WSATPO seeks input on 27 2028-2037 STIP projects: How residents weigh in

Winston-Salem NC – The Winston-Salem Area Transportation Planning Organization (WSATPO) is in the middle of North Carolina’s Prioritization 8.0 process for the 2028–2037 State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). In this “Regional Impact” phase, residents can still weigh in on 27 highway, rail, and transit projects competing for potential state and federal support—through an online input survey that closes July 13, 2026.

Why WSATPO is asking residents to participate now

WSATPO says the STIP identifies the construction funding and construction schedules for transportation projects at the state level over a 10-year period. Prioritization 8.0 is how projects are scored and narrowed down before programming decisions move forward.

At the Regional Impact level, WSATPO is using a mix of quantitative scoring and local input. According to the WSATPO prioritization page, residents’ feedback is used to help allocate 1,900 local input points to projects, which in turn increase the final project score—influencing which projects are positioned for potential funding. The final recommendation is scheduled for Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) consideration on July 16, 2026.

What’s on the table: 27 “Regional Impact” projects

WSATPO describes the Regional Impact phase as the next tier after projects already picked up at the Statewide Mobility level. In this round, 27 projects are competing within the WSATPO boundary at the Regional Impact level, including projects across highway, rail, and transit categories.

The WSATPO process site also points residents to its draft project materials—such as the draft “Regional Impact project list and local input point assignment” document—so the public can see what’s being considered.

How local participation worked (and what’s still open)

Public meeting (already held): WSATPO held an in-person public input meeting on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, from 5:15 to 7:15 p.m. at the Reynolda Manor Branch Library Auditorium, 2839 Fairlawn Dr. The meeting was designed for residents to review the 27-project list tied to the Regional Impact stage and to learn how the funding prioritization process works.

Online public input survey (still open): WSATPO also offers an online public input survey available through July 13, 2026. The survey uses an interactive format where participants can:

• Use an interactive map to comment on projects on the list
• Allocate points toward preferred projects
• Leave general comments about transportation priorities

WSATPO says the draft list of projects is available within the survey itself, so residents can make choices directly against the current Regional Impact lineup.

How the point allocation is supposed to influence scoring

WSATPO describes “Local Input Point Assignment” as the mechanism that helps turn community preferences into added scoring weight. It also notes that local input point assignment is governed by its Prioritization 8.0 Local Input Point Assignment (LIPA) Methodology, adopted in Spring 2026.

Important practical takeaway: resident participation is one factor in the prioritization workflow. It is intended to help shape the Regional Impact scoring recommendation that TAC will consider on July 16, but it does not automatically guarantee any project will be selected for funding.

What happens next (local and statewide)

Local next step: WSATPO’s site schedules TAC consideration for July 16, 2026, after residents have had the chance to review the 27-project list and submit survey input by July 13.

Statewide context: NCDOT’s STIP development page says a public comment period is open until July 31, 2026 for remaining funding categories in the Prioritization 8.0 process. That means even if you already submit Regional Impact input locally, there’s also time later in July to comment on other prioritization categories across the state.

Quick checklist: do this before July 13

• Review the draft Regional Impact project list materials provided by WSATPO
• On the online survey, use the interactive map to allocate points to your preferred projects
• Add a short comment if there’s context you think matters (for example, safety, congestion, connections, or timing)
• Submit before the July 13, 2026 deadline so your input is available ahead of TAC consideration on July 16

Fair warning on expectations

Resident point allocation is designed to influence project scoring and the local recommendation process—but the Regional Impact exercise still feeds into later programming steps. The best use of your input is to think about which projects you want prioritized and explain why, within the time window the portal is open.

Sources

• City of Winston-Salem News Flash: WSATPO public input meeting (July 7) + online survey deadline (July 13)
• City of Winston-Salem Document Center: Official Draft LIPA List — WSATPO Regional Impact projects (June 11, 2026)
• NCDOT: 2028–2037 STIP Development (Prioritization 8.0 context + statewide public comment period through July 31)

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