GREENSBORO, N.C. – North Carolina Secretary of Transportation Gene Conti says federal stimulus money is paying to keep workers on highway projects that otherwise would have been scrapped because of state budget shortfalls.

The Winston-Salem Journal reports Conti told an audience of transportation officials Wednesday that the state DOT has seen a 4 percent drop in revenue from gas taxes and a 22 percent drop is taxes from new car sales.

Conti says the state expects a $300 million drop in tax revenue, but plans to get more than $700 million in stimulus money for highway projects.

Conti says one project the state wants to get stimulus money for is a roughly $300 million new bridge for Interstate 85 over the Yadkin River south of Greensboro.

RALEIGH, N.C. – An editor with the News & Observer of Raleigh will become a deputy secretary at the North Carolina Transportation Department to lead communications efforts.

Transportation Secretary Gene Conti on Monday announced the appointment of Ted Vaden as deputy secretary for communications.

Conti said he obtained permission from Gov. Beverly Perdue to create the position, despite a hiring freeze imposed last fall. The new position was recommended by a consultant to help make the agency more efficient and accountable to the public.

Vaden will supervise a staff of about 20 employees and will earn $117,403 in the new post.

Vaden has been the public editor for the newspaper since 2004.

According to the PPP, Governor-elect Bev Perdue’s appointment of Gene Conti is a good sign.