How should state departments of transportation use funds from the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act or IIJA to improve the nation’s transportation systems for the future? [Above photo by AASHTO] That question formed the basis for a “knowledge session” sponsored by AECOM during the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials 2022 […]

The role of a state department of transportation in developing and managing a multimodal transportation network has evolved “significantly” away from their 100-year-old roots as builders of the national highway system to one focused on managing existing assets and operations, connecting communities, and providing innovative mobility programs and services. [Above photo by AASHTO] Yet state […]

Pete Buttigieg (seen above), secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation, believes that while the “hard part” of passing the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act or IIJA “is now behind us, the really hard part is ahead of us: implementation.” [Above photo by AASHTO] Speaking during the keynote luncheon at the American Association […]

Implementation of the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act or IIJA, signed into law in November 2021, is now a key focus of Congress, according to the leadership of transportation committees within the Senate and House of Representatives. [Above photo by AASHTO] Those leaders also stressed at the American Association of State Highway and […]

A sharp increase in 2020 traffic crash fatalities tallied by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration again highlights the “significant health crisis” occurring on U.S. roads, according to Jennifer Homendy, chair of the National Transportation Safety Board. [Above photo by AASHTO] Speaking at the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials 2022 Washington Briefing […]

Implementing the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act or IIJA – signed into law in November 2021 – is going to rely heavily on state departments of transportation, according to key U.S. Department of Transportation leaders. [Above photo by AASHTO] Katie Thomson, USDOT’s director of bipartisan infrastructure law implementation, noted at the American Association […]

Three state department of transportation executives shared their insights into the strategies they use to address everything from infrastructure resiliency to cybersecurity during the 2021 virtual American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Washington Briefing. [Above left to right: Carlos Braceras, Margaret Anderson Kelliher, and Ed Sniffen.] Ed Sniffen, deputy director for highways at […]

Leveraging innovation and technology isn’t always about improving the physical parts of transportation infrastructure. In many ways, state departments of transportation can leverage technology – especially in terms of public outreach – to improve connections with disadvantaged businesses and communities. [Above left to right: Yassmin Gramian, Tony Kratofil, and Amy Scarton.] That was the message […]

Cedric Richmond (seen above), senior advisor to President Biden and director of the White House Office of Public Engagement, said a “hard push” is coming on an infrastructure stimulus bill once the administration gets its $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan or ARP is passed. “And we’re going to keep you all very busy as we […]

Key members of Congress provided their outlook on surface transportation reauthorization challenges and opportunities during the 2021 virtual American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Washington Briefing. Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., chair of the House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee stressed that “we certainly have common cause with state DOTs to rebuild the […]