U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration

FROM:	Rodney E. Slater, Secretary Mortimer L. Downey, Deputy Secretary
TO:	All Employees
INFORMATION:	Y2K Thanks from Secretary Slater and Deputy Secretary Downey
DATE:	January 5, 2000

During the past five days, under the careful watch of the entire world, the Department of Transportation and the transportation industry moved safely and efficiently into the new century. Just a few months ago, many people doubted that we would have a successful transition to the Year 2000 but we did it without major incident and with only a few minor incidents.

Without doubt, our success is due to the extraordinary effort of thousands of dedicated DOT employees. For more than two years you have been diligently working to prepare DOT's internal systems. At the same time, you have conducted an unprecedented outreach effort to our industry and Government partners that produced the successful transition we saw in recent days.

The dedicated efforts of many people at the DOT made it possible for us to fulfill the mandate we were given by President Clinton and Vice President Gore to address and overcome the Y2K challenge. It is no small feat for us to have led the way in continuing to provide the American people with a safe and efficient transportation system in the face of what John Koskinen, chairman of the President's Council on Year 2000 Conversion, has called the greatest management challenge the world has faced in 50 years.

The work done by thousands of DOT employees gives the American people a model of how a visionary and vigilant Department of Transportation can support the transportation system of the 21st century. As we enter the new century, transportation will become even more important as a means of providing opportunity to people throughout the country and the world. This opportunity could have been placed in jeopardy without the work done by you, the people of the DOT, during the recent months.

The resolution of this unprecedented problem was truly a "One DOT" effort that will serve as a model for the future.

Finally, you have our profound appreciation for the personal sacrifice that many of you, and your families, made in working round the clock over the holiday weekend to monitor and report on the worldwide transition to the new year. We are proud to lead an organization of such dedicated professionals.

We thank you for your outstanding work and we wish you and your families a healthy and happy new year.

This page last modified on January 5, 2000