Despite an ongoing downward trend in highway fatalities, state departments of transportation are looking to refocus their safety efforts, including those related to traffic safety culture; collaboration with safety partners; and a more aggressive approach to implementing safety countermeasures regarding infrastructure and behavior. During a panel discussion held during the American Association of State Highway […]

Leaders from key federal transportation departments re-emphasized how they are focusing on improving infrastructure and safety during a roundtable session at the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials annual Washington Briefing on February 26. “Safety is a focus that unites the entire U.S. Department of Transportation across all of its agencies,” explained Mala […]

A panel of state department of transportation leaders at the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials annual Washington Briefing on February 27 outlined why formula funding – used to disburse federal motor vehicle tax revenues to the states – remains critical to sustaining and enhancing the nation’s transportation network for the future. [Left […]

During her February 26 keynote speech at the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials annual Washington Briefing, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao (seen above) re-emphasized the need to preserve the 5.9 gigahertz (GHz) wireless communication spectrum for transportation safety needs. It’s a position she’s staked out since the Federal Communications Commission […]

Five key members of Congress who addressed the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials annual Washington Briefing on February 26 said that, despite what is expected to be an unusually contentious Presidential election year, they remain hopeful that new surface transportation reauthorization legislation can be passed this year before the current law expires […]

Increasing infrastructure funding – especially in rural areas of America – while continuing to improve national transportation system safety will remain complementary goals for the U.S. Department of Transportation, according to USDOT Secretary Elaine Chao. During the February 26 luncheon keynote speech at the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials annual Washington Briefing, […]

States are and will play a critical role in crafting a solution to America’s infrastructure crisis, noted Maryland Governor Larry Hogan (R) during the February 27 keynote address during the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials annual Washington Briefing in Washington, D.C. “Infrastructure is fundamental to our economy, environment, and way of life,” […]

A state and local partner’s roundtable hosted by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials at the group’s annual Washington Briefing on February 27 stressed the importance of providing “win-win” solutions when it comes to solving national transportation issues. [Above left to right: Margaret Anderson Kelliher, commissioner of the Minnesota DOT; Bill McBride, […]

Making infrastructure construction more productive by cutting “red tape” at the federal level remains one of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s overarching goals, according to Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao. During the keynote address at the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials 2019 Washington Briefing on Feb. 27, Chao referenced a 2017 McKinsey study […]

A vehicle miles traveled or VMT fee, wider use of tolling, and a hike in the federal fuel tax were some of the many transportation funding options four key Congressional leaders discussed at the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials 2019 Washington Briefing, held annually in the nation’s capital at the Washington Court […]