Public Input Needed on Regional Transportation Projects

Have your say in shaping the future of transportation in Winston-Salem! The Winston-Salem Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is gathering input from the public on which Regional Impact transportation projects to prioritize.

July 1, 2024

Background

The Winston-Salem Urban Area MPO has 35 projects listed for potential funding from the 2026-2035 State Transportation Improvement Program. Some of these projects include:

• Upgrading rail infrastructure to support a new intercity passenger service from Winston-Salem to Greensboro (which would then connect to Raleigh)
• Constructing the western section of the Winston-Salem Northern Beltway
• Expanding US 52 to six lanes

How to Share Input

Tell the Winston-Salem Urban Area MPO which ones are most important to you. Individuals can share their input in one of three ways.

• The Public Comment Tool: This online tool has the 35 project locations marked on a map of Winston-Salem. Using this tool, individuals can place a green or red flag on a project to indicate approval or disapproval for prioritizing the project. Individuals can also leave comments about a project. The team at The Go-To recommends using a desktop computer instead of a smartphone when accessing this tool.
• The Survey: This online survey allows individuals to specify which projects they approve of and why in a free-form response box. When accessing the survey, select “Local Input Point Assignment for Regional Impact Projects in Prioritization 7.0.”
• Communicate: Individuals can email Hunter Staszak at [email protected] with their input or mail a letter to Winston-Salem DOT ATTN: Hunter Staszak PO Box 2511, Winston-Salem, NC 27102.

Why Input Matters

Your input will influence the future of transportation in our city! The MPO will use feedback from the public to allocate “points” to specific projects. The more points a project receives, the more likely it is to be funded.

Timeline

Individuals can share their input using any of the methods listed above by Monday, July 15. The Transportation Advisory Committee will vote on the final allocation of points in a virtual meeting on Thursday, July 18.

Potential Questions

Where are the bike/pedestrian projects? The projects listed are only rail and highway projects considered significant to the region. Smaller projects such as bike lanes and sidewalks, known as “Division Needs” projects, will be considered in Fall 2024.

Why aren’t existing projects being completed first? The projects being considered are state-funded. Incomplete projects like Meadowlark Drive are city-funded and handled separately from those receiving input.