Hear what SC Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Otis B. Rawl Jr. had to say about the future of South Carolina's roads, highways and bridges at the Lexington Chamber's November Breakfast Meeting.

1. Roads,
Highways &
Bridges
Investing in
South Carolina’s
Future
November 2014

2. Key Infrastructure Facts
• Just 29 percent South Carolinians are riding on what
is considered “good” pavement right now.
• 31 percent of our interstates experience recurring
congestion.
• Almost half of our primary roads are rated in “poor”
condition.
• There are 830 structurally deficient bridges that our
citizens are riding on every day. Almost half of
those are load restricted, meaning businesses have to
reroute trucks just to do daily business.

3. SC Chamber Position
Critically Important:
• Widening projects on South Carolina’s
interstates
• Fixing load restricted and deficient
bridges and
• Resurfacing existing roadways

4. 2014 Penny Sales Tax
Referendums for Infrastructure
Note: 38 counties currently have a penny sales tax as either a local-option
sales tax or for the school district, transportation projects, capital projects or
education capital projects.
Passed:
Anderson
Lancaster
Failed:
Lexington
Greenville
Oconee

5. Sample:
800 S.C. Republican Voters
Research:
Conducted March 31, 2014 -
April 1, 2014

7. Other groups tested: SC Fix our Roads, SC Manufacturers Alliance, SC Trucking Assn,
Palmetto Business Forum, Carolinas Association of General Contractors, Build a Better
SC, South Carolinians for a Better Future

11. 71.6 High Rating

12. 85.2 High Rating

13. Would you rather road and bridge
improvement revenue
be raised through gas taxes, user fees or both?
Percent
Gas Taxes 10.1 %
User Fees 9.9 %
Both 63.6 %
Unsure 11.5 %
Refused 4.9 %

19. ARGUMENTS THAT MADE VOTERS SAY THEY
WERE MORE LIKELY TO SUPPORT TAX
• Our South Carolina’s roads, bridges and highways
are in bad condition
• Our state has not raised its gas tax in 25 years, while
all surrounding states have raised theirs within the
past year.
• Repairing roads now is cheaper than having to
replace them later; and
• A gas tax to improve infrastructure means one third
of the revenue would come from out-of-state drivers

20. TOP METRICS ON MESSAGES ON
A SCALE OF 1-5
How strongly do you agree with these statements as
reasons to invest more in roads, bridges & highways…
• A priority for public safety and quality of life
73 (42)
• A priority for jobs & economic development
72 (40)
• SC has duty to make roads safe & reliable
86 (61)

21. INFORMED BALLOT QUESTION
Are you willing to pay a higher tax to improve roads,
bridges & highways over the next 10 years?
Informed Cold Ballot
YES 57 % 45% (+12%)
NO 38 47 (-9%)
UNSURE 5 7

26. Ad Hoc Committee On Transportation
• Established by acting House Speaker Jay Lucas
• Chaired by Rep. Gary Simrill
• Has heard testimony from business community,
SCDOT
Being Discussed (in addition to funding):
• Return of roads to counties
• SCDOT Restructuring (SCDOT already working
under a recently reformed system – Act 114)
• Revenue options

27. Ad Hoc Committee On Transportation
Returning Roads to Counties
• Who will have authority over roads?
• Restrictions by cities, counties permitted?
• Does infrastructure really gain (how will it be
funded)?
• SC Chamber Priority – existing roads, not
expansion

28. Ad Hoc Committee On Transportation
SCDOT Restructuring
• SCDOT Commission – gubernatorial appt. with
advice and consent from General Assembly – not
based on congressional district
Revenue Options
• Statewide referendum (sales tax)
• Cap on automobiles
• General Fund revenue
• Substitute sales tax for gas tax
• Gas tax

29. Statewide
Research
Infrastructure
November
2014