FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, January 3, 2000
Contact: Dave Smallen
Tel.: 202-366-5580
DOT 3-00
U.S. Transportation Secretary Slater
Confirms Successful Transition to 2000
By Nation’s Transportation Systems
U.S. Transportation Secretary Rodney E. Slater stated today that U.S. transportation systems continued to function normally as the world transitioned to a new century and entered the new millennium.
"The continued smooth operation of our transportation systems is due in large part to the comprehensive efforts made by the Department of Transportation and its public and private sector partners to prepare for the Year 2000," Secretary Slater said. "Led by President Clinton, Vice President Gore and John Koskinen, government and industry, working together, have produced a safe transition to the new year with transportation systems that continue to operate normally."
Secretary Slater offered special thanks to Deputy Secretary Mortimer L. Downey, who led the Department’s Y2K four-year effort involving more than 3,000 people and costing more than $440 million. The Department's 609 mission-critical systems, including the Federal Aviation Administration's air traffic control system and the U.S. Coast Guard's search-and-rescue system, all successfully transitioned through Y2K with no significant Y2K or other problems.
Secretary Slater said that the department’s investment helped ensure that transportation safety and services continued uninterrupted by Y2K problems and that the American public could continue to have confidence in its transportation systems.
In preparing for the transition, the Department worked closely with the International Civil Aviation Organization to assess the readiness of travel locations, airports and airlines around the world. As part of this process, the Department heralded a "Fly2K" web site where travelers could gain important information on the status of international air travel to more than 100 countries.
Secretary Slater noted that FAA Administrator Jane F. Garvey's successful cross-country flights New Year’s Eve demonstrated the Y2K readiness of the aviation system and the FAA’s ability to manage the complex systems development efforts. The flight was in the air during the 7 p.m. EST new year's rollover of the air traffic control system which operates on Universal Time.
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