Residents have a new opportunity to influence the roads, sidewalks, transit connections and other transportation projects that could shape Moore County for decades. The Sandhills 2055 transportation plan is entering an important public-feedback period before its scheduled adoption in December 2026.
The Sandhills Metropolitan Planning Organization is developing the long-range plan for Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen, Whispering Pines, Pinebluff, Taylortown, Foxfire and surrounding portions of Moore County.
What the Sandhills 2055 Transportation Plan Covers
The plan looks beyond highways and automobile traffic. It evaluates future needs involving roadways, bicycle routes, pedestrian access, public transit, freight movement, rail and aviation. The stated goals include improving safety, mobility, connectivity and access as the region continues to grow.
Transportation projects must be included in the Metropolitan Transportation Plan to become eligible for future federal funding. That gives the Sandhills 2055 transportation plan a significant role in deciding which proposed improvements can move forward and compete for money in the years ahead.
The plan will also consider infrastructure, safety, security, freight, mobility, risk management and finances. Because it looks 20 to 30 years into the future, the process must weigh today’s trouble spots against expected changes in population, employment and travel patterns.
Residents Can Comment Online
The project website gives residents several ways to participate. Visitors can place markers on an interactive map to identify transportation problems or suggest improvements. They can also complete a brief survey, submit an idea through a digital sticky note and respond to ideas shared by others.
That means feedback can be as specific as a difficult intersection, a missing sidewalk connection, a bicycle-safety concern or a location where congestion regularly creates delays. Participants can also comment on broader priorities, including how the region should balance road capacity with walking, cycling and transit needs.
Public comments will help planners understand how residents experience the current network and what they want emphasized in the final Sandhills 2055 transportation plan.
Public Open House Scheduled August 24
An in-person open house is scheduled Monday, August 24, from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Village of Pinehurst Assembly Hall, located at 395 Magnolia Road. Residents may drop in during the three-hour window to review proposed projects, ask questions and share feedback with the planning team.
The meeting is designed as an open-house format rather than a single presentation, making it easier for people to attend when their schedules allow. Those who cannot attend can still participate through the online project hub.
For a fast-growing region, the choices included in the Sandhills 2055 transportation plan may affect commuting, neighborhood access, safety and development for years. Public participation now gives residents a chance to help establish those priorities before the plan is finalized.
Star 102.5 will share additional meeting and adoption updates as they become available. Keeping you connected to the Sandhills and beyond.
Sources: Official information from the Sandhills MPO 2055 Metropolitan Transportation Plan project website and the Town of Aberdeen, with a contributed report published by the Sandhills Sentinel.
