January 15, 1999 - Raleigh --- Nearly 500 local transportation planners, elected officials and business leaders gathered Monday to discuss the future of transportation in North Carolina.

The Passenger Rail and Transit Summit, sponsored by the N.C. Department of Transportation, marked the first time the department invited such a large-scale group of community leaders to jointly plan and discuss current and future transportation needs for the state.

"We have entered a new era in transportation," said state Transportation Secretary Norris Tolson. "The leaders and citizens of North Carolina need to be visionary and bold in developing a transportation plan that integrates all modes of transportation into a seamless system. You should be able to get anywhere in the state without getting in an automobile."

Tolson urged participants to work together and coordinate plans with other cities, counties, regions and the state to develop a transportation system that provides multiple travel choices including rail, transit, highways and aviation. He stressed that all levels of government and businesses need to partner with each other in planning and determining ways to fund transportation.

"We have all the pieces of the puzzle-highways, rail, ports, bicycle paths, airports and public transportation," Tolson said. "Now we need to work with each other to define what that puzzle will look like and begin putting the pieces together."

Tolson outlined draft improvements for rail and transit services including development of high-speed rail through the southeastern states and commuter rail and/or bus services in the state's major metropolitan areas. He also talked about expanding community transportation programs in rural areas, developing regional coordinated transportation services to major medical centers and expanding intercity passenger rail service.

Mayors, legislators, city planners, managers and transportation officials from across North Carolina discussed the need to ease congested roads, develop alternative types of transportation and make land use part of the planning process. Several leaders emphasized the importance of joint planning between rural areas, cities, regions and the state, while others voiced support for a designated funding source for transit programs.

Representatives from the academic, government, business, environmental, rural and legislative communities participated in a panel discussion on the impact of transportation on their specific communities noting that transportation is more than just moving people and goods. Panelists and others emphasized that joint planning and coordination in transportation planning is crucial because of transportation's impacts on economic development, land-use, natural resources and the environment.

Summit participants divided into 10 groups to discuss how to best fund the planned improvements, build consensus for an integrated transportation plan and decide what the roles of local, city and county governments would be in developing the overarching transportation plan. Group leaders reported back to the NCDOT with highlights from the breakout sessions including support for joint transportation planning and establishment of a dedicated funding source for transit. A report summarizing the groups' ideas, findings and suggestions soon will be made available on the department's web page.