RALEIGH, N.C. -- A special governor's committee is calling for a massive infusion of funds to get more transportation projects completed.

 

 

The 21st Century Transportation Committee is going to make several recommendations, including asking the General Assembly to authorize a huge cash outlay in the form of a $2 billion bond.

 

It's a lot of money, but committee chairman J. Bradley Wilson believes the state can't afford to scrimp on transportation projects given our continuing growth.

 

“The idea beginning to emerge is a $2 billion bond,”  he explained.  “We think the time may very well be right to ask the people of North Carolina to consider jump starting a lot of our transportation infrastructure by the approval of a bond."

 

 In addition to calling for a highway bond, Wilson’s  group believes the general assembly needs to stop transferring money out of the highway trust fund and leave it there to help fund projects like the continuation of Highway 540 through the western suburbs.

 

“To the extent the transfer is stopped, it could very well provide the gap funding for several projects proposed by the turnpike authority, including the one here in Wake County,” said Wilson.

 

Currently the state fixes about 100 bridges a year.  But, the committee says North Carolina needs to step up the pace of that repair if we want to keep up with all the bridges that need fixing.

 

“We have a very dire need in North Carolina for replacement, upgrading and improving our bridges,” he maintained.

 

But, highways aren't the committee's only concern. They're looking at using part of the bond money for a rail system that could move commuters around the area.

 

“A component of the bond might be used to support our recent mass transit proposal which came out of another one of our committees,” said Wilson.

 

The group hopes to have its recommendations ready to present to the legislature by May, so that the General Assembly can begin debating the proposals.