Thank you, Hemen (HEE-men), for that introduction.
Let me start by telling you how much I appreciate the opportunity to be with you tonight.
I'm proud to be part of such a distinguished group of "movers and shakers."
It's commendable that you're taking time away from your families and other important commitments this evening to learn more about the challenges facing our state.
As leaders, you recognize the important connection between economic growth and transportation.
My role as Secretary of Transportation is to make sure that we have the strongest possible transportation infrastructure to support our state's continued economic growth.
That's how I'm helping Governor Easley fulfill his vision of One North Carolina-a state where every community matters and every person counts.
With all this talk about numbers recently, my background as a CPA has certainly come in handy.
You may have heard that President Bush's new budget has serious consequences for our state.
Under Bush's proposed budget, North Carolina's cut in transportation funds would amount to about $200 million less than was available in 2002.
This would reduce our funds by nearly 30 percent.
Such a reduction will not only adversely affect our ability to meet the travel demand in our state.; this would also dramatically change our federal-aid highway program, DOT's budget and the state's economy.
This cut could result in the loss of 4,000 jobs in construction in North Carolina, at a time when our state faces the highest unemployment in over a decade.
I have written our Congressional delegation-and I have asked for their assistance to restore the obligation authority needed to maintain our transportation construction program.
I'm sharing copies of this letter with you tonight in the hopes that all of you will help.
Help me lead the charge by contacting Rep. Price and urging him to do all he can to restore these funds.
Our efforts haven't stopped with Congress-we're also working closely with the Federal Highway Administration, public interest groups and the transportation industry to mitigate the effects of this reduction.
In spite of this news, I am confident in the Department's ability to continue its good work.
For example, even as we faced the state's worst budget crisis in 10 years, the Department made GREAT PROGRESS this past year.
I'd like to share with you a few of our top achievements, starting with increased funds for MAINTENANCE.
North Carolina's reputation as a "good roads state" is well-deserved.
Thanks to the contributions of leaders such as Governor Scott and those that followed, we have an excellent network of interstates, primary roads and secondary systems in this state.
The value of this system is about $70 billion.
The breadth and depth of our transportation system makes upholding our reputation as the "good roads state" very challenging.
Since my appointment, I've been working to increase our maintenance funds and I was very proud of the special provision in the budget bill allowing the Department to use $420 million from its cash balances for maintenance.
This is the most significant transportation legislation passed since the Highway Trust Fund in 1989.
Due to this legislation, citizens from across the state will see a major improvement in the quality of their highways.
In Wake County, for example, we'll be resurfacing more than 6 miles of U.S. 64 east of Raleigh, from the Neuse River Bridge to U.S. 64 Business.
We'll also be resurfacing more than 12 miles of U.S. 70 in Johnston and Wake counties, from U.S. 70 Business East of Clayton to White Oak Road in Wake County.
As we continue with this program, we'll improve many more miles of highway in this region and across the state over the next three years.
This special provision will also help our state by allowing the Department to invest $45 million in traffic signal improvements, $45 million for the planning and design of shelf projects as well as $120 million for public transportation.
I'm also proud of the Department's environmental efforts-which brings me to more GOOD NEWS.
On January 29 at a special event near Raeford, I announced the department's acquisition of 2,500 acres in Hoke County for a preserve for the federally-endangered red-cockaded woodpecker.
We're actually turning the property over to The Nature Conservancy, which will manage the land in conjunction with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
This partnership is a victory for everyone.
It helps the department because this property will serve as a bank for current and future mitigation needs for highway construction projects in the Sandhills area.
Most importantly, the partnership helps the federally-endangered red-cockaded woodpecker because it preserves their habitat, which has been shrinking for some time now.
In fact, by preserving this property from private development, we'll also help link together existing public tracts of an important longleaf pine ecosystem, which used to run through the entire southeast.
This partnership is just one more example of my commitment to improving the state's natural resources, starting at the HIGHEST LEVEL.
Last February, for example, I named Roger Sheats as the Department's first Deputy Secretary for Planning, the Environment and Local Government Affairs.
And in March, the Board of Transportation's first Environmental Planning and Policy Committee was established to help integrate an environmental ethic into all NCDOT work.
In June, DENR Secretary Bill Ross and I signed an agreement signifying a shared responsibility to meet the state's transportation needs while protecting the state's environment.
We've also made great strides towards REDUCING TRAFFIC CONGESTION in major urban areas such as the Triangle.
In June, we announced measures to improve traffic flow along I-40 in the Triangle and I-77 in Charlotte-two of the most congested highways in the state.
In the Triangle, we determined that HOV lanes would not work for I-40 at this time; however, we are taking other steps.
On December 28, we completed the construction of a temporary connector road from I-540 to Slater Road to provide relief until I-540 is extended to N.C. 55.
In Charlotte, we're currently examining the feasibility of an HOV lane along I-77, which will help ease congestion by increasing capacity.
We're also moving forward with the construction of Interstate 540, Raleigh's OUTER LOOP.
Last year we opened the longest section of this highway to date, the 4.3 mile-section from Creedmoor Road to Falls of the Neuse.
We're currently at work on the next section, from Falls of the Neuse to east of Gresham Lake Road, which should be complete this summer.
We're also widening Interstate 40 in Wake and Durham counties, which will help all Triangle commuters with the addition of one more lane each way.
We expect construction of the segment from I-540 to N.C. 147 to be complete in June 2003.
Another important project for the Triangle area is the U.S. 64 Knightdale Bypass.
We're building this project using an innovative new process called Design-Build, which will enable us to let the design and the construction as one single contract.
Under the project's previous construction schedule, the Knightdale Bypass would not be complete until 2008.
Under the design-build procedure, construction on the Knightdale Bypass could begin as soon as this summer, with completion in 2005.
These projects will help improve traffic flow but we must also do all we can to offer citizens an alternative to the car-which brings me to another achievement-THE EXPANSION OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND RAIL FUNDING.
The additional $84 million appropriated in the budget gave public transportation a 100 PERCENT INCREASE in funds from last year.
This means that we'll be able to continue to help organizations like Triangle Transit Authority grow.
As many of you know, TTA is working to identify stations throughout the Triangle for a regional rail system.
We'll be assisting them throughout this process by helping with planning and providing state matching funds.
Another success for the Department last year was the announcement of our plans for REINTRODUCING PASSENGER RAIL SERVICE to western and southeastern North Carolina.
We're very pleased about these plans, which will one day enable citizens to ride the train all the way from Asheville to Wilmington.
This service will not only provide a viable transportation alternative but will also help revitalize rural communities that once depended on these rail lines.
As our accomplishments demonstrate, 2001 was a landmark year for transportation in North Carolina.
2002 will be no different; in fact, we're raising the bar another notch.
As you can see from my agenda card, we have much work ahead of us. We'll be:
The state's budget shortfall makes our work especially challenging.
That's why I'll be continuing to work with staff to identify and implement efficiencies wherever possible.
And my goal at DOT is to do more than just save money; I want to make sure that the department is running as efficiently as possible.
As requested by Governor Easley, we'll be participating in a number of cost-reducing measures, including a hiring freeze and limits on travel and purchasing.
But this doesn't mean that we'll be scaling back our commitment to the citizens.
Not at all.
Quality transportation is a vital part of the Governor's vision for One North Carolina and I won't be satisfied until I've done all I can to make this happen.
But I'll be "calling on the cavalry" the whole way.
And I could have no better cavalry than the Wake County Democratic Men's Club.
You recognize the importance of a strong transportation system to the future of our state.
As leaders, you can help by making the nine goals on these cards YOUR NINE GOALS.
And as I mentioned before, please contact Rep. Price and urge him to take action to keep those federal transportation dollars in North Carolina.
As Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, "If we want to be great souls in the future, we must be great souls NOW."
With the help of GREAT SOULS like you, we can build the kind of transportation system that supports regions like the Triangle and will make One North Carolina a reality.
Thank you for inviting me to join you tonight.