This broadcast of CoastLine originally aired on December 3, 2014.
As the populations of Brunswick, Pender, and New Hanover Counties continue to swell, accommodating the movement of people and goods requires much more creativity and innovation than just widening roads or building more of them.
In this edition of CoastLine, we explore how some transportation policy makers envision the future… and how the funding game is changing—at both the state and federal levels.
In-studio guests:
Two representatives from the Wilmington Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization. That’s the regional transportation planning agency for southeastern North Carolina – which includes New Hanover County and portions of Brunswick and Pender Counties. It’s this agency’s process that serves as the basis for the expenditure of all federal funds in the area for streets, highways, bridges, public transit, and bicycle and pedestrian facilities.
Laura Padgett is Chairperson of the Wilmington Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (WMPO) as well as a Wilmington City Council Member.
Pat Batleman is a member of the Leland Town Council, she is Leland’s Mayor Pro Tem, and she’s the Vice Chair of the WMPO.