Henderson County Transportation Planning

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) maintains the majority of public roads in the State. The state maintained road system in North Carolina includes over 79,000 miles of roadway. NCDOT conducts all planning, design and construction of roadways in Henderson County. The County does not currently maintain any roads for public purpose.

NCDOT coordinates much of its transportation planning efforts for the County through the French Broad River Municipal Planning Organization (MPO). Henderson County is part of this MPO which includes Henderson, Buncombe and Haywood Counties and their municipalities. Henderson County, like all local governments in the MPO, participates in the preparation and prioritizing of project lists for the:

• “Comprehensive Transportation Plan for French Broad River MPO and Rural Areas of Buncombe, Haywood and Henderson Counties” (hereinafter “Comprehensive Transportation Plan”) which serves as a vision for the future transportation system (adopted January 18, 2008);
• “Transportation 2030: The Long Range Multi-Modal Plan for Buncombe, Haywood, and Henderson Counties” (hereinafter “Long Range Multi-Modal Plan”) which identifies transportation improvements and programs to be carried out over the next 25 years; and
• “Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)” which lists projects proposed for the next seven (7) years.

Beyond the MPO process, Henderson County also works directly with NCDOT. County staff works with NCDOT district and local county engineers on projects within the County by providing feedback and keeping track of project progress. Hope Bleecker serves as Henderson County's Transportation Planner. The Planning Director also manages the Apple Country Transit System.

Henderson County has an appointed Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC). The TAC is comprised mostly of local government MPO representatives who meet regularly to: (1) discuss local transportation issues, (2) receive updates from the NCDOT district engineer regarding progress on projects (Transportation Improvements Projects (TIP) and secondary road projects); and (3) take input from the public regarding its concerns and issues related to transportation.

Contacting NCDOT

NCDOT Headquarters are located at 1 South Wilmington Street in Raleigh NC. NCDOT Customer Service Office answers the toll-free customer service line, 1-877-DOT-4YOU, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, with extended hours as necessary for emergencies.

NCDOT has 14 regional offices as well. The regional office contact for Henderson County maintenance projects is Mark Gibbs, P.E. The Henderson County construction manager is Jamie Wilson, PE.

Mark Gibbs, P.E., District Engineer 4142 Haywood Road Horse Shoe, NC 28742 Phone: (828) 891-7911 Fax: (828) 891-5026

Jamie Wilson, P.E. Division of Highways –Division 14 Contract Office 253 Webster Road Sylva, N.C. 28779 Phone: (828) 586-2141 Fax: (828) 586-4043

Contacting the Division of Motor Vehicles

For answers to questions about DMV issues such as driver license renewal or vehicle registration, call (919) 715-7000.

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