Last year, traffic fatalities declined to their lowest number in four years. Safety also means making sure that those who are doing the important work of Rebuilding America are getting the most protection possible. New products, along with the education and training, will help make work zones safer. So will the National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse which is supported by many groups represented here today. Equity means planning access to jobs, investing in liveable communities, and continuing to support small and disadvantaged businesses.
Transportation is about more than concrete, asphalt and steel.
It is about getting people to work, to school, to recreation, to an enhanced quality of life. As the gathering here today demonstrates so well, transportation is truly the tie that binds. But, as the President said, this is not a time to rest, but a time to build. As a truly visionary and vigilant Department of Transportation, we stand ready to meet the challenges of the new century and the new millennium. Working together, moving from strength to strength, we will create a transportation system that truly supports equity throughout our society during the 21st century.