Columbia, SC — Politics directs South Carolina’s transportation agenda. Billions of dollars have gone to pet projects of powerful legislators. Never mind whether the road is needed or not, if there is money to be made by a few — that’s where the money goes.

The time to end this misuse of taxpayer dollars is now. H.3476 and S.209 would be a good start to transportation reform. Both bills would abolish the State Infrastructure Bank, an entity with no oversight, transparency or accountability, which ignores Department of Transportation project priority rankings.

The Infrastructure Bank has given millions to Charleston and Horry counties while the state’s rural counties get nothing and our roads and bridges fall apart. It’s time for legislators to get their priorities straight and support transportation reform. We will support them if they support these bills.

Rebecca Carr

Effingham