Overview

North Carolina’s population is growing at the sixth fastest rate in the country. By 2030, North Carolina’s population is expected to exceed 12 million people. Unfortunately, the only thing growing faster than our population is the number of cars on our roads.

Growth could be a huge boon for the state, but we must take steps to ensure that our growth doesn’t undermine our quality of life. In every major metropolitan area in North Carolina, congestion

is a serious problem. On top of the inconvenience, it forces consumers to spend more money on gas and less time with their family and friends. But building more roads is not the answer. Study after study shows that more highways just bring more traffic. And with traffic comes air pollution; currently, half the state’s residents live in areas that don’t meet basic federal health standards for smog pollution.

We need to make smart, long-term decisions so that our transportation infrastructure can support the kind of the growth that will be a blessing for the state, not a burden. Light rail will provide new and current residents with choices—like whether to drive to work or not. But with no transit alternatives, growth will mean longer waits in traffic and more bad air days.

Our state leads the South in our dedication to education, technology and creativity. Now it’s time to put that innova­tion to use by developing top-notch rail systems for our metropolitan areas.