Myrtle Beach, S.C. (January 13, 2012) – As presidential candidates enter the final stretch of the South Carolina primary, members of the Building America’s Future South Carolina Chapter (BAF-SC) are teaming with Myrtle Beach business leaders and officeholders to urge them to articulate their plan to modernize the nation’s infrastructure.
BAF-SC members met with supporters of I-73 in the I-73 Coalition Bus to discuss the project’s role in comprehensive infrastructure reform. The meeting focused on ways to modernize the country’s infrastructure network in a merit-based and accountable manner.
“This community is focused on continuing to make Myrtle Beach a world-class, 21st Century region through a recognition and focus on strategic, long-term infrastructure planning,” said Myrtle Beach Mayor John Rhodes. “I applaud the focus on this issue and the efforts to help advance South Carolina by mending the state’s crippled infrastructure.”
Officials at the meeting included Myrtle Beach Mayor John Rhodes, Councilman Michael Chestnut, Mike Wooten, President of DDC Engineers, Brad Dean, President of Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce and state Representative Alan Clemmons, District 107.
“Now, more than ever, our state and our country needs smart, accountable and transparent infrastructure investments to improve the lives of Myrtle Beach residents and the state as a whole,” said Brad Dean, BAF-SC Steering Committee Member and Myrtle Beach Chamber President. “As the country continues to fall behind in this crucial area, we must look at the role I-73 plays in this process and work tirelessly to strategize ways we can improve our economy and create jobs through infrastructure.
The facts are clear that a long-term infrastructure strategy is needed and will create more jobs:
- According to Transportation for America, 13 percent of bridges statewide are rated ‘structurally deficient’ compared with 11.5 percent nationwide.
- By 2025, vehicle travel in South Carolina is projected to increase by another 45 percent. Travel delays in Columbia, Greenville, Spartanburg and Myrtle Beach will more than double by 2030 unless additional capacity is added to those regions’ transportation systems.
- Infrastructure projects can create jobs the economy needs right now. The Federal Highway Administration estimates that every billion dollars of federal spending creates 27,822 jobs in construction and supporting industries.
- Federal investment in public transportation generates even more jobs: every billion dollars supports 36,100 jobs.
“Candidates have been aggressively seeking Palmetto State votes for more than a year and now they’re down to the final hours. Voters will seek answers up to the minute they walk into the voting booth and are greatly interested in each candidate's plan for how they will modernize and improve our country’s infrastructure system,” concluded Rep. Alan Clemmons.
The BAF-SC Steering Committee includes state legislators, city officials and business executives who have joined together in an effort to help advance South Carolina by mending the state’s crippled infrastructure.
View pictures HERE.
View the WBTW-TV segment HERE.
Media Contact: Laura Braden, 615-891-8433, lbraden@mercuryllc.com
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Groups Discuss I-73, Infrastructure Reform and Urge Presidential Candidates to Lay Out Infrastructure Plans