Following unusual levels of ice and snowfall across the state this year, Rep. Cynthia Ball is introducing a bill to help North Carolina better respond to winter weather.
Ball, who serves as state House Deputy Democratic Leader and lives in Raleigh, spoke about the legislation on the House floor on Monday.
Although North Carolina historically has mild winters, that hasn’t been the case recently.
“When winter weather hits and local roads remain unsafe, even long after daybreak, the consequences for our economy can be severe, particularly to our cities and towns where most commerce and employment occur,” Ball said.
Widespread closures and shipping delays can cause thousands of dollars in lost productivity, Ball continued.
Rep. Cynthia Ball (D-Wake) (Photo: ncleg.gov)She said she’s heard from many frustrated parents about how differing road conditions across the state can lead to school closures while parents are required to go into work, leaving them to find caregivers on short notice.
“It is time for us to accept that this is not a one-off event, but the beginning of a new normal,” Ball said. “If our economy is to survive and prosper, we have to act decisively.”
The legislation, titled “Keeping North Carolina Open for Business,” would provide the state Dept. of Transportation with funding to help municipalities prepare for snow and ice. The DOT would help local governments pay to equip existing sanitation or dump trucks to plow the roads.
Ball’s proposal also includes using technology like GPS-based tracking and online maps to show plowing activity after snow and ice storms.
Recent snowstorms have cost the state millions of dollars. North Carolina faced back-to-back weekends with snow and ice last month, leading state government officials to spend at least $33.4 million for DOT alone, including $5 million to buy more salt to clear the roads, WRAL reported. Those numbers don’t include overtime for workers or additional costs for any other state agencies.
There’s only enough salt in North Carolina for one more big snowstorm, according to Ball. She isn’t sure what will happen if there’s more than that this year, but said it would likely require coordination between the DOT, Gov. Josh Stein’s office, and state lawmakers.
DOT and Stein’s office did not respond to requests for comment.
Ball will formally file the bill in April. In the meantime, she’s coordinating with her colleagues to gain their support and hearing feedback from local communities.
“We want to have it ready to go as soon as the session comes,” she said.
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