Area Studies

To achieve more robust public engagement and detailed focus on specific network issues, the Capital Area MPO has conducted a series of area studies. Outcomes and recommendations from these area studies inform the long-range transportation plan that is updated every 4 years, the Metropolitan Transportation Plan.

Northwest Area Study - Winter 2025 - View RFP

The NWAS will include the northwestern portion of the Capital Area MPO that includes parts of Granville, Franklin and Wake Counties, as well as the municipalities of Creedmoor, Butner, Stem, and Oxford. The goal of this study is ultimately to lay out a long-term vision for development patterns within the framework of water resource and land management considerations, and for a multi-modal transportation network in the study area, with a detailed implementation strategy that includes short-term and mid-term recommendations to aid with the implementation of the long-term vision. The study will evaluate water supply watershed (WSWS) capacity and other environmental regulatory considerations, as related to residential development; the safety and mobility in the transportation network, including planned and existing roads, transit service and bicycle/pedestrian facilities.

A Request for Proposals (RFP) has been posted for this study on the RFPs/RFQs page - check it out here. It is anticipated that this study will begin in February 2025. Staff contact: Gaby Lawlor

Southeast Area Study - Update - Complete

The SEAS Update is an update to the original 2017 Southeast Area Study that looked at land use and multimodal transportation needs of the study area shown below. The study covered parts of Wake and Johnston Counties and the City of Raleigh, as well as the municipalities of Archer Lodge, Benson, Clayton, Four Oaks, Garner, Kenly, Micro, Selma, Smithfield and Wilson’s Mills, and was conducted in coordination with NCDOT and the Upper Coastal Plain RPO. This update has expanded the boundary (including the addition of Pine Level) and will produce recommendations across all modes as well as refresh policies and priorities that may have evolved since the original study. Recommendations from the SEAS Update will inform the Metropolitan Transportation Plan, which is a region-wide long-range transportation plan updated every 4 years. The study officially began in February of 2022 and was completed in December 2023. Staff contact: Gaby Lawlor

Final Reports
Hot Spot Toolkits

Northeast Area Study - Update - Complete 

The Northeast Area Study (NEAS) Update included parts of Franklin and Wake Counties, the City of Raleigh, as well as the Towns of Bunn, Franklinton, Knightdale, Rolesville, Wake Forest, Wendell, Youngsville, and Zebulon. ​The original Northeast Area Study was completed in 2014 and needs to be updated in order to prepare for the 2050 MTP. This Update will involve extensive public engagement and an evaluation of transportation projects, policies, and priorities that may have evolved or shifted since 2014. The Update began in early 2020 and is officially wrapping up in summer 2021. The project team delivered a final board update to municipalities in the study area in the summer 2021, seeking endorsement of NEAS Update recommendations to be used in future planning efforts including the 2050 Metropolitan Transportation Plan development. The CAMPO Executive Board officially endorsed the NEAS Update recommendations for use in future planning efforts including the 2050 Metropolitan Transportation Plan development. Staff contact: Shelby Powell

Final Reports

Southwest Area Study - Update - Complete

The Southwest Area Study Update, completed in 2019, was a collaborative effort between the Capital Area MPO and NCDOT. It was an update to the original Southwest Area Study (2012) addressing changes in land use and transportation in the area. This study evaluated the multi-modal network and land use scenarios in and around southwestern Wake County, northern Harnett County, and the municipalities of Angier, Apex, Fuquay-Varina and Holly Springs.