As the coronavirus continues to spread across America, state departments of transportation are being tasked with a variety of duties as part of both state- and federal-level response efforts to the disease. Formally known as COVID-19, the coronavirus is a “newly discovered” organism that has not been previously detected in animals or humans that causes […]
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AASHTO Warns FCC of Risks if Safety Spectrum Not Preserved
editor@aashto.org March 6, 2020 0 COMMENTSThe American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials warned the Federal Communications Commission in a March 2 letter that permitting unlicensed devices to operate 5.9 gigahertz (GHz) wireless communication spectrum is “wrong and misguided” and will “put future safety and mobility improvements” at risk. [Above photo via NHTSA.] “Paramount to state DOTs is both […]
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The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials filed a comment letter on March 4 with the Council on Environmental Quality in regard to proposed changes to National Environmental Policy Act or NEPA regulations put forth by the Trump administration in January. [Above photo via FHWA.] “As NEPA regulations have not been comprehensively updated […]
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Seasoned transportation industry veteran William Flynn will become Amtrak’s president and CEO on April 15 as the national passenger railroad’s current chief executive, Richard Anderson, plans to step down. Anderson will remain with Amtrak through the end of 2020 as a senior advisor to Flynn to complete his three-year chief executive commitment, Amtrak noted. Flynn, […]
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State DOT Leaders Address Need to Reduce Highway Fatalities
editor@aashto.org March 6, 2020 0 COMMENTSDespite 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 […]
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Federal Transportation Roundtable: Infrastructure, Safety Remain Key Priorities
editor@aashto.org March 6, 2020 0 COMMENTSLeaders 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 […]
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State DOT Panel: Formula Funding Critical to Transportation’s Future
editor@aashto.org March 6, 2020 0 COMMENTSA 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 […]
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Video: USDOT Secretary Emphasizes Need to Preserve 5.9 GHz Spectrum
editor@aashto.org March 6, 2020 0 COMMENTSDuring 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 […]
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SwRI Develops Pedestrian Detection System for Autonomous Vehicles
editor@aashto.org March 6, 2020 0 COMMENTSThe Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) recently unveiled a motion prediction system to enhance the pedestrian detection of autonomous vehicles; a system based on a “computer vision tool” that uses a “deep learning algorithm” to predict motion via real-time observations of a person’s pelvic area to determine directional changes. [Above photo by SwRI.] “For instance, if […]
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The Federal Transit Administration issued $64.2 million worth of Capital Investment Grants or CIG program grants on February 28 to three projects in Florida and Texas, followed by an opportunity activated on March 2 to apply for $8.5 million in new Helping Obtain Prosperity for Everyone or HOPE program grants. [Above photo by FTA.] As part […]
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