Infrastructure

North Carolina has seven million licensed drivers – most of whom are frustrated by potholes and traffic tie-ups. We have one of the nation’s largest state-maintained highway systems and it used to be one of the best. Unfortunately, we are not successfully maintaining or improving this system to the best of our ability – and the result is hurting our state’s people. A solid highway infrastructure improves the quality of life for families. It also improves the economy.

I’m focused on providing the right infrastructure to meet the state’s growing transportation needs by increasing transportation funding, particularly for New Hanover County and other areas in on the Cape Fear Coast . Doing so will stimulate economic development, enhance tourist opportunities, and improve the overall quality of life for the people in our district.

Along with roads, a major infrastructure concern for the coastal areas is North Carolina’s ports in Wilmington and Morehead City . The volume of international trade coming into the ports is expected to double by 2020 and we must be ready to provide quality services and maximize our potential to succeed in this area. The Port of Wilmington has unique advantages that make it nationally attractive: including direct access to Interstate 95 and 40

In the future, North Carolina ‘s coastal regions will be faced with a growing population that will bring more vehicles and people to the area, putting a greater burden on our infrastructure. I look forward to fighting for highway funding in upcoming legislative sessions – taking proactive measures and fixing these issues now.