Off-to DC… I-73 or Bust
On Tuesday, September 25th, Eastern South Carolina leaders will board a chartered jet for Washington, DC, all with one focus, moving forward plans for constructing Interstate-73. They’ll meet up with other leaders from the states along the I-73 corridor- North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio and Michigan, for two days of handshaking and note-taking. It’s their mission to position I-73 for priority funding in the next Transportation Reauthorization Bill, coming up in 2009.Brad Dean, President and CEO of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce said serious progress has been made since the group got together only four years ago in Greensboro, North Carolina. I was there, as the CEO of the Myrtle Beach Area Hospitality Association, and we knew that the I-73 effort needed a major overhaul. In fact, the I-73/74 Corridor Association still existed, but had become pretty inactive. The interstate itself, in most places, was nothing more than a dotted line on a map.
That major overhaul began in Greensboro, when the South Carolina I-73 Association was formed. The first Washington, DC I-73 Fly –In was held in Spring of 2004, and another followed in Spring 2005. I have been on each one of these trips, tracking I-73’s progress as leaders develop new strategies each year.
This year, Dean told me they celebrate significant milestones:
1) It’s the first year all senators from both South and North Carolina’s will take the stage together, promoting the importance of I-73.
2) I-95 has been given Corridor of the Future designation, and I-73 was tied into that as an extension of I-95.
3) The Federal Government gave I-73 a special tolling provision.
4) The I-73/74 Corridor Association has made major headway. In 2003… only SC and NC considered 73 a priority. Today, the states are together and pushing for 73. For the 1st time, you can see other states with momentum.
This week’s I -73 event was scheduled at this time to prepare for upcoming Transportation Hearings, held this Fall. Tuesday is focused on Congressional meetings. On Wednesday, delegates will hear from Tyler DuVall, Assistant Secretary of USDOT who is a public/private partnership funding guru, and then meetings with Senate leaders from the corridor states.
I’ll be there again, my second time covering Interstate 73 progress from Washington, DC, and my fourth trip with this group.
Look for updates here, and for in depth coverage Tuesday on News13 at 6 and 11.
Posted by on 09/25 at 08:00 AM
