By the late 1970s and early 1980s, women were taking greater leadership roles in transportation. Elizabeth Dole was appointed Secretary of Transportation in 1983. In the same year, Carmen Turner became the General Manager of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. The year 1983 was also a turning point for women in space travel. Although women were included in astronaut training as early as 1959, it was not until 1983, that Sally Ride became the first woman in space.
Transportation is critical to the economy of the United States.
Our transportation systems must be effective and efficient. Not only must we maintain the systems already in place, but we must be willing to take chances and explore new ideas that move our nation forward into the next century. Your creativity and hard work will be part of our future. Women are an essential part of today's labor force, yet women are still underrepresented in the technology areas. Today, our marine navigation systems are far more accurate and therefore provide more safety than the signals Mary Coston invented in 1859.