To keep up with the needs of commuters, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has increased their use of digital advancements. The NCDOT is actively executing two initiatives to meet the needs of the traveling public, NC Moves 2050 and virtual public involvement (VPI). NC Moves 2050 is a four-phase reconstruction plan designed to make the state more adaptable to change, while VPI allows the state to increase their use of digital outreach techniques through the integration of virtual three-dimensional [3D] construction project presentations.
NC Moves 2050
North Carolina’s population is expected to grow from 10 million to 14 million by 2050, and the North Carolina Department of Transportation has a collective understanding that North Carolina’s transportation system needs to evolve as the state continues to grow.
Adopted in February 2022 by the North Carolina Board of Transportation, the NC Moves 2050 plan focuses on constructing a more adaptable, diverse, and integrated transportation system. The NCDOT is committed to constructing a system built on sustainability and resilience, with a key objective of keeping people and cargo moving safely and efficiently throughout the state.
To assist with accurate progression timelines and collective accountability, NCDOT created the NC Moves 2050 Implementation Performance Scorecard. Each Tier 1 action has been assigned to a departmental lead by NCDOT. The departmental leaders will oversee and assist in advancing the work that is needed to drive the action goals forward. A variety of internal and external partners will aid the lead with the implementation process.
Leads will also update the NC Moves 2050 Implementation Advisory Group on their team’s progress. The group is composed of leaders of NCDOT’s federal, state, and regional transportation partners.
Virtual Public Involvement (VPI)
Highlighted in Issue 92 of the Federal Highway Administration’s bi-monthly innovation newsletter, the NCDOT has increased the use of online tools to offer a three-dimensional (3D) picture of planned projects. Using 3D technology is part of their virtual public interaction strategy. To provide an interactive opportunity to view the preliminary design for the Kinston Bypass project, NCDOT created a 3D virtual room.
The online room resembles a NCDOT public meeting. The map of the proposed project, a fly-through video of the future bypass, 30-second movies at each interchange, and project diagrams for each section, may all be viewed by visitors inside the virtual room.
NCDOT intends to keep using 3D technology and other virtual outreach methods for upcoming projects, according to a news release from the department.
Sources: FHWA, NCDOT
