The Charlotte business community strongly supports legislation filed Monday at the North Carolina General Assembly to expand our region’s transportation system.
As one of the fastest growing regions in the United States, with 117 people moving to the area every day, we must stay ahead of other metros and keep pace with our population growth to ensure people have mobility choices and we can provide for the reliable movement of goods and services.
Legislators are stepping up to lead the effort at the General Assembly. Senators Bill Rabon, David Craven, and Vickie Sawyer have filed legislation to advance the transportation plan. Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger has also been a leading pro-growth voice for North Carolina. We appreciate their leadership.
“Thank you to the members of the General Assembly for advancing this momentous piece of legislation,” said Andrea Smith, interim president and CEO of the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance. “Investments in transportation infrastructure are critical for the region’s long-term competitiveness, success, and quality of life for all. The CLT Alliance will continue to deliver the business perspective on this critical topic and is committed to working with stakeholders across the region to make progress on transportation solutions.”
The legislation will allow the people of Mecklenburg with an opportunity to vote yes for much greater investments in roads, transit and bus systems to ensure we maintain the outstanding quality of life we know is threatened by increasing congestion. Having a transportation system that meets the needs of our growing population and ensures we remain attractive for businesses to grow and relocate here is critical to our sustained economic vitality.
“This region is at a remarkable inflection point. We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to invest in our future,” said David Longo, board chair of the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance. “Thank you to the lawmakers who understand what is at stake and are working toward ensuring a better future for us all.”
We look forward to working with the North Carolina Senate and lawmakers in the North Carolina House to continue to move the transportation plan forward and proactively plan for the continued growth and prosperity of our region. By 2050, the region’s population is expected to swell nearly 50% to 4.6 million.
“The broader business community overwhelmingly supports the proposed legislation to expand our transportation infrastructure, and we couldn’t be more appreciative of Raleigh’s leadership for their ongoing commitment to furthering the economic growth of our region,” said Gene Woods, chair of the Charlotte Executive Leadership Council.
