State needs to get on the roads again.

• Position: Economic Outlook - Interview

North Carolina's growing population is taxing state roads, says a report by The Road Information Program, a Washington, D. C.-based transportation-research and advocacy group funded by road-building companies. Deteriorating roads and congestion cost Tar Heel drivers $5.3 billion a year, the report says, and the problems could get worse. The N. C. Department of Transportation forecasts a $28 billion short-fall over the next 25 years for highway and bridge projects that the agency deems necessary. Carolyn Bonifas is TRIP's director of research and communications.

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BNC: Why should motorists care?

Bonifas: Statewide costs per driver are $820 a year. That's time spent sitting in traffic, extra vehicle operating costs, depreciation of your car and increased tire wear and gas consumption. There are also safety costs in terms of economic productivity lost to injuries and the cost of insurance and hospitals.

Is that real money?

These are credible numbers, and they drive home the point. You can tell people that the roads are in bad shape and that there's increased congestion. When they see the dollar figures--the money coming out of their pockets--it makes for a bigger push to do something. This is our way of informing residents and legislators so they can make the best decisions to improve their transportation system.

Wouldn't the companies that paid for the research benefit from its findings?

They certainly would. But that doesn't change the fact that all of the data come from sources such as the U.S. Census Bureau, the Federal Highway Administration, the Texas Transportation Institute at Texas A&M and the N. C. Department of Transportation.

What does congestion cost motorists?

It averages $60 a motorist a year, but it's much higher in Charlotte and the Triangle. North Carolina was the third-fastest-growing state in the East in the last decade, behind Florida and Georgia. With the increase in population comes an increase in traffic, especially in major cities. It eats up motorists' money and their time. More than that, it impacts economic development.

How?

When companies are looking for places to expand or relocate, they take the transportation system into account. It is essential for them to deliver their goods in a timely manner. Just-in-time transportation has become increasingly crucial, with trucks having become essentially rolling warehouses.

How does the state compare with others?

We don't have a comparison for all 50...