Thank you, Sanford.

And I thank each of you for joining me here today to participate in this year’s North Carolina Community Transportation Conference. What a great place to have a meeting.

It’s good to see you again.

I saw many of you in New Bern at the North Carolina Public Transportation Conference in May.

I look forward to seeing you next June at the statewide conference in Wilmington.

As I look at each of you today, I am reminded of the strength of America--a strength that comes from the hard work and diligence of public transportation professionals like you.

Your work impacts our great state in so many important ways--you make it possible to keep our state moving and thriving during this trying time.

You enable people to continue to go to medical facilities, places of worship and community centers.

In doing so, you help citizens to keep their morale high and move forward with their lives.

We at DOT commend you for the outstanding job you do each day in providing community transportation to North Carolina citizens.

We salute your efforts and we are committed to helping you provide safe and secure community transportation.

In the coming months, the Public Transportation Division will implement a new safety program that includes a security component.

You will receive additional information about that program soon.

The future is bright in public transportation as we look for creative and more efficient ways to serve our fellow citizens.

A major part of our future will focus on planning and expanding community transportation services throughout the state.

Together, we will fulfill Governor Easley’s vision of One North Carolina as we plan and provide public transportation services all across the state, from our largest cities to our more rural communities and towns.

The Department will work closely with you to assist in planning, developing and providing more community transportation services -- including additional regional and intercity transportation services.

There is already great progress in community transportation services with the rural general public program. Regional efforts are also expanding.

Many of you provide employment and medical transportation to various counties outside of your hometown and we’re currently planning new services with public and private providers.

Your community transportation systems can play a vital role in additional regional and intercity transportation services--these services will enable more North Carolina citizens to travel outside of their cities and counties to get the medical care and employment opportunities they need.

To facilitate the development of regional and intercity services in the future, we will use a forum that is new to North Carolina -- Rural Planning Organizations.

In September, we announced our first rural transportation planning organization or RPO—the Mid-Carolina RPO.

This organization will improve transportation for citizens living in the counties of Bladen, Cumberland, Harnett and Sampson by providing more local public involvement opportunities in the transportation decision-making process.

Our RPOs are similar in concept to the urban Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) in existence. They have four core functions:

Develop, in cooperation with the department, long-range local and regional multi-modal transportation plans;

Provide a forum for public participation in the transportation planning process;

Develop and prioritize suggestions for transportation projects the organization believes should be included in the state’s Transportation Improvement Program (TIP); and

Provide transportation-related information to local governments and other interested organizations and persons.

The announcement of the Mid-Carolina RPO was the first of what will be many such events across the state.

On October 9, we announced the new Unifour RPO in Hickory, representing the counties of Alexander, Burke, Caldwell and Catawba

On October 24, we announced the Cape Fear Regional RPO in Leland, representing the counties of Brunswick, Columbus and Pender

And on November 15, we are planning to announce Kerr-Tar RPO in Henderson, representing the counties of Franklin, Granville, Person, Vance and Warren

This effort is a partnership between the counties as well as the local MPO—in every way, these RPOs are true to the spirit of One North Carolina.

More efficient transportation planning in our rural regions will improve economic development across the state, therefore benefiting all North Carolinians.

Those of you involved in RPOs will work together to expand your services in ways that offer your current and potential customers more transportation options.

Your input will be instrumental in developing the mutual Memorandum of Understanding that will designate the area that your RPO serves, the function of the organization and its membership.

As a representative of your system, you can join elected officials and community citizens in developing plans for your area.

Your insight will be vital as your planning organization conducts functions that include:

Cooperatively developing long-range local and regional multi-modal transportation plans

Providing an opportunity for public involvement in the transportation planning process

Evaluating and prioritizing suggestions for projects that the organization believes would enhance the State’s Transportation Improvement Program

And providing local governments and other interested organizations or persons with transportation-related information.

As the planning organization in your area develops, you can offer ways to expand its initiatives and duties.

Rural Planning Organizations provide a unique opportunity to plan and expand community transportation services in your area.

In addition, the future holds a financial opportunity for you to expand your services.

This growth opportunity has been created by a dramatic increase in community transportation funds.

The General Assembly has recently approved $26.4 million in rural transportation funding for Fiscal Year 2002.

That amount is nearly double the $14.1 million awarded for Fiscal Year 2001.

Such a tremendous increase in community transportation funds will make it possible to acquire additional vehicles, improve facilities and support operating and administrative needs.

I think you will agree that this is an exciting time to be involved in community transportation in North Carolina.

We are making great strides to plan and expand community transportation services.

And the Department is committed to providing you with the assistance you need to enhance your services.

We believe that this is an excellent opportunity to use these additional funds to offer expanded and improved community transportation services.

As you use these additional funds, it’s important for you to demonstrate that you are using the funds to help meet your local transportation needs in a responsible manner.

It’s also critical that you communicate the importance of these funds to your elected state officials.

We are excited to be joining you in this effort to make community transportation the best that it can be.

And we believe that you are ready to embark on this exciting challenge--your efforts toward providing transportation services for our rural communities show your commitment to providing the very best for North Carolina citizens.

Together, we will build a North Carolina that is more equitable in the distribution and use of its transportation resources.

I challenge you to continuously demonstrate your excellence as we work together to expand and improve community transportation in North Carolina.

Thanks again for the great job you do everyday.

Keep up the good work--our great state is depending on you.

Thank You.

Back to Index