Remarks for Secretary Tippett
Carolinas I-73 Transportation Summit
Thursday, February 10 - Friday, February 11
Kingston Plantation - Embassy Suites Resort
Myrtle Beach, SC
Thank you, Director Mabry.
I commend you for your excellent leadership as executive director for the SCDOT.
I'd also like to thank the rest of your staff for their work to coordinate this summit.
We certainly appreciate the invitation to discuss transportation projects that will help both our states.
I'd like to take a moment to recognize the members of the North Carolina Board of Transportation who have joined us for this occasion:
- Doug Galyon, our board Chair who also represents Division 7, the Greensboro area;
- Marion Cowell, board member for Division 10, the Charlotte area;
- Mac Campbell, representing Division 6, the Fayetteville area;
- Robert Collier, board member for Division 12, which includes the Statesville area;
- Lanny Wilson, representing Division 3, the Wilmington area; and
- G.R. Kindley, board member for Division 8, which includes Rockingham. G.R. also serves as Chair of the North Carolina I-73/74 Corridor Association.
It's hard to believe that it was only two years ago that many of you traveled to the Tar Heel State for a similar discussion on transportation growth and progress in our states.
Since then, we have continued to focus on the big picture of improving highway mobility throughout this region.
That's why we continue to emphasize our commitment to develop the I-73 corridor.
This interstate will eventually connect our states, providing both North and South Carolinians with more efficient travel and improving access to the communities along this corridor.
Of equal importance to North Carolina are the development of the I-74 corridor, including the Carolina Bays Parkway, and the extension of I-20.
We continue to make progress on the I-74 corridor and are working to secure federal designation of the I-20 corridor.
Of course, our progress on all of these corridors is dependent on federal dollars.
To this end, we are working very closely with our congressional delegation to increase our rate of return as a donor state.
I know this issue is also of great importance to all of you.
I urge you to make sure your members of both the House and Senate are on the legislation.
Again, we appreciate the opportunity to partner with you on I-73 and these other vital corridors.
As sister states, it is essential that we mutually support each other's transportation goals.
I look forward to working together to keep this momentum going in order to better meet the needs of North and South Carolinians - as well as those who travel through our two states.
Thank you.
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