The North Carolina Department of Transportation received federal grants to install broadband along four key road corridors: I-95, US 70, US 74, and US 64. To manage this, they developed Project ATLAS, short for “Advancing Transportation through Linkages, Automation, and Screening,” which uses regional Geographic Information System or GIS data to streamline processes and create a data framework for better project planning. The $26 million project installed broadband along the 183-mile stretch of I-95 from North Carolina to Virginia and a 136-mile stretch along US 70 from Raleigh to Morehead City to improve connectivity in rural eastern North Carolina. Additionally, a 318-mile conduit along US 74 will connect Charlotte, Wilmington, Asheville, and surrounding rural areas. Broadband will also be installed along 154 miles of US 64 from I-95 in Rocky Mount to NC 12 in Nags Head; a route crucial for accessing the Outer Banks and serving underserved communities. Those installations aim to improve infrastructure in rural areas while enhancing connectivity for both businesses and residents. The use of geospatial analysis through ATLAS was key to meeting grant deadlines and optimizing project funding.
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