Perdue, Bev. Executive Order No. 116: Establish a Moratorium on the Collection of New Tolls for the North Carolina Ferry System

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 1 16 ESTABLISH A MORATORIUM ON THE COLLECTION OF NEW TOLLS FOR THE NORTH CAROLINA FERRY SYSTEM WHEREAS, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (“DOT') operates ferries connecting components of the State highway system: and WHEREAS, the ferry system is essential to our State’s citizens who use the ferries each day as a means of transportation to pursue their livelihoods; and WHEREAS, the ferry system is also important to the State's travel and tourism industry as a mode of transportation for thousands of tourists who explore North Carolina’s coastal areas each year: and WHEREAS, a number of the ferries currently operating are offered at no expense to the public; and WHEREAS, pursuant to Session Law 201 1-145. section 31.30. the North Carolina General Assembly directed the Board of Transportation, no later than April 1. 2012. to establish tolls for all ferry routes, except for the Ocracoke/Hatteras Ferry and the Knotts Island Ferry; and WHEREAS, while our State and nation are beginning to rise out of the recent economic recession, many of our citizens are still struggling to regain their economic footing; and WHEREAS, the citizens and counties of coastal North Carolina continue to recover from the devastation caused by Hurricane Irene, which made landfall in coastal North Carolina on August 27. 2011; and WHEREAS, North Carolina’s coastal counties continue to experience a slower economic recovery than other areas of the State due to the impact of Hurricane Irene; and WHEREAS, it is crucial that our citizens who use the ferry system are not burdened with extra costs that threaten to negatively impact their economic progress and well-being; and WHEREAS, it is also important that our State not impose additional costs that could reduce the attractiveness of our coastal areas as a tourist destination, thus harming our travel and tourism industry; and