News

Thank You Secretary Hopkins, Welcome Secretary Johnson

It has been a momentous week for transportation in North Carolina, as we celebrate the work of two great leaders for our state.

First, we honor and applaud NCDOT Secretary Joey Hopkins, who retired this week after two years as transportation secretary, and after completing more than three decades of dedicated service to North Carolina. On Wednesday, October 1, the Department officially handed over the reins to incoming secretary Daniel Johnson, who has previously served as NCDOT deputy secretary and general counsel.

To say that the regional business community is grateful for Secretary Hopkins’ outstanding service to the Research Triangle region and the entire state is understatement. Joey has been a thoughtful, approachable, supportive, and common sense leader. He is someone that I have had the honor of working with, learning from, and elevating successes with for many years. RTA has been honored to have him as a terrific partner, as he has progressed through his roles at NCDOT over the decades.

RTA is very pleased to welcome North Carolina’s new transportation secretary, Daniel Johnson. We applaud his recent leadership roles at the Department as general counsel and deputy secretary, as well as his service to the nation in the U.S. Navy. We look forward to working with him, the NCDOT executive leadership team, and all members of the Department of Transportation on our shared goals of improved mobility and safety to ensure North Carolina’s continued prosperity.

North Carolina continues to be blessed with outstanding leaders and champions for transportation. Secretary Hopkins, Secretary Johnson, and each of their fellow NCDOT colleagues are true public servants and patriots for North Carolina and our nation.  Read more in this week’s blog.

I-40 Task force will be rescheduled to early December

RTA, NCDOT, and our partners have worked together through the I-40 Regional Partnership for more than 15 years, including at our most recent annual partnership meeting this summer. The I-40 Partnership will hold its first I-40 Rapid, Scalable, Implementation task force meeting this fall to keep the momentum on improving the Triangle region’s “main street”. The initial I-40 task force meeting, originally scheduled for this coming week, has been rescheduled for Thursday, December 11.

If you are interested in attending the I-40 task force meeting on December 11th, please register using this link. Note that if you previously registered for the prior, canceled (10/7) date, you do need to register again for the new 12/11/25 date. Please let me know if you have questions about the task force.

Have a great weekend, everyone, and thank you for your ongoing membership and support.

Let’s get moving,
Joe