metropolitan Planning Organization’s annual report and told council the MPO is the federally required regional planning body for the urbanized area. He outlined the MPO’s responsibilities — a fiscally constrained metropolitan transportation plan, a congestion management process, and administration of the direct attributable program that distributes roughly $5–6 million annually to member jurisdictions.

Keslowski described board actions and planning work, including the 20‑year Capefir Navigating Change long‑range plan and a regional IT and ITS strategic plan. He said the MPO recently removed the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge extension from its 2026–2035 STIP list while keeping it in the long‑range plan to preserve the project’s importance.

On funding for a replacement, Keslowski said the math leaves a substantial shortfall: "the cost is over a billion. The funding that's available is about $327 million." He said the MPO established an alternative funding subcommittee that evaluated options in the long‑range plan and recommended exploring a local option sales tax — an approach that would require a referendum of local voters — plus partnerships with neighboring counties to share costs.

Keslowski also described an unsolicited private proposal to replace the bridge that NCDOT reviewed; MPO staff determined the proposal's terms were not more favorable than what was already in the STIP. Council members pressed staff on timing and engagement; Council Member Santaita announced public hearings by NCDOT on Sept. 14 in Wilmington and Sept. 15 in Leland. No formal action was taken by council on the MPO recommendations during the meeting.