North Carolina Construction News staff writer
Five North Carolina municipalities and regional planning agencies have been awarded a total of $1 million in state funding to begin planning for future infrastructure that could support drone deliveries and electric air taxis.
The grants, announced by the N.C. Department of Transportation’s Division of Aviation, aim to help local governments assess how emerging aviation technologies might fit into their long-term transportation strategies.
“These planning projects are about helping communities take the first steps toward understanding how advanced air mobility can meet local needs,” said Nick Short, director of the NCDOT Division of Aviation. “We’re excited to be part of the groundwork that will help communities plan and prepare for the opportunities this technology brings.”
The $1 million in funding will support a wide range of planning activities, including transportation needs assessments, land-use and infrastructure planning, multimodal integration strategies, feasibility studies, and policy and regulatory alignment.
Projects will help communities prepare for new technologies like electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft and drone-based delivery systems,
Funding will go to:
- City of Greensboro
- Town of Cary
- Forsyth County
- Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
- Mid-Carolina Council of Governments
Work will focus on identifying potential landing sites, transportation hubs, and integration points with existing infrastructure. That could lay the groundwork for future building projects such as vertiports, drone logistics centers, and electrical charging stations for vertical takeoff aircraft.
The planning could also include land-use studies, feasibility assessments, and policy reviews, with a strong emphasis on public input to guide site selection and community design.
Communities will be laying the groundwork for infrastructure that directly aligns with local needs and priorities while also enhancing the long-term transportation planning process.