North Carolina Transportation Network and Strategic Transportation Corridors Framework AUGUST 2015 THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK Table of Contents Table of Contents ................................................................................................................................................... i Executive Summary .......................................................................................................................................... ES-1 1. Overview ........................................................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Background ........................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Report Purpose and Organization......................................................................................................... 1 1.3 Context and Purpose............................................................................................................................. 2 1.4 Public Input Opportunities .................................................................................................................... 3 2. NC Transportation Network: Structure and Mobility Definitions ................................................................. 5 3. Strategic Transportation Corridors: Vision, Goals, Objectives, and Performance Measures........................ 9 3.1 Vision, Goals and Objectives ................................................................................................................. 9 3.2 Strategic Transportation Corridor Performance Measures .................................................................. 9 4. Strategic Transportation Corridor Identification Process ............................................................................ 13 4.1 Corridor Identification Criteria............................................................................................................ 13 4.2 Corridor Criteria Application ............................................................................................................... 14 5. Strategic Transportation Corridors and Policy Foundation ......................................................................... 19 5.1 Recommended STC Network .............................................................................................................. 19 5.2 STC Profiles ......................................................................................................................................... 20 5.3 STC Policy ............................................................................................................................................ 23 5.4 STC Amendment Process .................................................................................................................... 23 5.4.1 Regular Update of the STC Policy and Network .............................................................................. 23 5.4.2 Revisions of the STC Network by Petition ....................................................................................... 27 5.4.3 Revision Request Procedures .......................................................................................................... 28 5.4.4 STC Administration ......................................................................................................................... 29 6. Application of NCTN and the STC Network Framework .............................................................................. 31 6.1 STC Master Plans ................................................................................................................................. 31 6.1.1 Master Plan Process ........................................................................................................................... 32 6.1.2 Potential Master Plan Implementation Strategies and Tools............................................................. 33 6.2 Sub-Corridor Alternatives Studies ...................................................................................................... 34 6.2.1 Essential Sub-corridor Study Elements ............................................................................................... 35 Page i 6.2.2 Optional Elements .............................................................................................................................. 38 6.2.3 Study Cost and Funding ...................................................................................................................... 39 6.3 Comprehensive Transportation Plans ................................................................................................. 40 6.4 Additional STC and NCTN Applications ............................................................................................... 40 6.4.1 Corridor Preservation ......................................................................................................................... 40 6.4.2 Access Management and Traffic Operations .................................................................................. 41 6.4.3 Land Use Planning ........................................................................................................................... 43 Appendix A: Corridor Identification Process ..................................................................................................... A-1 Appendix B-1: Activity Center Stratification ......................................................................................................B-1 Appendix B-2: Logistics Villages Preparedness and Economic Sector Participation Ratings .............................B-6 Appendix C: Strategic Transportation Corridor Profiles .................................................................................... C-1 List of Figures Figure 1: STC System Connectivity Elements ...................................................................................................... 16 Figure 2: STC Passenger and Freight Mobility Elements ..................................................................................... 17 Figure 3: STC Economic Prosperity Elements ..................................................................................................... 18 Figure 4: Strategic Transportation Corridors ...................................................................................................... 21 Figure 5: North Carolina STC Policy .................................................................................................................... 24 List of Tables Table 1: North Carolina Transportation Network Mobility Definitions ................................................................ 6 Table 2: Strategic Transportation Corridor Goals and Objectives ...................................................................... 10 Table 3: Potential STC Performance Measures .................................................................................................. 11 Table 4: STC Identification Criteria ..................................................................................................................... 14 Table 5: NC Strategic Transportation Corridors .................................................................................................. 22 Page ii THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK North Carolina Transportation Network and Strategic Transportation Corridors Framework Executive Summary The NCDOT has identified a network of key multimodal transportation corridors – called Strategic Transportation Corridors (STC) – that can support smart planning, help to set long-term investment decisions, and ensure that North Carolina’s economic prosperity goals are achieved. Complementing that effort, the Department has developed the North Carolina Transportation Network (NCTN), to define more clearly and consistently the role that all elements of the state’s transportation system play in providing for personal and freight mobility and land access services. The STC is intended to ensure transportation system connectivity, provide high levels of mobility, and improve access to important state and regional activity centers throughout the state. The NCTN builds upon the NC Multimodal Investment Network (NCMIN) developed in 2004 and is envisioned to be a tool to aid long-range transportation planning throughout North Carolina. In updating these planning tools to guide and support transportation investment decision-making, NCDOT seeks to provide long-term direction to the innovative Strategic Transportation Investment funding program established in 2013 and to support Governor McCrory’s 25-Year Vision for North Carolina. The North Carolina Transportation Network and Strategic Transportation Corridors Framework report documents the STC and NCTN development process and identifies policies and procedures by which these two planning tools will be implemented. The report is organized to present the following information: NCTN structure and mobility definitions STC vision, goals and objectives, and performance measures STC identification process and application STC network and policy, and STC and NCTN applications NC Transportation Network NC Transportation Network is itself a framework for defining the role of various elements of the state’s transportation system in providing varying levels of mobility and land