RALEIGH – The following are highlights from this week at the N.C. Department of Transportation. The stories below are also featured in
NCDOT Now, the department's weekly newscast.
Ocracoke Express Begins Service Tuesday
The
Ocracoke Express passenger ferry’s seventh season begins
May 13, and will carry people directly from Hatteras to the heart of Ocracoke Village, where they can walk, rent bikes or golf carts, or take a free shuttle provided by Hyde County to restaurants, shops and attractions.
It’s the best way for a day trip to Ocracoke, allowing visitors to get out of vehicle ferry lines and on to the island as quickly and conveniently as possible. The service boasts “No cars, no waits, no worries.”
A round-trip ticket is $15, and service runs Mondays through Saturdays through September 15.
Hurricane Preparedness Week
With warmer weather quickly approaching, now is the time to prepare for hurricane season in North Carolina.
As a part of
Hurricane Preparedness Week, NCDOT is partnering with emergency management, public safety officials and weather experts to provide information on how to be prepared for hurricane season.
The most active months for tropical systems in North Carolina are August through October, but impacts are sometimes felt as early as May and as late as November. For more information, visit ncdot.gov and search “severe storms.”
National Bike & Roll to School Day
Students from Raleigh’s Powell Center for Play and Ingenuity Magnet School biked, scooted, rolled and walked to school this week as part of National Bike and Roll to School Day.
The 15th annual event brings awareness for the value of safe, alternative forms of transportation to school.
This year, the department’s Integrated Mobility Division will award 120 North Carolina organizations with 9,350 bicycle helmets for children in need.
New DMV Commissioner
The
North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicle’s new Commissioner, Paul Tine, had his first day of work this week.
Tine was recently appointed to improve North Carolinians’ experience with the DMV by addressing wait times, staffing challenges and customer satisfaction.
As a long-time business owner of a North Carolina insurance agency and a former member of the state’s General Assembly, Tine is eager to make needed improvements to the division for the benefit of all North Carolinians.
For more information about NCDOT Now, contact the NCDOT Communications Office at (919) 707-2660. Additional news stories from throughout the week can be found on
NCDOT.gov.