U.S. Transportation Secretary Foxx, Charleston Mayor Riley Host Forum on Future of Transportation

CHARLESTON, S.C. – U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx and Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr. today hosted the tenth of 11 nationwide regional forums on the Beyond Traffic draft framework at the Gaillard Center. The Beyond Traffic report examines the trends and choices facing America’s transportation infrastructure over the next three decades, including a rapidly growing population, increasing freight volume, demographic shifts in rural and urban areas, and a transportation system facing more frequent extreme weather events. The report predicts increased gridlock nationwide unless changes are made in the near-term.
 
The meeting allowed citizens, elected officials, metropolitan planners, transportation industry partners, business owners, and community leaders to learn more about the framework and ask questions about the trends identified in it. Secretary Foxx and Mayor Riley also solicited input from the participants on their region-specific experiences and asked for ideas on how to solve those challenges.
 
“Over the past couple of months, we’ve had many fruitful conversations with citizens across the country about the challenges and opportunities in transportation facing this nation over the next three decades,” said Secretary Foxx. “Today’s forum again allowed us to hear directly from the residents who know their region’s transportation systems best. The discussion provided us with insightful feedback that we will use as we continue to finalize the framework.”

Following remarks by Mayor Riley and Secretary Foxx and a presentation from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Beyond Traffic team, Mayor Riley, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin, and North Carolina Department of Transportation Secretary Nick Tennyson participated in a panel focusing on the impact of Beyond Traffic trends in the region. The last half of the program engaged attendees in a facilitated conversation, giving them the opportunity to share feedback that will inform the final Beyond Traffic report when it is published in 2016.‎
 
“The planning of our nation’s transportation system now will dictate how future generations will live and commute in our cities,” said Mayor Riley. “Therefore, it is extremely important that we develop sound policies for a transportation program that integrates all modes of transportation with the use of technology and energy efficient mechanisms while protecting our environment.  The Beyond Traffic forum gives all of us a process where we can provide input to the U.S. Department of Transportation and subsequently to Congress on how the future transportation policies and infrastructure can be developed for our nation.”
 

By 2050, the population of the Piedmont-Atlantic megaregion – which includes Atlanta, Charleston, Charlotte, Columbia, and Raleigh-Durham – is expected to increase by 78% percent. But, as the condition of transportation infrastructure continues to worsen due to a lack of long-term federal investment, leaders within the region have critical decisions to make in order to accommodate this growth in population while preserving quality of life.

To learn more about Beyond Traffic or to read the full framework, click here.
 
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