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Remember when you were in high school, unsure of what you wanted to do with your life?

Choosing a career path is not easy, especially in the current economy. That’s why we sponsor Construction Career Days. It’s an opportunity for high school students across North Carolina to get a first-hand look at the benefits of working in the construction industry. From trying their hand at maneuvering a motor grader to hammering nails, the teenagers get to experience what jobs in this field entail.  

We launched this year’s Construction Career Days in Winston-Salem in April. More than 1,600 local students attended the three-day event. Some of them were from East Forsyth High School in Kernersville. The teacher of their Transportation Systems class, Nancy Harris, felt the experience would help her students determine if a career in construction would be a good fit for them. Based on the letters they wrote describing their experiences, that’s exactly what they got out of it. You can read some of them below.

EFHS Student Kenyon Janus

I enjoyed having the opportunity to weld, solder and work on all the things they offered. It was nice to hear about all the great opportunities that are out there for me. I like that they reassured some ideas I had, and it’s always good to have something like that as a backup. 

EFHS Student Steven Harpster 

At Construction Career Days, I saw many interesting things and learned a lot. Many of the things were hands on, which is good, because we got to experience what that job was about and what those people do on a daily basis.  This allows you to truly see if you would want to go down that career path. 

I didn’t see anything I did not like about Construction Career Days. It was an overall great experience for everyone, and it made me think about my career path and also respect what people do day to day. 

EFHS Student Dylan Pless

I went to the Construction Career Day event and had a good time. I learned what and how the guys do the surveying. I sat in the dump truck, and compared to the ones I have ridden in, it was nice. I drove a lawn mower that had two wheels and leans to mow hills. That was cool. When I was inside, I visited all of the stations. I got to use different tools to build things and lay bricks. It was fun… 

Now entering its 10th year, Construction Career Days has held 29 events statewide, reaching more than 34,000 students. These annual events are held in cities in every region of North Carolina with the support of NCDOT, as well as leading construction companies and universities. We look forward this year to reaching even more teens and introducing them to the possibilities that jobs in the construction field offer.

Rising gas prices can take a toll on your wallet and in this down economy, every penny counts. That’s why I’m urging drivers to take part in the N.C. Department of Transportation’s “Drive Green, Save Green” initiative.  By following a few simple tips, you can get more miles for every gallon you pump while helping the environment.  Over a year’s time, these savings could add up to nearly $1,000.

Remembering to tighten your fuel cap could save you 30 gallons of gas a year. Don’t forget to take the junk out of your trunk.  Adding 100 pounds to your vehicle could reduce your gas mileage by two percent.  Eliminating abrupt stops and starts will also conserve gas, as sudden starting and breaking increase fuel consumption by 40 percent. 

Another way to counter increasing gas prices is through regular vehicle maintenance.  Changing your oil yearly increases fuel economy by one to two percent, while tire pressure that is too low could cost you an extra tank of gas annually.  Clogged air filters can reduce mileage by 10 percent, so check them regularly.

 The ultimate way to decrease your gas costs is not to drive at all—instead, opt for public transit or join a carpool.  More information is available at www.sharetheridenc.org.

With just a few simple changes to your everyday driving practices you will not only be helping protect the environment, but also your wallet. To learn about these tips and much more, visit http://ncdot.gov/programs/drivegreen/.

There are too many stories of teen drivers becoming distracted and getting into serious accidents. Sadly, some never get the chance to learn from their mistakes.

This week is National Teen Driver Safety Week. We’re urging young drivers to pay attention when they get behind the wheel.

The N.C. Department of Transportation has made several videos that focus on the dangers teens face on the road. Those videos are available at ncdot.org and on the department’s YouTube page.

One video features Amos Johnson, a father whose 16-year-old daughter Ashley died in a car crash in May. Authorities determined that Ashley was receiving a text message that distracted her while she was driving.

Distracted driving among teenagers is a major concern. In 2009, 126 teens lost their lives in traffic crashes. Eight of those fatalities were caused by a distraction. More than 8,000 wrecks involving teens were the result of distracted driving.

We hope you take the time to watch Mr. Johnson’s video and remember that driving is a privilege, and it comes with great responsibility.

For more information about teen driving safety, visit or www.nhtsa.gov or www.distraction.gov.

Did you know that more major hurricanes strike North Carolina in August and September than all other months combined? That’s why the best way to stay safe is to stay informed.

The N.C. Department of Transportation manages 18 Twitter feeds that instantly update you on real-time travel conditions, as well as changes to our ferry schedules. If an emergency occurs, we send out tweets alerting the affected areas about road closures, driving conditions, flooding and evacuation routes.

Our Twitter feeds give immediate travel information to North Carolina residents and out-of-state visitors who may not know who to contact in an emergency.

You can also follow Twitter on your hand-held devices even if traditional telephone service and electricity are disrupted.

Our goal is to keep you safe using the “know before you go” approach. We encourage you to check Twitter on your computer or smartphone before you leave home, work or school, but not while driving. Behind the wheel, you should be focused on one thing only – operating the vehicle safely.

We maintain Twitter feeds for our Ferry Division, as well as Interstates 26, 85, 40, 77 and 95. There are also feeds for specific cities, areas and regions including Charlotte, the Triangle, the coast and the Western mountains of North Carolina.

If you would like a complete list, visit http://www.ncdot.gov/travel/twitter/default.html.

You can also use our other social media tools – Facebook, Flickr and YouTube – for valuable transportation information.

Today, NCDOT’s Rail Division officially received the first $20.3 million of the $545 million allocated to our state for high-speed rail improvements under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. North Carolina was granted the sixth highest award to any state as part of President Obama’s high-speed rail plan, demonstrating the growing strength of our rail program.

We recently introduced a new mid-day service on our Piedmont route between Raleigh and Charlotte and are planning to launch a fourth daily service between the two cities as early as 2012. This initial $20.3 million will go toward refurbishing passenger coaches and locomotives to help support these expansions. It will also help create 34 new jobs for Amtrak train engineers and conductors, as well as personnel who operate and maintain the trains.

The rest of the money will help us make other needed improvements, including purchasing new locomotives and passenger cars, upgrading stations, building passing sidings and double tracks, closing highway/railroad crossings and constructing new highway bridges. All told, we’re expecting that this rail recovery money will create or maintain as many as 4,800 jobs across the state over the next four years.

The national long-term vision for the future of rail is focused on creating an efficient, high-speed passenger rail network that connects major population centers 100 to 600 miles apart. Short-term, the program will aid economic recovery and help improve existing rail infrastructure and equipment. North Carolina’s efforts, in partnership with other nearby states, center on developing the Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor to ultimately connect Washington, D.C. and Charlotte at speeds up to 110 miles per hour.

Throughout the month of July, North Carolina and Virginia are hosting a series of public meetings between Richmond and Raleigh to gather input on proposed corridor designs and their potential impacts. The first one will be held tomorrow in Warren County. In addition, the Virginia-North Carolina Interstate High Speed Rail Compact held its inaugural meeting today in Raleigh.

For more information on Southeast High Speed Rail, visit www.sehsr.org.

This weekend, the roads will be busy as many of you travel to your favorite North Carolina vacation destinations to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday. We want to help you avoid traffic tie-ups along the way. So, we have stopped work on most of our construction projects until 9 a.m., Tuesday, July 6.

Having fewer orange cones on the roads will help you get where you need to go more quickly while cutting down on fuel consumption and costs.

Fireworks Reminder
If your travels take you to the Carolina coast, remember not to take fireworks on the state’s ferries. It is illegal, even if they are in the trunk of your car. The only exceptions are for professionals performing at public fireworks displays. If convicted, you could face a maximum of 60 days in jail and/or a $1,000 fine. Do not take a chance. Please leave the fireworks at home.

“Booze It & Lose It: Operation Firecracker”
We also want to remind you to have a designated driver ready if your party plans involve alcohol. Law enforcement officers will stage checkpoints and step up patrols to catch those who drink and drive during the holiday weekend. It is all part of the “Booze It & Lose It: Operation Firecracker” campaign, sponsored by the Governor’s Highway Safety Program.

Last year, six people died in our state in alcohol-related crashes over the Independence Day weekend. We do not want you to become a statistic. Be responsible and hand over the car keys if you have been drinking. 
 
Stay Connected
We hope you and your family have a safe Fourth of July holiday. Connect with the NCDOT this weekend on Twitter for all the latest news. You can also stay a step ahead of traffic delays by clicking here or calling 511. 

Travel is going to change soon for thousands of motorists who drive through Davidson and Rowan counties on I-85. And, this change is good.

I signed a $136 million contract today authorizing a team from Flatiron Constructors Inc. and The Lane Construction Corp. to replace the Yadkin River bridge. Design work is under way right now, and construction is set to begin in October. 

The bridge was built in 1955 and cannot effectively handle the 60,000 vehicles per day that rely on it to cross the river. It is too narrow, and when an accident occurs, traffic backs up for miles, which makes it difficult for emergency crews to get to the scene to help. Replacing it will greatly improve safety and reduce congestion.

This is the first of two phases that will upgrade the nearly seven mile corridor. We are working to find the money to pay for phase two, which will widen about three-and-a-half miles of I-85 to just north of I-85 Business.

In her budget, Gov. Perdue proposes establishing the N.C. Mobility Fund to pay for expensive projects of statewide significance. The first project that would be paid for from this fund would be widening I-85.

Improving this stretch of I-85 is a top priority for the state because of its importance to regional and statewide mobility, as well as interstate commerce. Replacing the Yadkin River bridges – the most critical safety need – is a tremendous milestone for us. 

National Teen Driver Safety Week began today and ends Oct. 24. Its mission is to bring teens, community leaders, educators, and parents together to take action and increase awareness to help prevent teen crashes, the leading cause of death for American teens.

In 2008, according to our statistics, there were 46,492 traffic crashes involving 15-to-19 year olds, which led to 81 fatalities and more than 8,000 injuries. Fifty-four percent of the drivers were not wearing seat belts and in more than 1,200 of the crashes, the driver had been drinking.

The majority of teen crashes occur between the hours of 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The three most common contributing factors of teen crashes include, failure to yield, failure to reduce speed and driving too fast for conditions. In sixty-eight percent of teen crashes, the teen driver was named at fault for the crash.

It is important for parents and communities to take an active role in teaching young drivers the responsibilities a safe driving. Let’s all work together to keep our most valuable asset, our future, safe.

Thursday was an historic day for our state. Yesterday morning, I cut the ribbon to officially open North Carolina’s first environmentally friendly rest area. It is located on U.S. 421 Northbound in North Wilkesboro, in the northern part of our state.

I am proud of this project, because it shows our commitment to protecting the state’s natural resources and preserving its scenic beauty. By building the 10,030-square-foot facility using “green” technology, we are helping increase energy efficiency, conserve water and reduce greenhouse gases over the rest area’s long lifespan.

The building’s many unique eco-friendly features include:

•    Domestic solar hot water. Three solar panels above the main entrance to the building capture the sun’s energy and use it to preheat the hot water in the restrooms;

•    Photovoltaic panels. Fourteen PV panels located above the entrance walkway convert solar energy into alternating current power for use in the facility. The system will produce enough electricity each year to power a typical home in North Carolina for four months; and

•    Rainwater catchment. Rainwater is collected from the roof, piped to a 26,000- gallon cistern, and used to flush the toilets and urinals. Calculations based on the normal amount of rainfall in Wilkes County show 309,000 gallons of rain will be harvested annually. Reusing the rainwater will allow the rest area to reduce its potable water use by 70-75 percent.

We also practiced good environmental stewardship with the materials leftover from construction. We reused or recycled 90 percent of the project’s waste, which kept it out of local landfills. For example, the small trees cut down during construction were turned into wood chips for use on the rest area’s 0.8-mile nature trail.

The next time you head to the western part of our state, I encourage you to stop at the Northwest North Carolina Visitor Center/Rest Area. Not only is it a great place to stretch your legs on the nature trail after a long drive, it is also a great way to learn about green building practices, and the financial and environmental benefits they offer.

Today, NCDOT submitted an application for $300 million in discretionary funding made possible through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. It is uncommon for us to notify the public when we apply to the U.S. Department of Transportation for funding; we typically wait until we receive the grant. But this grant application is unique.

We are applying for these funds to make critical improvements along I-85 in Davidson and Rowan counties, including replacement of the Yadkin River Bridge. This stretch of I-85 is immensely important to North Carolina. It is a major interstate used to move people and products throughout our state. It is also critical to people from all across the nation for the same reason.

North Carolinians from all corners of our state are publically pledging their support for this grant. Since the grant is “discretionary,” that matters. NCDOT created a Web site (www.ncdot.gov/recovery/i85corridor/), to demonstrate how critical this project is to those of us who rely on it everyday.

I encourage everyone to visit the Web site, review the details of the proposed project, read letters of support already submitted, and then add their own. Demonstrating to USDOT that we are united in this effort could make a difference. Please tell your story and share your support by clicking the “Project Support” tab.

Economic recovery funding for transportation is already helping North Carolina, both in terms of making infrastructure improvements and supporting jobs and economic development, and this grant money would allow us to make this vital project a reality.

We do not have a date as to when USDOT will decide which states and projects are selected, but we will keep you posted!