Bill Overview
Title: A bill to amend title 40, United States Code, to increase the mileage of the Appalachian Development Highway System to provide for improvements to and expansion of Corridor K in North Carolina, and for other purposes.
Description: This bill increases the mileage of the Appalachian Development Highway System from 3,090 miles to 3,105 miles to provide for improvements to and expansion of Corridor K in North Carolina.
Sponsors: Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC]
Target Audience
Population: People in the Appalachian region benefiting from improved highway infrastructure
Estimated Size: 25000000
- The Appalachian Development Highway System is specifically designed to serve the transportation needs of the Appalachian region, which spans across multiple states, and supports economic development in this area.
- Corridor K is an essential part of the Appalachian Development Highway System that connects various communities within North Carolina and beyond.
- By increasing the mileage and improving Corridor K, the bill directly targets residents in the surrounding areas who rely on this route for transportation.
- The Appalachian region includes parts of 13 states, and improvements in the highway system can affect a large number of residents both directly and indirectly by enhancing connectivity and economic prospects.
Reasoning
- The target population for this policy includes residents and businesses in the Appalachian region, particularly those near Corridor K in North Carolina. Given the specific geographical focus, not all residents across the 25 million in the Appalachian region will be directly impacted but those near the improvements are likely to see changes in accessibility, connectivity, and potentially economic opportunities.
- Infrastructure improvements typically have long-term effects, with immediate impacts being more apparent for those in direct proximity to the changes. We expect those within commuting distance to Corridor K to have higher and more direct well-being impacts quickly.
- The budget constraints suggest that significant infrastructural and economic ripple effects might be gradual, limiting immediate, widespread economic impacts to what $6,000,000 can cover initially, expanding with continued investment over the decade.
Simulated Interviews
Local government worker (Asheville, NC)
Age: 52 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As someone working in local government, I believe that any improvement on Corridor K will help reduce commute times and improve connectivity for our residents.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Truck driver (Robbinsville, NC)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This extension should make my job easier, as smoother roads mean I can drive more efficiently and possibly even save on fuel.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Small business owner (Knoxville, TN)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Well, with better roads, I might get more customers visiting from nearby regions, which could really help my business.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Retired (Charlotte, NC)
Age: 64 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- More direct routes would certainly make my trips to visit family in the mountains more enjoyable and possibly more frequent.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 8 |
University student (Chattanooga, TN)
Age: 23 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Easier travel might offer more opportunities for internships or part-time jobs outside the immediate university area.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Teacher (Murphy, NC)
Age: 41 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Better roads can mean more reliable school bus routes and maybe even easier access to teaching resources and workshops.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Healthcare worker (Johnson City, TN)
Age: 59 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Anything that makes my commute shorter is appreciated, especially when it comes to faster emergency response times.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Software developer (Boone, NC)
Age: 48 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 20/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I doubt it will affect me much immediately, but having better infrastructure can never hurt future prospects.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Tourism guide (Bryson City, NC)
Age: 33 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Better roads might mean more tourists, which is great for us guides. It could mean more income during peak seasons.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Retail worker (Greenville, SC)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm not sure if this will affect me much at all, since I live quite further away.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $6000000 (Low: $5000000, High: $8000000)
Year 2: $12000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $16000000)
Year 3: $12000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $16000000)
Year 5: $6000000 (Low: $5000000, High: $8000000)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- Environmental considerations may influence the construction timeline and costs due to regional terrain and structure.
- Community impact and public support for the project, alongside the potential displacement caused due to expansion, must be considered.
- Future maintenance costs for the new roadway segments need to be factored into long-term financial planning.