GREENVILLE, N.C. -At a transportation summit meeting at East Carolina University, she told business and government leaders the key is to start with the roads, but it could involve you paying more money.
Already North Carolina has the fifth highest gas tax rate in the county. There’s been talk of adding fares on our ferries and tolls on I-95. The governor said that the toll may be necessary.
“There is not a fairy in heaven that sprinkles transportation dollars on North Carolina, and says, ‘Here it is,'” said Governor Perdue.
So the governor said the money has to come from somewhere else, namely, the people of North Carolina. But right now she’s asking for one thing: “That the citizens of this state have the courage and the ability to understand you’ve gotta pay for infrastructure improvements, that they don’t come easily.”
She’s talking about improvements like the ones proposed for Interstate 95. The state Department of Transportation wants to use tolls to pay for four and a half billion dollars worth of renovations to the highway.
“It’s like a truck haven for international commerce, the roads are crowded, they’re dangerous,” said Governor Perdue.
The governor said widening the road from six to eight lanes and fixing the pavement could help keep drivers safe, and so the state has to keep tolls on the table.
“I believe you gotta take the political risk of examining every viable option,” she said.
That means adding money to other major transportation projects as well.
“We have to continue to fight for transportation dollars to make 17, 70, and 64 interstate quality. you’ve got to do that if we’re going to succeed economically,” said Perdue.
The governor said improving the roads will help link North Carolina to the rest of the world, making the state more economically competitive. But she’s not in favor of ferry tolls, which she blocked.
By: Madeleine Wright | Eyewitness News 9
Published: March 16, 2012
Updated: March 16, 2012 – 6:17 PM
