It's good to see all of you here today.

As you know, Gov. Easley appointed me Secretary of Transportation last month -- and just as it was an honor and huge responsibility to serve as a Board member -- it is also an honor and great responsibility to serve as Secretary.

It is a responsibility that I welcome.

I have made several commitments to our citizens, to Governor Easley and now to you.

Transportation touches the lives of our citizens daily.

That's why I have established an aggressive agenda that will help fulfill Governor Easley's vision of One North Carolina.

This plan will improve our operations and expand efforts and involvement in environmental, planning and local government affairs.

It includes:

HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE

• We have failed to address the maintenance needs of existing roads for too long.

• Generations before us gave us a network of access to all areas of our great state -- thereby enabling us to be called "The Good Roads State."

• We must not let this system deteriorate further -- to do so would require even greater financial outlays in the near future.

• In keeping with Gov. Easley's budget directives, we have implemented internal cost efficiencies.

• I ask for your help in finding innovative ways to create or provide additional funding dedicated to addressing these maintenance needs now.

MASS TRANSIT

• Our state's success in attracting industries has reinforced the need for us to focus more on how we can help our citizens arrive at their workplace more easily and in a less stressful state.

• We must begin now to plan these solutions.

• We must adopt aggressive positions and move forward.

• Gov. Kerr Scott took a similar position some 50 years ago with his vision to get North Carolina citizens "out of the mud."

• We must now move forward with plans to get our citizens out of the traffic jams.

HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION

• The need for new roads in North Carolina is as great as ever.

• Our urban areas have roads that are clogged as a result of economic development successes.

• Our rural areas have a great need for road infrastructure to better attract industry which will provide jobs for those currently employed in our declining agricultural-based economy.

• Farm roads must now be transformed to become the spokes of the economic development wheel.

• For industry to locate in these areas, we must build arteries of access to our major highways.

• If we can successfully implement this plan, we will not exacerbate the problems of the urban areas.

ENVIRONMENT, PLANNING AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

• I am aware of the need to raise our performance standards and commitments in the areas of our environment, planning and local government affairs.

• That's why last week I announced the appointment of a Deputy Secretary for the Environment, Planning and Local Government Affairs.

• Roger Sheats will serve in this capacity.

• I have charged him with expanding and improving the department's environmental and planning efforts.

• He will work with local governments, communities and environmental groups during the planning phase of transportation projects.

• He will address environmental impacts early in the transportation process -- ensuring the protection of our natural resources.

• He will work with rural planning organizations and metropolitan planning organizations to build a unified planning network -- and also will improve coordination of transportation improvements with local governments.

• I believe that wise planning and effective coordination with environmental groups, regulatory agencies and local governments is key to building a transportation system that meets the needs of all North Carolinians.

• I want to assure you that we will be ever mindful of caring for the wonderful God-given natural resources entrusted to our care.

• Proper planning will help to preserve those things which we hold dear and which have made our state great.

In addition, we will continue to devote our energies to improving rail, aviation, bicycles, ferries and other means of moving people and goods safely throughout the state -- and the world.

We will exclude no one, and will take nothing for granted in addressing these needs.

We -- DOT employees -- are dedicated to serving the transportation needs of our citizens.

We will fulfill the vision of a transportation network that is unequalled by any other state.