Transportation Planning

Under North Carolina general statutes, Henderson County does not maintain any roads for public purpose.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) maintains the majority of public roads in the State. The state maintained road system in North Carolina includes over 79,000 miles of roadway. NCDOT conducts all planning, design and construction of roadways in Henderson County. NCDOT coordinates much of its transportation planning efforts for the County through the French Broad River Municipal Planning Organization (MPO). Henderson County is part of this MPO which includes Henderson, Buncombe and Haywood Counties and their municipalities. Henderson County, like all local governments in the MPO, participates in the preparation and prioritizing of project lists for the:

• Comprehensive Transportation Plan for French Broad River MPO and Rural Areas of Buncombe, Haywood and Henderson Counties, which serves as a vision for the future transportation system (adopted January 18, 2008);
• The Metropolitan Transportation Plan(MTP, previously known as LRTP) looks 25 years into the future and forecasts changes in the region and seeks to identify transportation improvements needed as well as how to pay for those improvements.
• Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) which lists projects proposed for the next seven (7) years.

Beyond the MPO process, Henderson County also works directly with NCDOT. County staff works with NCDOT district and local county engineers on projects within the County by providing feedback and keeping track of project progress. Janna Peterson and the Planning Director manage Apple Country Public Transit. Henderson County has an appointed Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC). The TAC is comprised mostly of local government MPO representatives who meet regularly to:

1. Discuss local transportation issues;
2. Receive updates from the NCDOT district engineer regarding progress on projects (Transportation Improvements Projects (TIP) and secondary road projects); and
3. Take input from the public regarding its concerns and issues related to transportation.
    

Take the Survey: Regional Transportation Project Priority

Please take the regional survey for future transportation projects and tell us about your priorities -- we want to know what is most important to you regarding our roads, greenways, sidewalks, and public transit! This process will help inform the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). North Carolina is currently in the process of prioritizing transportation projects (roads, sidewalks/greenways, public transit, & rail) and choosing which ones to commit available funding to.

Your opinion is vital to this process!