A new report released today by TRIP, a Washington, DC, based national transportation research nonprofit, reviews the impact of Hurricane Helene on Western North Carolina’s transportation network, the initial response, the status of the recovery of the region’s transportation system, the cost of needed repairs, and the plan and timeline to fully restore WNC’s network of roads, bridges and rail.

“TRIP’s WNC Strong report underscores the urgent need for transportation investment in North Carolina,” said Gary Salamido, president and CEO of the NC Chamber. “To stay competitive and ensure safe, efficient movement of people and goods, we must invest statewide—especially in Western North Carolina. The NC Chamber is pushing for diversified funding solutions, including lifting the cap on public-private partnerships, to unlock new opportunities across the state.”

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NC Chamber VP of Government Affairs Jake Cashion made the following remarks at the press conference releasing the report.

First and foremost, thank you to everyone on the call today. The recovery taking place in Western North Carolina is unprecedented and transportation infrastructure is just one piece of it. We appreciate the tireless efforts of so many and the opportunity to talk today about connectivity.

The NC Chamber has long advocated for diversified funding when it comes to North Carolina’s transportation network. As you all know, the way we fund our infrastructure today is largely focused on the motor fuels tax. For the last decade, the NC Chamber has led coalitions around this effort and policymakers have been chipping away at diversification. We have also seen great progress in added certainty and predictability to the process for funding projects through the STIP.

Our transportation funding challenges are compounded by tremendous growth in our state. Moving people and products safely and efficiently remains the top priority.

All of these challenges existed BEFORE Helene. Since Helene, North Carolina DOT has shown incredible leadership in recovery efforts. The launch of their Road Reopening dashboard provided transparency as they marshalled every resource to get people and products moving throughout Western North Carolina. They continue to work tirelessly to better connect the infrastructure.

This report by our friends at TRIP highlights the fact that we have to have the resources to do both things. We must continue to support recovery in Western North Carolina and we must continue to invest in the transportation network statewide. The NC Chamber is committed to advancing both of those efforts.

This topic needs to remain at the forefront if we want North Carolina to continue to be competitive for jobs and investment. The NC Chamber is actively engaged in advocating for new and diversified funding opportunities. One of those is removing our cap on public-private partnerships, which would unlock a lot of opportunity for our state.

We appreciate the knowledgeable team at TRIP and the diligent team at NC DOT. And, as always, we appreciate the people of Western North Carolina. We will not forget you.

Thank you for your time today.