The Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP) outlines a community’s long-term vision for the evolution of its transportation network to serve residents and employers in a growing region. It encompasses multiple modes of transportation, including highways, pedestrian facilities, bicycle facilities, public transportation, and rail, ensuring a broad range of transportation choices. By assessing the condition of the entire transportation network, the CTP provides a framework for local and regional transportation planning efforts.

The CTP offers a comprehensive inventory of an evolving multi-modal transportation network, supporting Gaston-Cleveland-Lincoln Metropolitan Planning Organization (GCLMPO) and its local partners in meeting the needs of a growing and diversifying population. While it does not include specific transportation projects or improvement schedules, it represents the overall status and completeness of the transportation system required to support anticipated growth and development.

Local jurisdictions in the GCLMPO region assess the completeness of each highway, pedestrian, bike, or public transportation segment based on local plans, policies, and future expectations.

Segments are categorized as existing, needs improvement, or recommended.

• Existing: These segments are already in place and functioning as intended. They meet current standards and serve the community’s needs effectively.
• Needs Improvement: These segments are operational but require upgrades or enhancements to meet current or future demands. This could involve widening roads, adding sidewalks, improving bike lanes, or increasing public transportation services.
• Recommended: These segments are proposed for future development based on anticipated growth and community needs. They are not yet built but are included in the plan to ensure a comprehensive and connected transportation network in the future.

Gaston County in coordination with the Gaston-Cleveland-Lincoln Metropolitan Planning Organization (GCLMPO) and the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is developing the CTP this time around.

A Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP) typically includes the following modes of transportation:

Highways and Streets: Roadways for cars, trucks, and other motor vehicles.

Pedestrian Facilities: Sidewalks, trails, and crosswalks for walking.

Bicycle Facilities: Bike lanes, bike paths, and bike-sharing programs.

Public Transportation: Buses, trams, subways, and other forms of mass transit.

Rail: Passenger and freight rail services.

The Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP) is a crucial tool in planning for a community’s transportation needs. Here’s how it’s used:

Guiding Future Projects: The CTP helps identify and prioritize transportation projects, ensuring that resources are allocated to the most critical areas.

Integrating Land Use and Transportation: It provides a framework for coordinating transportation planning with land use decisions, promoting sustainable growth and development.

Assessing Current and Future Needs: By evaluating the existing transportation network and projecting future demands, the CTP helps planners address current deficiencies and anticipate future needs.

Supporting Funding Applications: The CTP can be used to justify funding requests for transportation projects, demonstrating the need and planned improvements to potential funders.

Engaging the Community: It serves as a communication tool to involve residents and stakeholders in the planning process, ensuring that the transportation network meets the community’s needs and preferences.

Overall, the CTP is essential for creating a well-connected, efficient, and sustainable transportation system.

The Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP) is typically updated every 5 to 10 years. This allows the plan to reflect changing conditions, new data, and evolving community needs. Regular updates ensure that the CTP remains relevant and effective in guiding transportation planning and development.

In a Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP), the information shown for each mode of transportation typically includes:

Highways and Streets: Current Road conditions and capacities, planned expansions or improvements, and traffic flow and congestion data.

Pedestrian Facilities: Existing sidewalks, trails, and crosswalks, areas needing new or improved pedestrian infrastructure, and safety and accessibility features.

Bicycle Facilities: Current bike lanes, paths, bike-sharing stations, proposed new bike routes and improvements, and connectivity with other transportation modes.

Public Transportation: Existing bus, tram, commuter rail routes, planned expansions or new services, and ridership data and service frequency.

Rail: Current passenger and freight rail lines, proposed new rail services or upgrades, and integration with other transportation modes.

This information helps planners, and the community understand the current state of the transportation network and identify areas for future development and improvement.

The Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP) significantly impacts local development in several ways:

Guiding Land Use Decisions: The CTP provides a framework for integrating transportation planning with land use, ensuring that new developments are well-connected to the transportation network. This promotes sustainable growth and efficient use of land.

Prioritizing Infrastructure Investments: By identifying transportation needs and priorities, the CTP helps local governments allocate resources effectively. This ensures that infrastructure improvements support planned development and enhance connectivity.

Enhancing Accessibility: The CTP aims to improve access to various modes of transportation, making it easier for residents to reach jobs, schools, and services. This can attract new businesses and residents to the area.

Supporting Economic Growth: A well-planned transportation network can boost economic development by improving the movement of goods and people. This can lead to increased investment and job creation in the community.

Improving Quality of Life: By promoting a balanced transportation system that includes walking, biking, and public transit, the CTP can enhance the overall quality of life. It encourages healthier lifestyles and reduces traffic congestion and pollution.

Overall, the CTP plays a crucial role in shaping the future development of a community, ensuring that growth is well-planned and sustainable.

Changes to the Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP) are made through a coordinated and collaborative process involving several steps:

Assessment and Review: Local jurisdictions and regional planning organizations regularly assess the current transportation network and identify areas needing updates or improvements based on new data, community feedback, and changing conditions.

Public Involvement: Community input is crucial in the update process. Public meetings, surveys, and workshops are held to gather feedback from residents, businesses, and other stakeholders about their transportation needs and priorities.

Drafting Revisions: Based on the assessment and public input, planners draft proposed changes to the CTP. This may include new projects, modifications to existing plans, or updates to reflect new policies and goals.

Review and Approval: The draft revisions are reviewed by local and regional planning bodies, such as city councils, planning commissions, and transportation boards. These bodies evaluate the proposed changes and may suggest further modifications.

Adoption: Once the revisions are finalized, they are formally adopted by the relevant governing bodies. This makes the changes official and integrates them into the CTP.

Implementation: After adoption, the updated CTP guides future transportation planning and project development, ensuring that the transportation network evolves to meet the community’s needs.

This process ensures that the CTP remains a dynamic and responsive tool for guiding transportation planning and development.

A Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP) offers several key benefits:

Improved Connectivity: By planning for a well-integrated transportation network, the CTP ensures that different modes of transportation are connected, making it easier for people to move around the community.

Sustainable Growth: The CTP promotes sustainable development by aligning transportation planning with land use, reducing sprawl, and encouraging more efficient use of resources.

Enhanced Quality of Life: A balanced transportation system that includes walking, biking, and public transit options can improve residents’ quality of life by promoting healthier lifestyles and reducing traffic congestion and pollution.

Economic Development: A robust transportation network supports economic growth by improving access to jobs, services, and markets, attracting businesses and investments to the area.

Safety and Accessibility: The CTP aims to improve safety for all users, including pedestrians and cyclists, and enhance accessibility for people of all ages and abilities.

Informed Decision-Making: By providing a comprehensive framework for transportation planning, the CTP helps local governments make informed decisions about future projects and investments.

Overall, the CTP is a vital tool for creating a well-connected, efficient, and sustainable transportation system that meets the needs of a growing and diverse population.

You can find more information about your community’s Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP) on the website of your local or regional planning organization. This might be your city’s planning department, metropolitan planning organization (MPO), or regional transportation authority. They typically provide detailed information, maps, and updates about the CTP.

If you live in Gastonia, you might want to check the Gaston-Cleveland-Lincoln Metropolitan Planning Organization (GCLMPO) website for specific details about the CTP in your area.