By Paul Gable
A citizens’ alliance is pushing S.C. General Assembly members to fix S.C. roads before the infrastructure collapses completely.
The S.C. Alliance to Fix Our Roads (SCFOR) is increasing online efforts to make the peoples’ voices heard in Columbia.
With the new legislative session just underway, SCFOR hopes to increase grassroots efforts contact state and local leaders to demand a plan to fix our roads.
A recently released study by Washington D.C. based non-profit TRIP used data from the S.C. Department of Transportation to estimate the poor road conditions cost S.C. drivers approximately $3 billion per year in lost time, increased fuel costs and accidents caused by poor road conditions.
That number equates to an extra cost of $1,248 for each S.C. driver just because our politicians refuse to develop a comprehensive plan to fix the state’s roads.
“The cost of politics is taking its toll on S.C. drivers,” said Bill Ross, Executive Director of SCFOR. “We all knew South Carolina was billions in the hole on getting our infrastructure needs addressed but last week’s study showed failure to address roads isn’t just some pie-in-sky budget number. It is costing every driver, every day in very real terms.”
Ross said South Carolinians deserve leadership on the infrastructure issue because the cost of continued inaction is too great.
“We’re dangerously close to our roads becoming a national embarrassment,” said Ross.
There is a reason South Carolina ranks near the bottom of everything good and near the top of everything bad in national studies. That reason, too often, is inaction on important issues by the General Assembly.
I know buying ties, taking foreign vacations and putting money into personal business, all from campaign accounts, are important issues for S.C. legislators.
But, occasionally, it would be nice if General Assembly members looked beyond their personal issues and actually did the job they are elected to do.
For more info on SCFOR see: www.fixscroads.com
Speak Up…