Republican legislative leaders are in tune with the concerns of Democrat Gene Conti, who complained this week that he is underpaid as the state’s transportation secretary.

That’s why they amended the state budget this year to give North Carolina’s next governor new power to set salaries for non-elected state department heads.

“These agencies have gotten huge in terms of budget and responsibility,” said state Sen. Richard Stevens of Cary, one of the Senate’s chief budget-writers.  

Conti said he took a big pay cut in 2009 when he gave up a private-sector job to take charge of DOT, with its $4 billion budget and 12,000 employees. Stevens agreed with Conti that the statutory salary limit – $121,807 this year for the heads of DOT and seven other agencies – could make it hard for the state to attract the best administrators. ... [MORE]

New governors generally hire new transportation secretaries. So Gene Conti doesn’t have much reason to expect that Gov. Bev Perdue’s successor will ask him to continue running the state Department of Transportation.

And if Conti were to receive that invitation after the November election from an incoming Gov. Pat McCrory or Gov. Walter Dalton, he doesn’t know whether he would want to stay.

The job just doesn’t pay all that well, he says.

Conti and seven other non-elected agency heads receive the same salary, as set by the legislature in this year’s state budget: $121,807. That’s about $18,000 less than the governor’s pay.

And it’s not chicken feed. But if you want to hire the best person to manage an agency with a $4 billion budget, Conti says, you ought to think about paying more. ... [MORE]

Today the Obama administration announced new fuel economy standards that will require an average 54.5 miles per gallon for U.S. cars and light trucks made by 2025.

I'll be reporting on this today.  Meanwhile, please let me know what you think about this. Don't forget your full name and daytime contact info.  Tell me what you drive now, and what fuel economy you get.

Is this a good idea?  Can our manufacturers produce cars that will meet this standard without sacrificing the comfort, safety and other qualities we want?

Read details on the new fuel economy standards:

* White House announcement
* Factsheet PDFs from EPA and NHTSA
* State-by-state projections for fuel savings and job creation, from the Natural Resources Defense Council

Orange Route, Red Route? Blue Route, Plum Route? Sounds like sing-song nonsense from Dr. Seuss.

NCDOT and local road planners have dusted off a few options that had been eliminated a couple of years ago, all for reconsideration in a new look at possible routes across southern Wake County for the Triangle Expressway and 540 Outer Loop (see today's story with reader comments).

Some folks in southern Wake have called to request more details, and more detailed maps, so they can decide whether they need to worry about this. 

Here are some links to various maps and documents about this project, which is known as the Triangle Expressway Southeast Extension. ... [MORE]

On wet days such as this one, NCDOT uses the I-40 message boards to remind drivers that North Carolina law requires us to turn on headlights whenever our windshield wipers are on. On my rainy drive to work this morning, about one of every five cars was driving with wipers on -- but headlights OFF.

So here's a reminder, again:  It's required by law.  It's explained in the DMV Driver Handbook (pdf).  Coincidentally, it's a good idea.  It helps other drivers see your car, from the front or from the rear, even in a downpour. Even through a cloud of spray from the nearest 18-wheeler.

Those automatic daytime running lights do NOT count.  They don't turn on your full-beam headlights.  They don't turn on your taillights.  So they don't meet the standard of our "wipers on - headlights on" law: ... [MORE]

Mike Robertson says he’ll retire effective Oct. 1 as North Carolina’s motor vehicles commissioner, after three years in the job and a total of 43 years in law enforcement.

“This has been an enjoyable three years,” Robertson, 64, said. “I’ve got mixed emotions about leaving state government, but this will be my third retirement certificate.”

Before he took charge of DMV’s 1500 employees in March 2009, Robertson had worked as head of the Division of Alcohol Law Enforcement for five years, and for 22 years at the State Bureau of Investigation, where he oversaw electronic surveillance.  He also had stints as a state trooper and a deputy and police officer in New Hanover County.

He plans to launch a management consulting business mostly for private companies that do business with law enforcement and motor vehicle agencies.  He said he won’t solicit or accept clients before his retirement, and he won’t register as a lobbyist. ... [MORE]

View I-40 @ I-85, Hillsborough in a larger map

HILLSBOROUGH – An overturned pickup truck and camper trailer have snarled traffic on westbound Interstate 40 near the I-85 exit at Hillsborough in Orange County, closing the left lane, the Highway Patrol said at 4 p.m.

One person suffered a broken arm, but no serious injuries were reported.

The left lane was closed while cleanup crews worked to remove debris, and some drivers were using the shoulder to move slowly around the crash site.  The crash was reported at 2:30 p.m.  Both lanes were expected to be open later this afternoon.

Westbound drivers on I-40 in Durham and Orange counties should look for alternate routes.  Drivers can reach I-85 by heading north from I-40 at:

- N.C. 147 (the Durham Freeway) (Exit 279),
- U.S. 15-501 (Exit 270), or
- New Hope Church Road (Exit 273).

Red-light cameras caused problems for Cary on several fronts, so the town council decided this month to get rid of them.

Raleigh's red-light camera program is different from Cary's.  It survived a brush with extinction last year when some city council members wanted to get rid of it.  But somehow, these robot ticket-writers have been less controversial in Raleigh than in Cary.  How come? (8/14/12 update: see today's Road Worrier with reader comments.)

I'm writing about Raleigh's red-light cameras today.  If you've received one of these $50 tickets in the last year or two, I'd like to hear from you.  Was it fair?  Were you guilty?  Do you think these cameras make our intersections safer?  Or do you think Raleigh should unplug its red-light cameras, too? 

Please email me with your thoughts, and your name and daytime phone number.

View Triangle Expressway in a larger map

For better (a much-needed road!) or worse (you pay for every trip!), drivers started using a new stretch of the 540 Outer Loop in western Wake County on Wednesday.

And they started paying tolls today (see 8/1/12 story with reader comments).

So what do you think? Is it getting you to work faster in the morning, or to the mall? Is it getting you home faster in the afternoon? Email me with your contact info, so I can call you. Or share your experiences below.

The Triangle Expressway (TriEx) is a toll road that combines  parts of N.C. 147 and N.C. 540. The busiest part of TriEx also is part of Raleigh's 540 Outer Loop.  So TriEx has too many names already, but many drivers will think of it as an NC 55 Bypass around Apex and Cary.

Here are TriEx toll rates.

View Triangle Expressway in a larger map

Here’s what you’ll pay, starting Thursday, for typical trips on the Triangle Expressway (see 7/29/12 story, "The 540 Outer Loop arrives in western Wake," with reader comments).

Tolls shown here are for car drivers with N.C. Quick Pass transponders. Drivers without transponders are billed by mail at a higher rate. Rates are higher for larger vehicles.  See ncquickpass.com for more info.

Toll with Quick Pass  /  Toll without Quick Pass

N.C. 540 existing section, from N.C. 54 to N.C. 55
52 cents with Quick Pass  /   80 cents without Quick Pass

N.C. 540 new section, from N.C. 55 to U.S. 64
$1.01  /  $1.55

N.C. 540, from N.C. 54 to U.S. 64
$1.53  /  $2.35

N.C. 147 and N.C. 540, from I-40 to N.C. 55
82 cents  /  $1.25

N.C. 147 and N.C. 540, from I-40 to U.S. 64
$1.83  /  $2.80

N.C. 540, from Green Level West Road to U.S. 64
36 cents  /  55 cents

Source: ncquickpass.com

And here are answers to readers' questions about TriEx / 540 Outer Loop.