Remarks for Secretary Tippett
Parsons Brinckerhoff Quade and Douglas Toll Summit
Tuesday, July 22, 2005
11 a.m.
Sheraton Imperial Hotel, Durham, NC
Introduction
Good morning.
Mary, thank you for that kind introduction.
I also thank all of you with Parsons Brinckerhoff Quade and Douglas for inviting us here today and making us feel so welcome.
And thanks also for taking time out of your busy schedules to meet with us to discuss the future of transportation in North Carolina.
Before I introduce David Joyner, the new executive director of the N.C. Turnpike Authority, I'd like to give you a brief update on the department's recent efforts.
How NCDOT is Working to Meet the State's Transportation Needs
It is no secret that rising construction costs, inflation and tremendous population growth are presenting a challenge for the department to meet the state's transportation needs.
As a result, we are currently pursuing a number of new funding options that will help us continue to meet the state's transportation needs.
We are pleased that the House recently passed the Governor's bill for the use of Grant Application Revenue Vehicles (GARVEE) bonds, which would provide about $950 million to be used for federally-funded transportation projects.
These federal bonds would be used to pay for strategic, large projects of significant statewide benefit and would allow us to build projects faster and at a lower cost while freeing up state money for smaller projects throughout North Carolina.
Also, since GARVEE bonds are backed by federal revenue, interest on the bonds would not affect the state's credit rating.
We are also pursuing more public-private partnerships and the construction of toll roads, which of course is the subject of today's meeting.
I am pleased to introduce David Joyner, the new executive director of the N.C. Turnpike Authority.
Introduction of David Joyner
David was unanimously approved as the first executive director of the N.C. Turnpike Authority in June 2005.
He brings a wealth of experience in government relations, transportation and business-all of which are critical areas for establishing North Carolina's first toll roads.
He is committed to continuing the momentum of the Authority Board to create transportation projects of lasting value to the state and its citizens.
David's career spans nearly 30 years of experience in federal, state and local government, with assignments as an Intergovernmental and Congressional Relations Officer and as Special Assistant to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation.
He was also the first person to be named the Vice-President of State Government Affairs for Burson-Marsteller, the nation's largest public relations/public affairs firm, a position in which he managed a nationwide corps of lobbyists and oversaw state public affairs strategies for many of the nation's Fortune 500 companies.
In 1994, David moved to Raleigh and co-founded State Capitol Strategies, a fifty-state legislative bill tracking and issue analysis company that was later sold to The Washington Post.
Most recently, he served as a consultant to Womble Carlyle Administration Services.
A native of Rocky Mount and a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in business administration, David currently resides in Raleigh with his wife, Frances. They have an adult son, Worth.
Please join me in welcoming N.C. Turnpike Authority Executive Director David Joyner.