Transportation, Bikes & Pedestrians

New Hanover County does not build or maintain roads. The Wilmington Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (WMPO) and NC Department of Transportation (DOT) are responsible for transportation projects, however New Hanover County partners with these organizations on transportation plans for the county.

Wilmington Urban Area MPO

The Wilmington Urban Area MPO prepares transportation plans for the lower Cape Fear region. These plans are used to guide federal and state transportation funding decisions. New Hanover County partners with WMPO on special plans and staff serve on various advisory committees.

View the Wilmington Urban Area website for more information, transit plans, maps and reports.

NC Department of Transportation

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) builds and maintains roads in New Hanover County. New transportation projects go through a state-wide ranking process for funding, so most new NCDOT roads are major projects. NCDOT also develops standards that developers use when building public roads. NCDOT follows policies and procedures for when and how these roads can become part of the state system.

Learn more on the North Carolina Department of Transportation website.

Greenway Plan

New Hanover County adopted its first greenway plan in 2013 in partnership with Wilmington Urban Area MPO and the City of Wilmington. The Wilmington-New Hanover County Comprehensive Greenway Plan includes prioritized bicycle and pedestrian routes.

View the Greenway Plan (PDF).

Rail Realignment

The City of Wilmington, Wilmington Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (WMPO), and the NC Department of Transportation (NCDOT) have conducted a study to investigate the feasibility of realigning the existing railroad line. Moving this line across the Cape Fear River would provide a new location for rail access to the Port of Wilmington, and offer the potential of repurposing the existing railroad corridor for other means of transportation.

View the Wilmington North Carolina website for more information.