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NC Chamber Commends Legislative Leaders for Attention to Transportation

| Infrastructure

As I have shared with you previously, Infrastructure and Growth Leadership is one of the four pillars, central to the North Carolina Chamber’s advocacy mission. One of the main strategic goals within this pillar is building an integrated system of transportation and commerce assets that enables goods to move efficiently into and out of the state.

However, we face setbacks due to unfunded and underfunded transportation challenges. In 2007, the 21st Century Transportation Committee reported that North Carolina needs more than $65 billion in additional resources in order to meet current needs and to prepare all aspects of its transportation systems for 2030. This guest column written by Anne Lloyd of Martin Marietta Materials Inc. not only highlights the critical role our transportation system has in meeting North Carolina’s growing economic development needs, but also the importance of an all-inclusive and future-focused transportation strategy. As we work to meet current needs and plan for future growth, North Carolina needs to develop a wide-ranging infrastructure toolbox that includes P3s, tolls, local options and fairness in the collection of revenues, and more.

Currently, there is legislation (House Bill 817) in the General Assembly that makes important distribution reforms for transportation. HB817 has passed the House and is now being addressed in the Senate. We appreciate the attention given to this issue in the House and Senate, especially the leadership of Representatives Bill Brawley (R-Mecklenburg), John Torbett (R-Gaston), Frank Iler (R-Brunswick) and Phil Shepard (R-Onslow) and Senators Bill Rabon (R-Bladen, Brunswick, New Hanover, Pender) and Kathy Harrington (R-Gaston).

We look forward to working with state leaders to strengthen and grow North Carolina’s infrastructure system in order to create more jobs and recruit and retain business and industry.

Gary J. Salamido
Vice President, Government Affairs
North Carolina Chamber