NC's $100 billion transportation infrastructure challenge

NC's $100 billion transportation infrastructure challenge

Author: WUNC News June 5, 2026 Duration: 29:04
With a growing population and skyrocketing construction costs, the N.C. Department of Transportation needs more help to build and improve roads and infrastructure across the state. If you’re driving around a high-growth area of the state, there’s a decent chance you might be stuck in traffic – and those daily bottlenecks are only getting worse. The Department of Transportation knows exactly where it needs to widen roads and build new ones to ease that congestion. But with inadequate revenue from the gas tax, construction on those improvements could be years away. DOT has a list of $144 billion in transportation infrastructure projects submitted by local leaders, but it only has $5 billion to spend  WUNC News sat down with NCDOT Secretary Daniel Johnson at the agency’s Raleigh headquarters to get a better picture of the state’s transportation funding challenges, from controversial toll roads to the shifting sands around N.C. 12 on the Outer Banks.

Tune in for the conversations happening behind the headlines across the state. WUNC Politics, from the journalists at WUNC News, moves beyond the official statements and press conferences to bring you the context and candid insights shaping North Carolina. Each episode feels like catching up with a well-informed friend who just left the floor of the General Assembly or a key campaign stop, translating the day’s political maneuvers into something relatable and clear. You’ll hear directly from reporters about the whispers in the legislative hallways, the shifting dynamics on the trail, and the real-world impacts of policy debates. This isn't about partisan scoring; it's about understanding the how and why of Tar Heel politics. The podcast delivers a grounded, weekly perspective that helps make sense of the rapid changes in our state's government and elections. For anyone curious about the forces driving decisions in Raleigh and beyond, this is an essential listen. The analysis is sharp, the reporting is trustworthy, and the discussion always points toward what it all means for the people who live here. Dive into the nuanced and often surprising stories that define political life in North Carolina.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

WUNC Politics
Podcast Episodes
What to expect from NC's expensive 2026 US Senate race [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:41
North Carolina’s 2026 U.S. Senate race officially kicked off as former Gov. Roy Cooper and Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley have formally launched their campaigns for the seat where Sen. Thom Tillis…
A new NC political party seeks to find the middle [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:39
North Carolina’s ballot access laws create an uphill battle for third parties seeking to get their candidates on the ballot, requiring more than 14,000 registered voters to sign their petition for access. Five of those p…
NC's new healthcare laws you probably missed [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:43
A wide-ranging healthcare bill that was recently signed into law would make it easier to get flu medications and make it easier for medical professionals to practice in North Carolina. It was among several noteworthy bil…
NC House's top Democrat says the legislature is 'getting nothing done' [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:57
House Democratic Leader Robert Reives says the legislature has been “getting nothing done” this year as it heads to a summer break. He faults Republican leaders for focusing on culture war issues instead of getting a bud…
State auditor talks elections, DMV and more [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:00
Since Republican Dave Boliek won last year’s election, the position of state auditor has been getting more powerful. He’s now responsible for appointing and overseeing the State Board of Elections, and lawmakers want to…
'A diplomat': NC's longest-serving legislator on his new role [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:17
Sen. Dan Blue, D-Wake, is the only lawmaker who’s been in office since the early 1980s, but the former House speaker is no longer serving as Senate minority leader after his fellow Democrats backed Sen. Sydney Batch for…
How a Democrat gets bills passed in a GOP legislature [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:50
Amid all the culture wars and controversies at North Carolina’s legislature, some legislation features Republicans and Democrats quietly working together. There are plenty of examples of bills developed by lawmakers from…
NC legislator makes the case for cryptocurrency in state investments [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:25
The N.C. House recently passed a bill to allow the state treasurer to invest state pension funds in cryptocurrency and other digital assets. Rep. Mike Schietzelt, the first-term Republican who made the case for the bill…
Meet the only Democrat (so far) running for U.S. Senate in 2026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:30
Earlier this month, former Congressman Wiley Nickel became the first Democrat to officially launch a campaign in North Carolina’s 2026 U.S. Senate race. He’s an attorney and former Barack Obama aide who represented Wake…
A closer look at NC's broken-down DMV [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:46
For years, the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles has been plagued by long wait times and poor service. It’s a major problem in one of America’s fastest-growing states. And in the age of DOGE and government effi…