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.
Introduce a Girl to Engineering
As North Carolina’s transportation needs continue to increase, so does the
need for more qualified and skilled engineers who can help ensure our state
keeps moving forward.
Women make up just 12 percent of engineers in the United States. Seeing this
gap, the department partnered with Women’s Transportation Seminars-Raleigh to
host “Introduce a Girl to Engineering.”
During this day-long opportunity, high school aged girls heard from NCDOT
engineers about their daily duties, necessary job skills and what the future of
women in engineering could look like. Students also participated in hands-on
activities such as designing highway interchanges and group knowledge
quizzes.
Watch for Me Partners
To improve bicycle and pedestrian safety in our state, the department
partners with communities from the mountains to the coast as part of Watch for Me NC. This is a comprehensive
statewide safety campaign aimed at reducing bicycle and pedestrian crashes and
fatalities.
The following new partners have been selected for 2018:
- Alexander County
- Clayton (Johnston County)
- Fayetteville (Cumberland County)
- Forest City (Rutherford County)
- Franklin (Macon County)
- Hendersonville (Henderson County)
- Spindale (Rutherford County)
As campaign partners, these communities will receive printed materials and
media advertisements to help improve public awareness for bicycle and pedestrian
safety, as well as specialized police officer training.
Raleigh Union Station Dedication
Lastly, Raleigh’s new Union Station, expected to open in late May, was
dedicated this week. The new station will replace the existing one that serves
NC By Train passenger rail customers.
To view schedules for all trains that will change or to purchase tickets for
the fourth daily round trip between Charlotte and Raleigh, both which start June
4, visit NCByTrain.org.