RALEIGH — The N.C. Department of Transportation wants to hear from you! What do you think are top-priority transportation projects that should be submitted to compete for funding in the next State Transportation Improvement Program?

Division 6, which includes Bladen, Columbus, Cumberland, Harnett and Robeson counties, will host an open house to hear from residents about their ideas for transportation projects. The open house is from 4 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 27 at the Division Six office at 558 Gillespie Street in Fayetteville. Residents can drop in anytime during those hours to learn more about the projects the division proposes to submit for prioritization and provide feedback on them.

“Travel, either by road, train or even walking along our street, is something that affects everyone,” said Division Six Engineer Greg Burns. “Having local voices help determine which projects may receive future funding is critical to the process.”

Each NCDOT transportation division will submit its transportation priorities for funding, and is asking area residents for their input on those projects. Residents can also submit proposals for projects, which can be as large-scale as an interstate improvement or as small as a new turn lane or intersection improvement. Proposals can be for any mode of transportation, including public transit, bicycle/pedestrian, ferry, aviation and rail.

Maintenance projects such as patching potholes and resurfacing, however, undergo a separate scoring and priority ranking process. They are not a subject of these meetings.

The STIP is NCDOT’s 10-year transportation plan, and it is updated every two years. The N.C. Board of Transportation approved the current STIP, for year 2016 to 2025, in June.

The Strategic Transportation Investments law established the Strategic Mobility Formula, which uses a data-driven approach to funding transportation improvements on the statewide, regional and local (division) levels. This allows NCDOT to meet the state’s top priorities while still addressing individualized local transportation needs.

How to Provide Your Input

During a 30-day public comment period from Oct. 1 to Nov. 2, each transportation division will host an open house to meet with local residents and obtain feedback regarding transportation priorities.

In addition, written comments can be submitted via email to NCDOT Division Six Planning Engineer Joe Bailey at jwbailey1@ncdot.gov, mailed to PO Box 1150, Fayetteville, NC 28302 by phone at (910) 944-2344. All comments must be received by 5 p.m. on Nov. 2.

Local planning organizations across the state also submit a list of projects to be scored. For information about the projects your Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) or Rural Planning Organization (RPO) plans to submit, please contact them directly. More information about STI, the STIP, and the public meetings can be found at NCDOT.gov.

NCDOT will provide auxiliary aids and services under the Americans with Disabilities Act for disabled persons who want to participate in this meeting. Anyone requiring special services should contact Jamille Robbins at jarobbins@ncdot.gov or call 919-707-6085 as early as possible so that arrangements can be made.