They spoke at a transportation conference in Cary sponsored by NC Go!, a group backed by transportation contractors that lobbies the state to spend more money on transportation.

"The bureaucracy that has to make every decision in Raleigh is antiquated," said Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue, a Democrat, adding that DOT's bureaucracy "needs to be totally reconfigured."

State Sen. Fred Smith of Clayton, a Republican and chief executive of a paving contractor, said DOT's job should be to build roads, "not to elect politicians." He added, "We need the people and the leadership to make sure that we use our money the right way."

The state transportation department has been a frequent political target in recent months after an external audit called the agency poorly managed and too political.

Republican Bill Graham, a Salisbury lawyer, called the agency a "Soviet-style-managed organization."

Graham said counties might play a bigger role in transportation if he's elected governor. Unlike many states, North Carolina's road system is highly centralized. The state is generally responsible for building and maintaining all noncity roads, including county roads. But with pressures on the state transportation budget, some state leaders have questioned whether localities need to chip in more.

"I do think some of the local maintenance issues could be turned over to the county, if you send the money with it," Graham said. "Don't turn it over to the county as an unfunded mandate."

Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory, a Republican, said the state has "an organizational process set up for failure."

Former N.C. Supreme Court Justice Bob Orr, a Republican, reiterated his proposal to strip the Board of Transportation of its power.

State Treasurer Richard Moore, a Democrat, did not attend the conference.