State transportation planning conference heads to New Bern

This year’s North Carolina Association of Metropolitan Planning Organization annual conference will have a twin-riverfront view.

The conference scheduled for April 17-19 is to be held in the downtown New Bern Riverfront Convention Center at the confluence of the Neuse and Trent rivers.

It comes as highway projects appear to be happening at almost every turn in Craven County, though a study on flooding appears to be on the backburner because of funding challenges.

A Metropolitan Planning Organization, or MPO, is a transportation policymaking organization composed of local government representatives and governmental transportation authorities.

The 2024 state MPO conference theme is “Gridlock to Green Lanes Transforming Urban Transportation.”

“Emerging technology is transforming how planners identify and plan projects. Planning now for the future is imperative for successful integration and connectivity between all modes of transportation while maintaining continuing, cooperative, and comprehensive planning,” according to the association’s website.

The conference is presented by the New Bern Metropolitan Planning Organization, the North Carolina Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations, in cooperation with North Carolina Department of Transportation. Organizers said the conference “will attract a diverse range of transportation planning and engineering professionals,” including planning organizations, transportation, consultant firms, transit agencies, and other organizations.

Online registration closed March 20 but those interested can still register at the conference. Government, association and public sector cost is $450, and attendance is $550 for those in the private sector.

New Bern Area MPO Administrator Deanna Trebil told Coastal Review that the conference is an opportunity for elected officials, transit administrators, land use planners, public health professionals, students, and others to learn more about transportation.

Trebil explained that the Metropolitan Planning Organization in Craven County was established in 2013 as a result of the 2010 Census.

“The New Bern Area MPO is responsible for regional transportation planning for all modes of transportation within the urbanized area,” Trebil said. That area includes Trent Woods, River Bend, Bridgeton, New Bern and other parts of Craven County. “Most of our work is focused on long-term improvements.”

The creation of MPOs is required by federal law to ensure that existing and future expenditure of funds are based on a continuing, cooperative, and comprehensive transportation planning process, Trebil said.  The 1962 Federal Aid Highway Act mandated the formation of an MPO for any urban area with a population greater than 50,000.

“We use this philosophy when working on any plans or projects by encouraging public engagement and comment throughout the entire process,” said Trebil.

The town had planned to apply for a grant to conduct a New Bern rail corridor planning study. Trebil said it would supplement the city’s hazard mitigation and resiliency planning efforts and provide needed documentation of infrastructure that may be influencing flooding.

“In addition, it would identify the locations of culverts and other stormwater systems that could be better served by the incorporation of stormwater best-management practices and green infrastructure measures such as rain gardens, bioretention basins, or simple grassy swells,” she said.

The information gathered from this study would have been incorporated into the city’s geographic information system, or GIS, and utilized to develop strategies to eliminate flooding within the city and the adjacent residential communities immediately contiguous to the rail corridor.

“Initially, the city estimated the cost of the study at $200,000 with a federal grant that would fund about $150,000 of that,” she said.

The New Bern Board of Aldermen in November gave the go-ahead to apply for federal funding, but as staff worked to finalize the grant application, the revised project cost significantly increased. That resulted in the city’s decision not to apply.

Trebil explained Wednesday that staff continues work to improve stormwater runoff, as evidenced by the Henderson Park Project. She said the area was identified in New Bern’s Resiliency and Hazard Mitigation Plan as experiencing tidal flooding while susceptible to other floodplain hazards.

“Restoring the Duffyfield canal while also improving the recreational area will allow the neighborhood to truly enjoy this space. Engineering and design efforts are underway to implement the Board of Aldermen approved plan,” she added.

The plan is funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the North Carolina Land and Water Fund.

Trebil said that the New Bern Area Metropolitan Planning Organization has several opportunities for the public to get involved, including joining one of its committees that help guide activities and efforts.

The technical coordinating committee is made up of staff from member agencies as well as subject-matter specialists. The other committee, the transportation advisory committee, includes elected officials from member agencies. It serves as the organization’s policy board.

Projects underway

There are a handful of transportation projects going on in the area, according to the New Bern MPO website.

Work includes improvements to a 5.1 mile stretch of U.S. Highway 70 from east of Thurman Road to the Neuse River Bridge in James City.  Expected completion date is late this year.

Construction continues on the U.S. 70 Havelock bypass, beginning north of the Havelock city limit and extending south about 10 miles to north of the Craven-Carteret County line. Expected completion date is also late this year.

There’s also an ongoing effort to upgrade a 6-mile stretch of US 70 to interstate standards, the final connection from New Bern to the Havelock Bypass.

NCDOT proposes the final phase of improvements to N.C. 43 between U.S. 17 Business and existing N.C. 43, south of U.S. 70/U.S. 17 in Craven County. N.C. 43 will be a four-lane divided highway with a grass median. Construction is to begin next year.