featuring developments in federal highway policies, programs, and research and technology |
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National Transportation Week, May 14-20
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Secretary of Transportation Rodney Slater speaks at a rally on March 8 to promote National Transportation Week, which will be held May 14 through 20. |
"Transportation is
about a journey," Slater said. "National Transportation Week gives
us an opportunity to say that. ... It is a wonderful time to give voice and
form to that story."
The rally also emphasized "Workforce Issues" as the focus of NTW this
year. In a time when job opportunities outnumber the personnel available to
fill them, NTW is sponsoring activities that will encourage young people to
pursue careers in transportation.
"There is probably no other issue that reaches across all the modes [of
transportation] in both the public and private sectors," noted Joseph S.
Toole, director of professional development for the Federal Highway Administration
and one of the organizers of NTW. "This is an issue that very much unites
all of the transportation community."
A number of events and outreach programs are planned during NTW to reach young
people. These complement the Garrett A. Morgan Technology and Transportation
Futures Program, which is aimed at encouraging students from kindergarten to
college to consider careers in transportation. The Garrett A. Morgan Program
was initiated by Slater and has already reached more than 1 million children.
One NTW activity is a poster contest being sponsored for fifth graders. Students
are invited to enter artwork that represents their thoughts on the theme, "Transportation
... Taking You Where You Want to Go." Prizes will be awarded to winners,
and it is hoped that the winning artwork will be used in next year's NTW program.
"One of our greatest desires is to use National Transportation Week as
a way to generate interest in transportation throughout the country," noted
Stephen Van Beek, assistant deputy secretary (of transportation) for intermodalism
and co-chairman of NTW 2000. "This is why we are encouraging so many organizations
to work with their field offices and chapters to sponsor regional or local events."
Another event planned during this week is the Design for Transportation National
Awards, scheduled for May 16 at the National Academy of Sciences. The awards
will be presented to facilities and for proposals that exemplify the highest
standards of design and that have made an outstanding contribution to the nation's
transportation system.
Other activities planned for NTW include a discussion on "Transportation
in the 21st Century," featuring a panel of former secretaries of transportation,
and a reception at which the historical, transportation-related paintings by
artist and former Bureau of Public Roads employee Carl Rakeman will be displayed.
A tool kit that outlines how organizations can spread the word about NTW on
a local level is available.
For more information, visit the Web site at www.ntweek.org, or call the toll-free telephone number (877) 558-6874.
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