Charlotte's efforts to tackle transportation woes have grabbed the national spotlight. The CONNECT Centralina project, a collaboration between the Centralina Regional Council and the N.C. Department of Transportation's Integrated Mobility Division, has been awarded the 2025 Impact Award by the National Association of Development Organization (NADO). Recognized for creating a more accessible and less congested future, the project focused on developing the region’s first Transportation Demand Management (TDM) plan, a blueprint championing alternatives to driving solo, such as carpooling and public transit.
With a budget assembled from $285,000 of state money and contributions from local sources totaling $115,000, the initiative set its sights on reshaping the Charlotte area's travel behavior. Under the leadership of Centralina’s senior planner, Sarah Niess, and the support of NCDOT’s IMD, the TDM plan has been paving the way for a sustainable, equitable, and economically vibrant region. Leading with the mindset to "create smarter, more connected communities," Brennon Fuqua, director of NCDOT’s IMD, emphasized the state's backing for local innovation, instrumental in reducing car trips and fostering mobility, according to NCDOT.
The significance of NCDOT IMD’s role cannot be overstated, playing a part in everything from picking consultants to directly managing the project. Sarah Niess emphasized, “NCDOT IMD’s support, both in providing financial support and technical assistance throughout the process, was critical to the development of our transportation demand management plan.” This collaboration does not only represent a step forward for Charlotte but also serves as a model of what regional planning can achieve when various governmental levels work in tandem.
It wasn't just Charlotte raising the bar; the CONNECT Centralina initiative was among three other projects under Centralina’s guidance honored by NADO. Having an IMD regional planner on the project management team, acting as steering committee member also, this award reflects the triumph of persistent interagency cooperation.
