Two quick additions after reading John?s column on North Carolina’s transportation woes in CJ online today:

1. According to a recent Charlotte Business Journal poll, 77 % of the respondents said they would use a toll road if it significantly cut their commute.  The only new funding of any significance in this years budget was $25 million for gap funding to complete the Triangle Expressway toll project. Maybe lawmakers are finally listening to drivers who just want to get to work quickly and easily.  No frills, no fuss, just roads where people want to go.

2.  AAA Carolinas published a report on North Carolina?s bridges in February 2008.   To find out where the top 20 substandard bridges are located, how old they are, how much traffic they sustain and what the plans are to fix them, follow the link at the bottom of this page.  Of note, the General Assembly made a non-recurring appropriation of just $24 million in this year?s budget for highway maintenance (for all highway needs, not just bridges).