Overview

North Carolina is growing faster than any of us can believe. And while we welcome new residents to the state, our growth is taking a toll on our transportation system. Most of us must travel many miles to work, school, or other responsibilities. Unfortunately, our current transportation system has many of us stuck endlessly waiting in traffic, all the while spewing air pollution, wasting money on gas, and consuming billions of barrels of overseas oil.

Research shows that building more roads does not relieve congestion, but instead exacerbates traffic problems. Furthermore, in the quest to find money to build new roads, politicians are now selling our road ways to private interests only interested in making a profit.

Transportation networks need to be built and operated in the public interest. That means helping North Carolinians get around by reducing traffic congestion and increasing alternatives to car travel.

Without big changes, North Carolina’s transportation problems will severely worsen as over 3 million people join the population by 2030. Light rail, clean bus systems, and other public transit should play a greater part our transportation future. Efficient public transportation systems reduce the number of cars on the road and increase our options for getting around. As we work to maintain and expand transportation networks, we must also ensure that roadways continue to be operated for the public interest rather than for private profit.

NCPIRG is working for more and better transit by encouraging public support for new projects and improved service. We are also working to ensure that toll road privatization deals don’t sell out the public by relinquishing public control of roads, subjecting consumers to unfair tolls, or selling valuable public assets at a discount.