As the region continues to grow and change, so do its transportation needs. Factors like traffic, parking demand, and infrastructure all play a key role in how we grow. By linking land use and transportation planning, communities can reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT), improve mobility options, and create places that are more connected, livable, and resilient.

To support this, Centralina Regional Council, in partnership with the Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization (CRTPO), launched a training series focused on helping local governments turn these ideas into action.

Through a four-part training series, Centralina and CRTPO brought together more than 50 planners, engineers, and local leaders from across the region to explore practical strategies for linking land use and transit.

The sessions focused on tools that can be integrated into local plans, ordinances, and development processes, including:

• Parking management strategies to reduce excess supply and encourage shared use
• Infrastructure design that prioritizes pedestrians, cyclists, and safety
• Zoning tools that support mixed-use and higher-density development
• Housing strategies like transit-oriented development and “missing middle” housing
• Multi-modal planning that connects people to transit and everyday destinations 

Why This Training Matters

Land use decisions directly shape how people move, and when communities are designed with connected streets, mixed uses, and accessible transit, people have real choices in how they get around.

This matters in a fast-growing region like ours, where rising congestion and parking pressures are becoming everyday challenges. By aligning land use with transportation, communities can:

• Reduce reliance on single-occupancy vehicles
• Improve air quality and public health
• Support economic competitiveness
• Expand equitable access to jobs, services, and opportunity 

Practical Tools for Our Governments

To extend the impact of the training, Centralina developed the Linking Transit and Land Use at the Community Scale: Practical Tools for Planners to help communities interested in taking the next step.

The guide breaks down five key strategy areas and provides actionable steps that can be implemented at the local level, recognizing that there is no one-size-fits-all approach.

By providing clear, practical guidance and peer examples, Centralina is helping local governments build confidence in implementing mobility-supportive development strategies that fit their unique context.

The momentum from this effort continues to grow. Centralina is planning future learning opportunities to further explore the connection between land use, transportation, and VMT reduction, so stay tuned in to our socials!

To learn more, see the project’s Practical Tools for Planners.