NC Chamber’s Position: A strong and adequately funded infrastructure is vitally important to North Carolina’s economy and to our ability to create jobs. The state needs sufficient physical infrastructure, including transportation, water and sewer, energy and broadband to meet future needs and to stay competitive for private-sector jobs.
NC Mobility Fund
Continued to support NC Mobility Fund dedicated to significant statewide transportation projects. The state budget included $31 million to relieve traffic congestion, improve logistic capabilities and create jobs.
PASSED
Greater Flexibility for NC’s Transportation System
The NCGA increased funding for restoration of structurally deficient bridges and road system maintenance in order to improve the safety, mobility and quality of NC’s bridges and intrastate system.
PASSED
NC maritime Study Supported creation of the NC Maritime Strategy to evaluate the role of maritime industry in North Carolina’s efforts to create jobs and strengthen the economy across the state.
PASSED
Protection of Key Transportation Revenues
Supported adequate funding for NC’s transportation network, necessary for increased commerce mobility and job growth. Capping construction and maintenance revenue fails to address NC’s unfunded and under-funded transportation infrastructure challenges and has a long-lasting impact on the state’s economy and ability to attract new jobs, investments and expansions.
Caps the Motor Fuels Tax at the Current Rate
CHAMBER: OPPOSED
Continued...
S666: Cap Motor Fuels Tax at Current Rate Caps the motor fuel tax at the current rate of 15 cents per gallon from July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2013.
CHAMBER: OPPOSED
Rationale: House Bill 399, which would cap the motor fuels tax at its current rate of 32.5 cents, would limit the primary funding source for North Carolina’s transportation system and would seriously curtail our ability to build and repair needed roads and bridges.
The North Carolina Chamber understands the economic and political pressure that comes with rising gas prices. But as gas prices rise, so do the primary costs of building and maintaining roads – liquid asphalt and the diesel fuel and gas used on DOT projects. Limiting funding for transportation projects at the same time the costs of those projects are rising will have an impact on our transportation needs that we cannot afford. The North Carolina General Assembly should address transportation funding in a comprehensive manner. Limiting a dedicated source of revenue for transportation infrastructure without such a comprehensive approach is not in the long-term interest of our economy and job creation.
2010 Wins
·NC Mobility Fund: Supported the creation of the NC Mobility Fund to provide resources to relieve traffic congestion, improve logistic capabilities and create jobs. The result: $58 million was included in the state budget to establish the NC Mobility Fund.
·Congestion Relief & Intermodal Transportation (H148): Supported legislation to give voters in communities across NC the opportunity to approve funding options to reduce congestion on our roads, improve the environment and lure more jobs and investment
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