Ongoing Infrastructure Investments Will Pave the Way for a Bright Future
The SCFOR Annual Meeting was held on Thursday, November 21. SCFOR Vice-Chairman Paul Edwards welcomed a sold-out crowd to the Hall at Senate’s End.
Edwards reiterated the importance of transportation infrastructure to the state’s overall economic competitiveness and SCFOR’s ongoing efforts to educate the public and policymakers on the need for safe and efficient infrastructure.
We started the day with remarks from SCDOT Commission Chairwoman Pam Christopher and a presentation from Secretary of Transportation Justin Powell. Secretary Powell provided a timely update on how the agency is working to maintain momentum, identify needs, and position South Carolina for a bright future.
Representatives from the SC Association of Counties, Leslie Simpson and Avery Upchurch, provided a quick review of recent referendums and a high-level summary of some of the issues counties are focusing on, including annexation, waste tires, and road dedication.
Our House panel featured Representatives Heather Ammons Crawford (R-Horry), Shannon Erickson (R-Beaufort), and Robby Robbins (R-Dorchester). Each brought a unique perspective, reiterated the importance of using data to determine buying power and revenue trends, and pressed the importance of getting to know your legislators and educating them on issues that impact you.
We closed out the day with Senators Chip Campsen (R-Charleston), Larry Grooms (R-Berkeley), and Ross Turner (R-Greenville) for a discussion on the upcoming session, changes in the SC Senate, government transparency and accountability, and the importance of continuing to address the big issues that impact citizens and businesses on a day to day basis.
We truly appreciate the insights SCDOT and members of the SC House and Senate provided last week. We can all agree that a lot has changed since the passage of Act 40, but the importance of educating the public and policymakers about infrastructure needs and investments remains.
Numbers don’t lie. Dollars are covering fewer miles than they used to. So, if we see these trends now, while it is still relatively early, there is NO better time to talk about the future of our network and the policies governing it.
If there is anything we learned from Act 40 – it’s that we can’t afford to wait. Ensuring favorable policies and sustainable funding mechanisms continue to deliver for our roads and bridges is a team effort—a big THANK YOU to our speakers, sponsors, and everyone who joined us for our annual meeting. And, to all of our members, we appreciate your continued support. Together, we can keep SC Moving Forward!