On Wednesday morning, the Sandhills Metropolitan Planning Organization (SMPO) took the next step in paving the way for the county’s 25-year transportation plan. The board reviewed project submissions and updates on its federally required Metropolitan Transportation Plan, which will guide transportation priorities and development.
The Sandhills MPO, formed in 2023, covers Aberdeen, Pinebluff, Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Taylortown, Whispering Pines, Foxfire, and additional individual sections of Moore County.
The plan must consider all modes of travel, including cars, freight movement, walking, biking, and public transit. The board can nominate up to nine projects per mode of transportation for state scoring and funding consideration…