Plans, Reports and additional Resources

Plans, Reports and additional Resources

Bicycle Master Plan (Charlotte BIKES)

Charlotte WALKS - Adopted February 2017

Transportation Action Plan (TAP) - Adopted February 2017

Center City Transportation Plan

Urban Street Design Guidelines (USDG)

    »USDG Updates and Related News

Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization (CRTPO):

    »CRTPO - 2040 Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) Adopted April, 2014

    »CRTPO State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) FY16-25

​Charlotte has long been an important transportation and rail hub in the southeastern United States. It is integral not only to the rail network in North Carolina for the movement of goods, but to the nation as well.​ View the projects update here: Charlotte Railroad Projects Update

CDOT maintains a Traffic Count Program for traffic volume counts on thoroughfares and some non-thoroughfares within the Charlotte city limits. 

Each thoroughfare is on a two-year rotation for counts unless the road falls under a special need to be re-counted. Such a special need might be for the opening of a new road where a count may be performed before the opening and after the opening, in order to achieve a comparison of the traffic volumes or a new accurate count. Most non-thoroughfare counts are performed for special projects, i.e. traffic calming and new sidewalks.

The counts are AAWT's, the Average Weekday Traffic Volumes (Monday - Friday; no weekends). Thoroughfare counts are taken as a 48-hour count and averaged between the two days to arrive at a 24-hour count. This avoids counting the traffic only once on a particularly busy day or a particularly slow day, (long weekend, special weekday event, etc.). Non-thoroughfare counts are taken for a 24-hour period, on school days only unless it is determined by staff that school traffic does not influence the street's traffic volume. 
The count tubes are also placed approximately 200 feet away from an intersection to avoid cars waiting to enter into the intersection.  This allows for a more accurate count.
NCDOT maintains traffic counts that are outside the City of Charlotte limits. Visit the NCDOT travel link if you would like to request these counts.

 

 

CDOT periodically conducts a statistically valid household opinion survey about transportation-related issues in Charlotte. The survey information is used to inform citizens, elected officials and staff about the City’s transportation challenges and opportunities. For example, data from the 2016 survey are being used to inform the Transportation Action Plan update and the Charlotte WALKS and Charlotte BIKES plans.

Questions cover a variety of topics including residents’ opinions about:

  • Existing driving conditions
  • Possible solutions to congestion
  • Priorities for public sector actions
  • Growth management
  • Pedestrian and bicycle travel
  • Funding road construction and maintenance
  • Speeding and safety

The most recent surveys are available for download below. Previous surveys are available upon request.

Staff Resource: Keith Sorensen

2016 Transportation Survey.pdf

2014 Transportation Survey.pdf

2012 Transportation Survey.pdf

        

​CDOT's evaluation of proposed developments includes consideration of the transportation network connectivity, circulation, operations, safety, multi-modal accommodation, compliance with adopted transportation plans and policies, compatibility with other projects, and access management. Traffic Impact Studies (TIS) are a tool used to evaluate a proposed development's impacts on the transportation system operations and safety. While typically used to evaluate rezoning petitions, a traffic impact study may be requested by CDOT to help evaluate by-right development as well.

Process and Guidelines

TIS Scoping Document

​When a development needs a new signal or modifications to an existing signal the Developer must enter into a Signal Improvement Agreement with the City prior to the approval of the roadway/intersection construction plans and permits for the land development project. This Agreement constitutes a commitment by the Developer to make payment to the City for the City's design, purchase, installation, signal equipment/pole relocation, and other related costs of the Signal Improvements needed for the land development project.

Developer Signal Improvement Process

Template Development Signal Agreement

Base Map Requirements for Traffic Signal Design Requests (CAD file requirements)

​CDOT has developed an amended right-of-way encroachment process for requests to install decorative signposts in the public right-of-way on residential streets.  This amended process is only available for decorative sign post installations on City maintained streets and not on ETJ/NCDOT maintained streets.  An Agreement between the City and the Residential Developer is required for purposes of establishing maintenance responsibilities, liability and holding the City harmless in the event of an accident or damage resulting from the encroachment.  There is no cost for this amended encroachment agreement process and it will be administered through our Public Service Division.   (Note that requests will not be reviewed through the land development/subdivision site plan review process.)

​The Charlotte Department of Transportation regulates new and modified access to all public streets in Charlotte in accordance with the Driveway Regulations established under the authority of the Transportation Director. A draft manual is available that reflects current City Council policies that relate to street design and land use. There will be no formal public hearings or actions by City Council on this update. Comments may be submitted to Robyn Byers.

​CDOT Resources