In a Pilot Op-Ed, Pinehurst Village Council member John Taylor says the growth assumptions provided to NCDOT circa 2013 are out of date.  It's time for a fresh look at the data.  "The new [growth] forecasts are likely to be substantially lower due to subsequent changes in ownership or zoning."

The Pilot editors agree.  "Broad development — and the accompanying traffic — may never happen in western Moore, but its projections live on in planning documents still in use.  In recent discussions, Pinehurst Village Council members say that, because of changes over the years implemented in land use, zoning and real estate economics, there will likely not be the number of cars going through the Traffic Circle that state transportation officials project over the next 20 years. That fact, above all others, may yet be the winning argument the Pinehurst Village Council comes up with to prevent wholesale change to the Traffic Circle."

NCDOT is working on a travel demand model for the Sandhills Metropolitan Planning Area.  Growth assumptions are a critical element.  Click here for more information.