Why Transportation Matters in North Carolina
North Carolina is a state of motorists. We depend on our cars – and
our roads – more than ever. Unfortunately, supply has not kept
up with demand. In fact, the number of cars is growing faster than the
number of people. In the last 30 years, North Carolina has seen a 140
percent increase in the number of cars on the highway but our road improvements
have not kept pace.
As the state’s population has increased, highway construction,
repairs, maintenance and bridgework have been under-funded. As a
result, road construction and maintenance is inadequate to serve
the increasing number of vehicles. Rural North Carolina often loses
economic opportunities because of a lack of roads.
No city or town in North Carolina is immune from the problems caused
by traffic congestion and inadequate roads and highways. Traffic
delays affect citizens’ lives, businesses and jeopardize the
state’s economic growth. Ninety-four percent of the $267 billion
worth of commodities delivered annually in North Carolina are transported
on the state’s highways. When site selectors look at potential
locations, the quality of transportation infrastructure is a crucial
criterion in their evaluation.
In addition, highway safety is directly impacted by the condition
of the state’s roadways – including road design, lane
markings, signage and features such as guardrails. It has been estimated
that deteriorating infrastructure and increasing traffic are costing
the state's motorists $5.3 billion annually in the form of traffic
accidents, additional vehicle operating costs and congestion-related
delays.
These are all growing problems for our state’s transportation system. And
there is not one single solution. There are several. Combined, they give the
state a fighting chance to address the problems effectively, efficiently – and
collectively.