To the Editor,
In his opinion piece, “Road Policies Need Attention,” John Hood astutely notes that lawmakers in North Carolina should rethink the way transportation dollars are spent.
While there are the old standbys of increasing taxes (or in North Carolina’s case, reallocating where the gas tax funds go), installing toll roads and other similar ideas, Mr. Hood’s idea of lawmakers simply looking at more efficient ways to spend the money they have is one that displays not only a great deal of common sense, but also a very realistic — and proven — option.
Mr. Hood closes the piece by stating that the “…first priority should be to spend transportation revenues more wisely — something that North Carolina is beginning to do.” He is absolutely correct in this thinking.
Granted, the National Highway Trust Fund was extended in December, but federal monies only account for 20 percent of the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s overall budget, and 45 percent of the NCDOT budget for construction. This means that the majority of overall funding comes from North Carolina taxpayer dollars.
Mr. Hood calls for assessment of the allocation of taxpayer dollars and responsible decision-making. We implore lawmakers to look to innovative technologies, such as geosynthetics, which exist today and improve road life, save on maintenance costs, and are being utilized and are currently being utilized to save time and money on a large energy generation project in North Carolina.
Geosynthetics are a continuation of the textile industry that is synonymous with the Carolinas, with these materials having been proven in an independent, academic study to extend road life up to 10 times longer than those without. These products also save natural resources and reduce CO2 emissions.
Mr. Hood notes that taxpayers oppose gas tax hikes and tolls to increase road funding, and this is understandable. Why continue to shift money around when a product proven to save money over the life of a road exists in your own backyard?
As Mr. Hood notes, “North Carolina is on the leading edge of how transportation dollars are spent.” This is both exciting and encouraging, as North Carolina is showing the forethought to embrace innovative ways to invest tax dollars wisely.
We encourage them to take that same pioneering spirit when it comes to the materials used in their road projects.
John Henderson
President
TenCate Geosynthetics Americas