As you know, our state does not currently have a long-term funding strategy in place to secure the future safety and efficiency of our transportation network. Short-term fixes might look good on paper, but they only punt the problem down the road without solving the underlying need for a transportation strategy that accounts for future growth. With North Carolina on the cusp of “super-state” status and projected to add 3 million more residents by 2030, the lack of a long-term transportation funding solution is, quite simply, unacceptable. In order to help advance the conversation around a comprehensive solution to fund our transportation system over the long haul, we recently invested in a multi-part ad campaign encouraging our elected leaders to work together to address this challenge in 2015.

The new campaign began running Monday on various TV and radio outlets around the state, and later this week print ads will begin to hit mailboxes as part of a targeted direct mail push. A recent headline for a News & Observer article detailing the campaign stated, “NC Chamber Renews Push for Long-Term Roads Plan”; there really was nothing to renew, however, as the NC Chamber has provided a steady voice throughout 2015 in support of long-term transportation funding reform as part of our NC Can’t Afford to Wait campaign.

“What we’ve been saying all along is the need for a long-term plan that addresses the structural challenges with funding transportation,” said Chamber political director Nathan Babcock.

We continue to believe that – with encouragement from forward-thinking initiatives like the Chamber’s ongoing ad campaign – North Carolina’s elected leaders will make the bold choice in 2015 to secure the long-term, recurring transportation investments our state needs. We encourage you to listen to the radio ad, watch the new TV commercial and take a look at the direct mail piece (front and back) that will soon hit targeted mailboxes near you. Keep your eyes and ears out for these ads as they will be running throughout the state over the next two weeks, and visit www.nccantaffordtowait.com to let our elected leaders know that North Carolina can’t afford to wait to protect our transportation future.

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