The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“TRIBUTE TO RAY ZINK” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Transportation was published in the Senate section on pages S8808 on July 19, 1999.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
TRIBUTE TO RAY ZINK
Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, Ray Zink, North Dakota Department of Transportation Deputy Director for Engineering, retired June 30. In his 40 years with NDDOT, Ray has had a long-standing dedication to providing the best possible transportation system for the people of North Dakota at the lowest possible cost.
Ray Zink joined NDDOT in 1959 as a draftsman, and after subsequent promotions, he became chief engineer in 1982. Ray worked successfully with four NDDOT directors, three governors, and both political parties. Governors, legislators, and others in political positions have trusted Ray throughout the years and respected his integrity and judgement.
Ray has held several key positions in AASHTO (the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials), and because of his expertise and the respect accorded him, he has been invited to represent AASHTO and the FHA (Federal Highway Administration) at highway symposiums in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and Johannesburg and Durban, South Africa.
As North Dakota's chief highway engineer for 17 years, Ray Zink can claim the following accomplishments:
Helping to build one of the finest highway systems in the nation: Because the state is so large and people live so far from each other, North Dakota requires an extensive highway system to move people and commodities. However, it lacks the population base to support the system it needs. In spite of this, Ray Zink has led NDDOT to create an excellent highway system, by listening to the public, relying on sound engineering practices, and industriously using every penny of funding in the most effective way.
Using Federal aid as quickly as possible: North Dakota has always matched and used every dollar of federal aid available to it. Under Ray's leadership the state has spent federal aid as quickly and efficiently as possible, because every delay reduces the effectiveness of the funding through inflation and further highway deterioration. In rural America, our roads are critical to keeping us connected to our farms, our jobs, our families, and our cities.
Instituting North Dakota's low-load program: To help funnel more funds to where they were most badly needed, Ray initiated the low-load program. Highways with very low truck traffic are designated ``low-load highways.'' They receive basic maintenance and periodic seal coats but are not candidates for other improvements. This lets NDDOT direct its resources to heavily-traveled highways that need more attention, which means that the entire highway system is in better shape and will deteriorate more slowly.
As NDDOT maintenance engineer and chief engineer, Ray Zink has helped create and maintain these vital links between towns and cities and farms, and we are grateful for his careful guardianship.
____________________
