News from Senator Todd Johnson | Eastern North Carolina Now

Press Release:

    Undoubtedly, the most calls I receive to my office concern our local roads. Our population has increased substantially. I will readily agree that our transportation infrastructure has not kept pace.

    How does North Carolina road funding work?

    In short, Union County shares road funding needs with Iredell and Mecklenburg Counties. Cabarrus County, of which NC Senate District 35 shares road funding needs with Rowan County. NCDOT funds programs through the State Transportation Improvement Program. You can view latest list of projects here and a site map here. In competing with Charlotte, it puts tremendous pressure on funds coming to Union County.

    North Carolina's recently passed budget enacted several new fees that better balance the cost of funding NC roads among ride-share and electric vehicles.

• Increased the annual registration fee for fully electric vehicles from $140.25 to $180 on Jan. 1. The fee will be adjusted for inflation every four years, starting next July 1, when it's expected to go to $214.38 a year, according to the legislature's Fiscal Research Division.
• Enacted a new registration fee of $90 a year for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which use both electricity and gas. That fee will begin Jan. 1 and also be adjusted for inflation next summer, to an estimated $107. Both fees come on top of the $38.75 that all passenger vehicles pay the DMV each year. The special fees are expected to generate about $4 million in the fiscal year that starts next July.
• Enacted a new "transportation commerce tax" on taxis and rideshare companies such as Uber and Lyft. Starting July 1, 2025, passengers will pay an extra 2% of their fare for an exclusive ride and 1% for a shared ride, generating about $11.5 million for the Highway Fund in the first full year.

    Transportation funding comes from a mix of taxes and fees administered on the federal and state level. You can view that information here.

    Several things we can do currently:

    First, I will continue to strongly advocate for greater funding of transportation projects - both at the local and state level. Roads connect our communities - be that schools, jobs, health care and leisure.

    You can also contact my office directly at todd.johnson@ncleg.gov with any specific road maintenance/repair concerns. We take those issues directly to local NCDOT officials. The NCDOT also maintains an online portal where you can report road condition issues. Follow the link here. If you live in a local municipality, road maintenance may fall under their control and not the NCDOT. Major road projects go through Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization. Our office can assist singularly with general road repair and condition issues.


    As we move into the cold winter months, roads will experience cracking and potholes. You can report issues such as this on state maintained roads directly to the NCDOT. Follow the link here.


   Contact:
   Phone: 919-733-7659
   Email: todd.johnson@ncleg.gov.