North Carolina’s transportation infrastructure is at a critical juncture with a rapidly growing population and mounting safety and congestion concerns, and without long-term, sustainable funding solutions to maintain a system that meets the mobility demands of North Carolinians. North Carolina is not alone with these challenges. This is a crisis other states face, as well as one that is taking place at the national level. The NC Chamber and the statewide business community are not only taking the lead to ensure North Carolina is a state that takes action; we are also addressing this at the national level.

Today, the NC Chamber hosted a roundtable discussion with U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, Raleigh Mayor Nancy McFarlane and local chambers of commerce and statewide business leaders – highlighting the local, statewide and national importance of this issue. Lew Ebert’s guest post for the USDOT Fast Lane blog emphasizes why North Carolina can’t afford wait to address transportation, nor can the nation.

Last spring, the NC Chamber joined 27 local chambers of commerce from communities across the state in urging the North Carolina Congressional delegation to develop a long-term surface transportation bill that strengthens our state’s and nation’s infrastructure and provides our economy with the support it needs to remain a global economic leader. Without a long-term solution, North Carolina would experience more than a billion in lost funds, an elimination of projects to improve the network and put thousands of jobs at risk.

Sec. Foxx understands North Carolina’s transportation challenges and it is encouraging to see his proactive leadership at the national level. North Carolina cannot afford to wait, nor can the nation. Sec. Foxx clearly recognizes this, and we look forward to working with him to move our state and nation’s transportation infrastructure forward.

Read Lew’s guest post on the U.S. DOT Fast Lane.

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