We were founded as South Carolinians for Better Transportation by a coalition of highway industry partners to encourage and promote South Carolina’s prosperity through leadership on transportation issues.
The organization implemented the successful Drive for Tomorrow Educational Campaign, resulting in passage of Act 197 which included a motor fuel user fee increase of three cents and was signed into law by Governor Campbell.
The organization was restructured as the South Carolina Transportation Policy and Research Council to accommodate a larger scope of issues and to enhance our role in advocating the importance of investing in South Carolina’s transportation infrastructure.
The Council formed the Business Alliance for Transportation (per the request of the SC Legislature) to study state infrastructure needs and make recommendations to state government.
The Business Alliance for Transportation partnered with the SC Chamber of Commerce to complete the study, which recommended increased highway funding to the legislature and Governor Sanford.
Our Danger Ahead Campaign helped restore $78 million in diverted highway funds to the State Infrastructure Bank.
The Council was renamed the SC Alliance to Fix Our Roads (SCFOR) to simplify and modernize the organization’s name.
SCFOR joined forces with ally organizations to advocate for increased highway funding, including a “Road Map to the Future” campaign, which led to the passage of Act 98.
SCFOR implemented a social media grassroots campaign to further engage and educate the public on transportation infrastructure funding.
SCFOR continued to garner support for infrastructure funding. Public support for fixing roads was at an all-time high. The General Assembly passed Act 275, which secured over $200 million in recurring revenues and leveraged bonds for highway capacity and bridge projects over ten years.
SCFOR continued to garner public support and work with allies to secure passage of Act 40, which increased and diversified revenues to repair existing roads and bridges. Funding components included a 12-cent increase in the motor fuel user fee and increases in vehicle-related fees. The bill also provided for SCDOT reform as well as tax relief for individuals and businesses.
Voters support fixing South Carolina’s roads. No legislators were defeated in the primary elections because they supported road funding. This can be attributed to the hard work of SCFOR and our allies when it came to educating the public on the need for investment.
Roads continue to be a top issue for voters. Voters support fixing roads, and the proof is in the primary elections. No legislators were defeated based on their support of road funding or for supporting the improvements attributed to Act 40.
SCFOR partnered with TRIP to release “Moving SC Forward,” a report that found Act 40 dollars were being used to make progress toward repairs; however, additional investments would be required at the federal, state, and local levels to tackle increasing demands on the state’s infrastructure.
Successfully advocated for one-time investments and recurring budget dollars to accelerate projects and match federal funds from the Infrastructure Investment & Job Act (IIJA). Funds included a $120 million recurring allocation to serve as the state match for the IIJA. In addition, one-time dollars were allocated to County Transportation Committees and rural interstate projects.
Successfully advocated for budget allocations to the state’s bridge program. Ultimately, legislators invested over $500 million in transportation infrastructure in the FY24-25 budget, including $200 million for bridges, $200 million for CTCs, and $117 million for rural road safety.
Successfully advocated for budget surplus allocations to the state’s bridge program ($200 million) and reimbursements for Hurricane Helene cleanup ($35 million).