Experts agreed Monday that improving the state's transportation could be a key to growing North Carolina's economy.

The North Carolina Bankers and North Carolina Chamber hosted a panel discussion at Raleigh's Convention Center.

The panel featured area business leaders who talked about the state's transportation issues and their impact on businesses.

Some said the state needs to keep up with building and maintaining highways and roads to help keep existing businesses and attract new ones.

One panelist said before locating to an area, businesses will often examine the surrounding transportation options and access to major highways.

"If your phone company doesn't work, you change phone companies. If the interstate system isn't going to work, [businesses] are going to move."

The panelists said state leaders must meet the challenge of allocating money to build and maintain roads and highways, as the area is expected to experience significant growth during the coming decades.

The state Legislature is expected to consider transportation funding options such as new fees and more toll roads when it begins its session later this month.

One local business that relies on highways to transport goods said it would always enjoy having more highways in and around the Triangle.

Nonstop Services of Raleigh transports a variety of goods across the country.

The company said it's important to have highways that are free of congestion to be able to get products out quickly.

"Everything we have is pretty much time sensitive. Everybody wants their stuff now," said Nonstop Services Operations Manager Jeff Fishgal.