Mobility

Mobility is essential in every part of the city and all Place Types, providing a foundation for equitable, safe, and convenient movement between destinations (Charlotte Future 2040 Goal 5). Charlotte has three key mobility partners that play a role in achieving this goal:

Charlotte Department of Transportation (CDOT)
Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS)
Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization (CRPTO)

CDOT is responsible for planning, designing, operating, and maintaining Charlotte’s transportation infrastructure to ensure that it is safe and equitable for all modes of travel, working alongside public and private partners. The Strategic Mobility Plan (SMP) lays out guidance for this important responsibility in alignment with Charlotte Future 2040, including 50-50 Mode Share and Vision Zero aspirations. The Charlotte Future 2040 Street Map is also an important policy guidance tool for implementing the City’s mobility vision, defining three different street classifications with specific multimodal expectations to ensure that our streets continue evolving to meet goals and needs.

To advance and implement the guidance in these policy tools, we must consider and prioritize specific investments and programs that will influence how people move throughout the city in alignment with local and citywide priorities, needs, and land use policies (Place Types), including roadway improvements, pedestrian infrastructure enhancements, bike and micromobility projects, innovation and technology upgrades, support for transit capacity and access, and curbside management interventions. To streamline implementation efficiency for these investments, CDOT is instituting a new mobility strategy by defining across the city, established through a data-driven process to align priorities and needs. Each of the 22 SIAs includes a range of large and small projects that have a place-based focus.

As mixed-use Places are expected to accommodate the most change and growth, it is important that their mobility networks support higher levels of access and activity, for which specific aspirations are outlined in the Mobility Aspirations Table. While most areas identified for mixed-use Place Types align with the designated SIA—which include identified groups of potential projects intended to help achieve mobility aspirations—there are some that fall outside these areas. The CAP mobility assessment for West Middle (illustrated in the Mobility Assessment Map and Table) documents how well these mixed-use Place Type geographies (Neighborhood Center, Community Activity Center, Regional Activity Center, and Innovation Mixed-Use) align with their mobility aspirations based on current conditions. This information helps to identify each geography’s greatest mobility needs and will help guide mobility-related decisions as development and redevelopment occur in these places, including through private and public investment.

Mobility Trends

The majority of mixed-use geographies in West Middle are within a SIA and have improvements identified. The remaining geographies are generally not aligned with the aspirational characteristics.

Table 2: Mobility Aspirations for Mixed Use Places

Mobility Aspirational Elements
Mixed-Use Place Type	Pedestrian Network	Bike Network	Crossings	Block Lengths & Street Network	Parking	Access & Internal Connections	Transit Access
Neighborhood Center (NC)	The pedestrian network is complete, direct, safe, comfortable, and designed to accommodate significant pedestrian activity. IMU places also need to accommodate truck access in the interim, placing extra emphasis on thoughtful design to reflect these needs while prioritizing the transition to a mixed-use place.	The bike network is complete, well-marked, safe, and easy to use. IMU places also need to accommodate truck access in the interim, placing extra emphasis on thoughtful design to reflect these needs while prioritizing the transition to a mixed-use place.	There are ample opportunities for pedestrians and cyclists to safely cross busy Arterial streets, allowing for direct and convenient travel between destinations.	The street network is well-connected, supports walkability, and provides easy access to centers from surrounding areas and between destinations.	Parking may be limited and is typically located and provided in ways that encourage a highly walkable environment. IMU places also need to accommodate truck access in the interim, placing extra emphasis on thoughtful design to reflect these needs while prioritizing the transition to a mixed-use place.	It is easy to “park once” and walk or use other mobility options between destinations.	Centers are easily accessible via transit, and transit facilities are located and designed to support that accessibility.
Community Activity Center (CAC)
Regional Activity Center (RAC)
Innovation Mixed-Use (IMU)

Table 3: Mobility Assessment

Mobility Characteristics
Mixed-Use Geography	Pedestrian Network	Bike Network	Crossings	Block Length & Street Network	Parking	Access & Internal Connections	Transit Access
M1) CAC* - Northlake Mall
M2) NC* - Beatties Ford Rd/Trinity Rd
M3) NC/* - Beatties Ford Rd/Sunset Rd
M4) NC - Lake Rd/Statesville Rd
M5) NC/* - Hovis Rd/S Hoskins Rd
M6) NC/* - Bradford Dr
M7) NC/* - Tuskagee Rd/Browns Ave
M8) NC** - Paw Creek
M9) NC* - Brookshire Blvd/Old Plank Rd
M10) NC* - Bellhaven Blvd/McClure Cir
M11) NC - Oakdale Rd/Sunset Rd

*These geographies are within a Corridor of Opportunity

** These geographies are within a Strategic Investment Area

Legend

Aligned with Aspirations

Somewhat Aligned with Aspirations

Not Aligned with Aspirations

Aspirations are outlined in Table 2

Mobility Recommendations

Building from and aligning with existing adopted plans, below are the Strategic Mobility Plan recommendations that are most relevant to the needs of this CAP area.

SMP-1

Safe 1.12: Intersections and Traffic Signals – Identify, prioritize, and improve pedestrian safety at intersections and traffic signals, including Leading Pedestrian Intervals (LPI) and LPI Plus treatments, exclusive pedestrian phase, raised intersections, etc.

SMP-2

Connected 3.22: Access to Transit – Identify and prioritize new sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, and other pedestrian improvements near transit stations and high frequency priority bus corridors.

SMP-3

Connected 4.26: Microtransit – Support CATS in implementing microtransit zones to support on demand transit services as well as first/last mile connectivity to frequent transit routes and key destinations.

MP-4

New roads constructed in the Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) that serve more than one development should be designed and constructed to North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) standards so that they may be accepted by NCDOT for maintenance following construction.

MP-5

The Comprehensive Transportation Review thresholds for trip generation of proposed development should be re-evaluated every two years to ensure mobility improvements reflect the anticipated impacts of each development.

B77-1

To improve mobility throughout the Charlotte region, CRTPO should gather data on the implementation of existing and planned regional Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS). This data will help coordinate efforts with state, regional, and local agencies while supporting the development of technological solutions to the region’s transportation challenges.

B77-2

To advance the region’s multimodal goals, regional and local agencies should collaborate to create policy language allowing multiple uses of streets/corridors. Jurisdictions should have flexibility to adapt facilities to better serve alternative modes. A literature review, sharing best practices, and a planning study may be recommended.

B77-3

To assess the region’s parking needs, regional and local agencies should collaborate on parking studies in urban-core/mobility-hub areas. These studies should evaluate parking demand, minimum and maximum parking requirements, and identify areas where parking needs and public space priorities should be reevaluated.