Agenda - 05-13-2010 - 3 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Attachment 1(b) 6 STRATEGIC HIGHWAY CORRIDORS REFERENCE NC 86 is designated a Strategic Highway Corridor by the North Carolina Board of Transportation (BOT). The BOT adopted the Strategic Highway Corridors (SHC) initiative on September 2, 2004 as a part of the Statewide Transportation Plan. The purpose of the SHC initiative is to provide a network of high-speed, safe, reliable highways throughout North Carolina for the efficient movement of people and goods. These Corridors are critical to statewide mobility and connectivity and promote a vision of modern transportation, supportive of economic opportunities, and environmental excellence. The initiative offers NCDOT and its stakeholders an opportunity to consider long-term vision when making land use decisions and design and operational decisions on the highway system. The creation of a long-term vision identifies the ultimate desired facility type (freeway, expressway, boulevard, or thoroughfare) for each corridor. Following adoption by the BOT, the Secretaries from the North Carolina Department of Transportation, Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Commerce, along with the Governor, signed the Strategic Highway Corridors Policy Statement. This statement promotes a partnership between the three agencies to meet the goals of the SHC initiative as described above. Additional information on the SHC initiative is located at www.ncdot.org/~shc. The Strategic Highway Corridors were designated using adata-driven approach, supplemented by historical information and input from other agencies and the public, primarily through a series of regional forums. One or more of the following primary criteria characterizes the designation of the corridors: ^ Mobility. This criterion focuses on whether a corridor currently serves or has the potential to expeditiously move a high volume of traffic. These include facilities that are vital to the state's and/or region's interest and serves long-distance and/or regional travel, whose users may be long haul trucks, tourists, and/or motorists passing through a region. Connectivity. This criterion focuses on whether a corridor provides a vital connection between Activity Centers. Activity Centers are defined as destinations, encompassing statewide, regional, and places just outside of North Carolina's borders that serve the state's citizens. These centers are the starting and/or ending point for the movement of people and goods and include the following: • Urban Areas with a Population of 20,000 or greater • State Seaports • Major Airports • Major Intermodal Terminals • Major Military Bases • University of North Carolina System Campuses ;.