The plan that is developed by the stakeholders who comprise the N.C. 12 Task Force is designed to do the following:  

1. Recognize the need for safe, reliable routine and emergency transportation for the thousands of residents in the communities in Dare County and Hyde County and the millions of visitors that travel to the area from around the world. 

2. Incorporate information on climate change and sea level rise, which may exacerbate existing transportation challenges and present new ones. 

3. Recognize the missions of the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, Cape Hatteras National Seashore, and other public lands within the project area and balance ecological values and the restoration of barrier island processes while maintaining public access. 

4. Be collaborative and include substantial opportunities for input from stakeholder agencies, organizations and the public. 

5. Utilize existing NCDOT transportation feasibility studies and other information as important foundational information that contributes to a regional plan.  

6. Evaluate the economic impacts associated with the status quo and other transportation options.

7. Develop a strategic financial plan that leverages existing funding and identifies new funding sources.  

8. Be designed to help overcome barriers to coastal resilience and adaptation planning and support a proactive and sustainable approach to resilient transportation planning and project  implementation.