Home > The Cone Zone > Archives > 2007 > May > 21 > Entry
The Secretary Talks About Her Job
If new roads and expanded public transit systems were built with hard work and enthusiasm, Florida would be in good shape.
Unfortunately, it takes something more — M-O-N-E-Y!
Now and in the foreseeable future, there’s not enough to go around.
But new DOT Secretary Stephanie C. Kopelousos said that’s not going to deter her from having a safe and efficient transportation system.
During a visit to West Palm Beach last Friday, Kopelousos talked about her goals and priorities. And she wants everyone to know she really, really loves going to work!
As head of the DOT, Kopelousos oversees more than 7,000 employees and an annual budget of $8 billion. Before Gov. Charlie Crist appointed her to the post last month, Kopelousos was DOT’s chief of staff, managing day-to-day operations and directing legislative issues.
Before that, she spent four years as the primary liaison for the Transportation and Community Affairs departments in Washington. She coordinated the state’s efforts during the passage of the federal transportation bill and the back-to-back hurricane seasons in 2004 and 2005.
Make no mistake about it, safety is the secretary’s number one priority.
Starting with the Click It or Ticket campaign over the Memorial Day holiday, the state will be hammering home the message that drivers need to wear their safety belts, Kopelousos said. A 2006 survey showed 80.7 percent of motorists buckle up. Even without a primary seat-belt law, Florida has to do better, she said.
As far as funding new improvements to alleviate ever-growing highway congestion, there is no one-size-fits-all solution, Kopelousos said.
In some instances, public-private partnerships to build new toll roads my be the best way to go. In others, it could be creating managed lanes on major highways.
That’s what is happening to the south of us with the 95 Express. From Fort Lauderdale to downtown Miami, drivers will have the choice of paying a toll to use lanes where traffic moves at speeds of at least 50 mph, regardless of the time of day.
Notice the word “choice.” If you don’t want to use the special lanes, no one’s going to force you. Just like public transportation is not for everyone, neither are the HOT (high-occupancy toll) lanes.
It comes down to the state offering a menu of commuting options; it’s up to you to decide how you want to travel.
And when it comes to transit improvements, Florida can’t rely on Washington for help on every project. That well is running dry, Kopelousos said.
“At some point, local communities will have to come up with a dedicated funding source for putting additional money into projects to continue service,” she said.
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