Business View Magazine Apr-2023

127 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 10, ISSUE 4 The population is changing as it grows; people are shifting to urban areas and by 2030, one in five North Carolinians will be at least 65 years old. Also, minorities will account for 63% of the population growth in the next two decades and are more likely to use public transit regularly. “With the huge changes we’re going to see, it is essential that North Carolina be prepared for these existential changes in the transportation sector,” Brumfield said. As the industry begins the exciting journey toward clean infrastructure, state transportation agencies must remain vigilant in their efforts to provide equitable access, ensuring people without a personal vehicle are not left behind. With the help of IMD, the Department is making steady progress to better prepare for the future. Devoted to public transit, bicycle, and pedestrian travel, IMD is designed to improve and increase multimodal options in the state’s transportation network. Focusing on building “complete streets,” or streets that all road users can access seamlessly and safely, IMD has helped spearhead innovative mobility with initiatives that support and encourage cleaner alternatives to single-occupant vehicle transportation. North Carolina has a history of being a pioneer for innovative mobility. In the 1970s, North Carolina was one of the first states to develop a bicycle route system and bicycle planning program. The bicycle and pedestrian network has greatly improved since, with a pipeline of projects released in recent years. IMD periodically competes for funding opportunities and has been awarded nine federal discretionary grants in the past three years for bicycle, pedestrian, and public transportation projects. Last year was significant for transformative mobility opportunities in North Carolina, with nearly $25 million awarded in Rebuilding America’s Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grants. NORTH CAROL INA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTAT ION