Gaston County’s 30-Year Transportation Plan: Your Input Is Needed!
By: Wise News Network Staff
Gaston County NC (WNN)- Gaston County officials want to know how you think local transportation should improve over the next three decades, and they’ve created a simple online survey to collect your thoughts.
The county launched a major planning effort Tuesday, The Multimodal Comprehensive Transportation Plan (MCTP), which will guide decisions about roads, public transit, bike lanes, and sidewalks for years to come.
What This Means For You
This transportation plan will directly affect how you and your family get around Gaston County and surrounding counties in the future.
It can determine which roads to widen or improve, where to add new sidewalks and crosswalks, how to expand bus routes, whether to develop bike lanes in your neighborhood and how to address traffic congestion near your home or workplace
How To Share Your Opinion
County officials have created a short, five-minute survey that anyone can complete online. The survey can be found by using this Link. The survey link is also available on the county’s official website, GastonGov.com, right on the homepage. Residents have from now until April 30, 2025, to submit their responses.
No special knowledge is needed to complete the survey โ officials simply want to know what transportation issues matter most to regular residents.
The survey first asks which county respondents live inโ Gaston, Cleveland, Lincoln, or “Other” with space to specify. Though led by Gaston County, input from neighboring residents is valuable as transportation networks cross county lines.
Why Your Input Matters
“This study is a crucial step towards creating a transportation system that is not only efficient and reliable but also inclusive and forward-thinking,” County Manager Matt Rhoten said. “We encourage all residents to participate and share their insights.”
Gaston County is seeking input from all residents, businesses, and stakeholders to ensure the Multimodal Comprehensive Transportation Plan reflects the community’s diverse needs.
What the Plan Will Address
The comprehensive transportation plan aims to solve several key challenges:
Growing Population Needs: Gaston County continues to attract new residents and businesses. The plan will ensure transportation systems can handle increased traffic and travel demands over the next 30 years.
Environmental Concerns: Transportation is a major source of pollution. The plan will explore greener options including improved public transit, electric vehicle infrastructure, and better facilities for walking and biking.
Connecting Communities: The plan will look at how different parts of Gaston County connect with each other and neighboring areas, including better access to Charlotte and surrounding counties.
Safety Improvements: Identifying dangerous intersections, confusing road layouts, and areas lacking proper sidewalks or crosswalks will be a priority.
Who’s Working on The Plan
This project involves multiple organizations: Gaston County government, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), the Gaston-Cleveland-Lincoln Metropolitan Planning Organization, and RS&H, a consulting firm based in Charlotte. Eventually, the findings and recommendations will be included in a final report that will guide future transportation projects and investments.
How to Learn More
If you’d like to know more about the Multimodal Comprehensive Transportation Plan, you can visit gastonctp.com or contact the County Manager’s office at (704) 866-3000.
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