Transportation

As a life-long resident of Southeastern North Carolina, I have seen our region grow immensely. The development of critical interstate highways, airports, rail, and ports provides residents with a variety of transportation options and enables businesses to transport goods and services for our economy. With over 6,500 squares miles of land and a population of over 700,000 and growing, the Seventh District of North Carolina has a vast transportation network that requires frequent maintenance and rehabilitation. In order to satisfy these needs, I am working to ensure that Eastern North Carolina receives its fair share of our federal tax dollars in transportation funding to make the daily commute safer and more efficient for our growing region.

Supporting our Interstate Highways & Job Growth

With I-95, I-40, and I-74 running through Eastern North Carolina, funding for our interstate highway system is vital. I have been a strong supporter of securing a high return on the gas tax dollars that North Carolinians contribute to the Highway Trust Fund. It is critical that those tax dollars come back home to work for us and that our interstate corridors receive the necessary maintenance dollars for resurfacing and paving so that travel on those important arteries is as safe as possible

I voted in favor of H.R. 4348, which is now law, known as the “Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act” (MAP-21), to provide funding for our highways and transit programs through 2014.  Our state will receive more than $217 billion for public projects which will promote economic development and job growth.  This important piece of legislation ensures that public infrastructure remains safe, up to date, and ultimately beneficial to the people of Eastern North Carolina.

Opposing Tolls on I-95

I have opposed the proposal by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) to place tolls along I-95. Tolls would be an unfair burden on North Carolina residents, especially at a time when our economy is in the midst of a very fragile recovery.  While it is critical that we maintain our existing infrastructure, the proposed I-95 expansion would widen a road with money we do not have.  North Carolina already has the highest gas tax in the Southeast and is the sixth highest in the country.  That is why I supported H.R. 4174, the No Tolls in North Carolina Act of 2012, which would prohibit tolls from being established in our state.  I also co-sponsored H.R. 5713, the “Talk Before You Toll” Act, which would make local comments the top criteria the Federal Highway Administration considers when reviewing applications for interstate tolling projects.  In other parts of the state like Charlotte, Greensboro, and Winston Salem, highway improvements were made without tolling.  It is unfair to shoulder Eastern North Carolina with this burden, especially when North Carolina families are already paying more than their fair share through one of the highest gas taxes in the country.

Ensuring Vital Airport Access

Wilmington International Airport, Fayetteville Regional Airport, Cape Fear Regional Jetport and our many small general aviation airports provide vital links from North Carolina to the rest of country and beyond for residents and tourists alike. I am a strong supporter of the Airport Improvement Program and the Federal Aviation Administration’s discretionary grants that allow airports to undertake major capital improvement programs. In addition, I have worked with many airports to secure additional, direct federal funding for runway extensions and capacity expansions. For example, we have secured $3.65 million for Cape Fear Regional Jetport to construct a full parallel taxiway along the newly extended 5,500 foot runway, an addition that will significantly improve traffic flow.  Wilmington International Airport, Curtis L. Brown Jr. Field, and the Columbus County Municipal Airport also received more than $5 million in federal funding for merited infrastructure projects.

Channeling Our Strategic Coastal Advantage

Eastern North Carolina is also home to the Port of Wilmington where millions of dollars in goods are shipped each year, and $6.4 billion is directly added to the state economy. In order to increase economic growth throughout our region, I was pleased that we were able to have the Army Corps of Engineers release another $22 million to finish the harbor deepening plan at the Wilmington Port. Deepening this channel will enhance the delivery and export of international cargo and ensure timely, competitively-priced goods for our residents. In order to provide continued growth and vitality in the future, we must continue to invest wisely in port developments and facilities, which directly and indirectly provide over 65,000 jobs.  The completion of this project will allow the Port of Wilmington to continue to compete effectively and serve as a major East Coast gateway to the world, as well as an important component of our economy and national defense mobilization.   

Improving Local Resources

Throughout my time in Congress, I have always sought to do what is best for Eastern North Carolina.  Below are some examples of my work to ensure that as we improve our transportation infrastructure, we do so in a way that is most beneficial to the current and future residents of our area. 

US Highway 17 Hampstead Bypass
Planning for the future US Highway 17 Hampstead Bypass is currently underway.  In considering alternative routes, the process has been complicated by the nearby location of the Red Cockaded Woodpecker (RCW) habitat in Holly Ridge.  In order to protect the RCW, NCDOT and US Fish and Wildlife (USFW) chose to exclude a northern interchange for southbound travelers to exit onto Business 17 before entering onto the bypass.  This proposal concerned a large number of Pender County residents because the circuitous route would deter travelers from visiting this stretch of Business Hwy 17, ultimately endangering businesses and driving down property values.  It would also force unnecessary additional traffic (including school buses) onto the bypass creating a safety hazard for all travelers along the route.  On behalf of my Pender constituents, I have implored NCDOT and USFW to work together to find a safe, practical, environmentally-conscious, and economically-sustaining solution.  I will continue to be a strong advocate for providing an exit for southbound travelers without endangering the habitat of the RCW. 

NC Highway 87
NCDOT is currently considering two alternatives to improve and widen NC Highway 87. 

Both alternatives have the potential to endanger the economic security and livelihood of residents in Columbus and Bladen counties.  Alternative A is poised to threaten businesses and residential properties in downtown Riegelwood, and Alternative B could endanger the Ransom Community Center and other businesses and residential properties off NC Hwy 11.  A third alternative that would not harm businesses and residential properties along either corridor had previously been proposed, but after an initial feasibility study, it was considered to be too costly.  Though this is a state-owned road, and a decision must be made at the state level, I contacted NCDOT and area state legislators on behalf of thousands of Bladen and Columbus residents to urge them to reconsider the third alternative.  Much has changed since the third alternative was first assessed, and NCDOT has said that it will reevaluate the cost projection.  I will continue to fight for the Riegelwood and Ransom Communities and to urge NCDOT and state representatives to find an agreeable solution that benefits both counties.