Remarks for Secretary Lyndo Tippett
Economic Development Panel
Pinehurst, NC
Monday, October 18, 2004
Thank you, Secretary Fain, for that kind introduction.
It is an honor for me to join you here today along with so many of my esteemed colleagues.
And as an avid golfer, I certainly wouldn't pass up the opportunity to visit one of the sport's most beloved cities.
I know everyone has been working hard to help this area recover from the tornadoes spawned by Hurricane Jeanne.
Highways play an important role in recovery efforts, and I applaud our NCDOT crews who had debris cleared and roads opened the following day.
We've had an unprecedented seven tropical storms this hurricane season, but communities across the state have shown amazing resilience to recover and get things moving again throughout North Carolina.
This is proof of the spirit of teamwork and determination in our state.
The same is true at DOT.
In just days, our employees reopened more than 200 roads in western North Carolina that were affected by tropical storms Frances and Ivan.
We used innovative methods to restore access to communities left isolated.
In one case, crews built a temporary bridge in less than 48 hours to restore access to homes and businesses.
Times like these illustrate how crucial our transportation infrastructure is to quality of life and our economy.
And nowhere is this bond more important than right here in Pinehurst.
As I'm sure you are all aware, Pinehurst will be the site of the 2005 U.S. Open.
The U.S. Open's decision to once again hold its prestigious tournament in Pinehurst is the perfect illustration of the strong bond between transportation and economic development.
To accommodate a world-renowned event on the scale of the U.S. Open, a community must have the infrastructure necessary to support thousands of tourists and participants.
With convenient access from interstates and major highways, as well as Moore County's first-class airport, Pinehurst is situated for success.
And the good news is that this success is not limited to Pinehurst, but is taking place in communities all across the state as we improve mobility and connections to job and activity centers.
This is evidenced by the fact that North Carolina has been named the number one state in the nation for business climate for the third consecutive year by Site Selection magazine.
Building a Culture of Change
NCDOT has long recognized the important link between transportation and the economy.
We continue to do everything we can to strengthen this important relationship and accomplish Gov. Easley's vision for One North Carolina, a state where every community matters and every citizen counts.
I like to say that progress is synonymous with change.
And to continue the tremendous progress we have made over the past four years, I have developed an aggressive agenda centered around the concept of change.
The agenda card in front of you details the ways we are improving transportation throughout North Carolina.
Seeking Innovative Solutions to Meet the State's Growing Needs
N.C. Moving Ahead!
One of our proudest accomplishments has been the passage of N.C. Moving Ahead!, a two-year $700-million transportation and economic stimulus program signed into law by Gov. Easley last year.
Through Moving Ahead!, we are improving more than 2,200 miles of highway with hundreds of projects across the state and bringing safety and mobility to a new level in North Carolina.
The program is also funding about 60 public transportation, rail and bicycle and pedestrian projects.
Overall, Moving Ahead! is projected to make a $4 billion economic impact and bring 30,000 jobs to our state.
We already have more than 270 Moving Ahead! contracts in place across North Carolina, totaling more than $130 million.
And, in its first year, Moving Ahead! has already helped land industries in Person and Buncombe counties, bringing more than 270 jobs and $140 million in investment to our state.
There are a number of Moving Ahead! projects that you may have seen in this area, including the construction of turn lanes on N.C. 5 south of Pinehurst.
N.C. Moving Ahead! and the Rail Industrial Access Program
Moving Ahead! is also helping us improve the state's rail infrastructure, providing increased connectivity and creating the opportunity for greater economic development.
Thanks to funds from Moving Ahead!, as well as the department's Rail Industrial Access Program, $2 million in grants were awarded to communities to help smaller railroads-known as short lines-maintain and improve their tracks and better serve industries in rural areas.
Short lines transport goods and materials between local industries and major freight railroads, relieving truck traffic on the state's highways, reducing wear and tear and improving the efficiency of our transportation system.
Overall, the grants will directly benefit 15 counties and 50 companies employing more than 5,000 people across North Carolina.
For example, a $500,000 grant was awarded this past June to the Aberdeen Carolina and Western Railway here in Moore and Montgomery counties.
The money will be used to build 5,700 feet of additional track and upgrade existing portions of track to accommodate up to 286,000-pound railcars.
Senate Bill 1005
Another innovative program that has allowed to place a greater investment in our exisitng highway system is known as Senate Bill 1005.
Thanks to this program we have been able to invest $470 million from our cash balances in vital maintenance and preservation projects across the state over a three-year period.
More than 1,500 miles of primary highway have been improved thanks to this bill.
In addition, 136 highway projects specifically for economic growth and development have been completed.
The department worked very closely with the General Assembly to pass both Moving Ahead! and S.B. 1005 and that hard work paid off.
Together, Senate Bill 1005 and N.C. Moving Ahead! have provided an additional $1 billion to preserve and improve the state's highway system.
By focusing on keeping the roads we already have in good condition, we can cut down on future costly repairs.
Improving Project Delivery
We're also using innovative methods to deliver projects in a more timely manner.
Design-Build
One way we are doing this is through the design-build process.
This process allows contractors to perform both design and construction work as part of a single contract-reducing project delivery time and saving taxpayer dollars.
The state's first two design-build projects, the widening of I-85 and I-77 in Charlotte, will both be completed and open to traffic at least one year sooner than by traditional methods.
And the U.S. 64 bypass around Knightdale outside Raleigh will be completed as much as four years sooner.
N.C. Turnpike Authority
We're also supporting the work of the N.C. Turnpike Authority Board, which was created in 2002 by the General Assembly.
The Authority is authorized to construct, operate and maintain up to three toll roads in the state and to study three more.
I have the honor of serving as Chair of the Authority, and already we've seen overwhelming support for potential projects from across the state.
Toll roads will complement the department's ongoing work by providing citizens with a choice.
Improving Mobility
HOV Lanes
By providing citizens with more choices, we can improve mobility.
We will soon celebrate the opening of the state's first High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane on I-77 north of Charlotte.
Because they allow for future growth without having to add additional travel lanes, HOV lanes can be a powerful congestion management tool.
ITS Technology
We are also improving highway efficiency and mobility through the increased use of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) technology.
ITS comprises state-of-the-art technological advances such as traffic signal systems, traffic cameras and traffic management centers that make roads safer, increase mobility and cut costs.
As part of these efforts, we recently launched a new telephone travel information system known as 511.
Through this toll-free number, citizens and visitors can access road conditions, weather conditions, construction information, even tourism information.
This effort is part of a nationwide push to make 511 the standard number for transportation information.
Our system is the nation's first statewide system-with information available on all highways throughout the state from anywhere in North Carolina, 24-hours a day.
Highway Projects
We've also recently completed a number of major highway projects to enhance mobility in both urban and rural areas across the state.
This includes the completion of I-26 in Madison County, which completes a vital link in a four-lane highway spanning all the way from Ohio to Charleston, South Carolina.
We've also completed significant stretches of urban loops around Raleigh, Fayetteville, Greensboro and Charlotte.
In fact, the latest piece of the I-485 loop around Charlotte is scheduled to open tomorrow.
The new section will connect I-85 and I-77, greatly improving the mobility of citizens in that area and providing increased opportunity for growth and development.
There are a number of other vital highway projects underway, such as the U.S. 1 Bypass of Vass and Cameron here in Moore County.
These projects will not only improve traffic through local communities, but will also improve mobility along these corridors to better move people and goods.
Strategic Highway Corridors
The department recognizes that mobility is key to economic success.
That's why we are focusing on developing Strategic Highway Corridors throughout the state to help improve safety, mobility and trade.
These corridors have been designated as such because of their important role-and they will remain a top priority for the department.
Last month the department adopted a new 25-year statewide transportation plan which will make these corridors a top priority.
The Strategic Highway Corridor policy has been endorsed by Secretary Fain and Secretary Ross, because of the significant impact it will have on fostering economic development and environmental stewardship in North Carolina.
I thank my colleagues for their partnership in this important issue and look forward to the progress that will result from our efforts.
The Ecosystem Enhancement Program (EEP)
We also have another partnership in place with DENR known as the Ecosystem Enhancement Program (EEP).
This partnership allows us to implement stream and wetland mitigation years in advance of construction to improve delivery of highway projects and protect our environment.
To date, we have helped protect 17,125 acres of high-quality assets including 69 miles of streams.
Expanding Diversity and Creating More Opportunities for Employees in the Construction Industry
Before I close, I want to mention one more area in which we are making tremendous progress.
A significant part of our initiative to "build a culture of change" is expanding the diversity of our department and creating more opportunities for those in the contracting industry.
As our transportation demands grow, we all benefit from an increased contractor base and an improved ability to deliver projects.
To this end, our efforts have centered on creating more opportunities for small and disadvantaged businesses-and our hard work is already paying off.
For example, in fiscal year 2003-04, the department awarded $42 million in state contracts to highway contractors in the department's Small Business Enterprise (SBE) program-a significant increase over previous figures, thanks in large part to Moving Ahead!.
Of those contracts awarded, contracts to minority businesses totaled $5.6 million (a seven percent increase over last year), and women-owned businesses received $8.9 million (21 percent) of the contracts.
In addition, through N.C. Moving Ahead!, more than $4.2 million has been generated for fully-operated rental equipment (FORE) companies.
By creating more business opportunities for small businesses, all North Carolinians benefit.
Conclusion
As you can see, NCDOT is strongly committed to building a "Culture of Change" and creating opportunities for all North Carolinians.
I've learned during my career that the success of any endeavor is directly proportional to the number of dedicated people involved.
And it is through the strong partnerships among DOT and other agencies such as Commerce and DENR that North Carolina is such a desirable place to live and work.
I look forward to continuing these partnerships and making North Carolina even stronger.
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