The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials is searching for a deputy director, a position located at the organization’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., which will be the second most senior position on AASHTO’s leadership team. More detail regarding the deputy director’s role can be found on AASHTO’s job site at: https://jobs.transportation.org/job/aashto-washington-dc-16-deputy-director/ The deputy director […]
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President Trump, Democrat Congressional Leadership Plan $2T Infrastructure Package
editor@aashto.org May 3, 2019 0 COMMENTSA potential $2 trillion infrastructure spending package is in the works following an April 30 meeting between President Trump and the Democratic leaders from the Senate and House of Representatives. However, the main hurdle facing such a package is how to pay for it, which will be the subject of a follow-up meeting. [Official White […]
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Legislation Seeks to ‘Unlock’ Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund Fees
editor@aashto.org May 3, 2019 0 COMMENTSA bill proposed on April 30 hopes to free-up $9.3 billion in revenue “sitting idle” in the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund to pay for a variety of port maintenance needs. [Above photo by the Washington State Dept. of Transportation.] That bill – H.R. 2396, dubbed the Full Utilization of the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund Act […]
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House T&I Member Day Hearing Elicits Wide Range of Transportation Concerns
editor@aashto.org May 3, 2019 0 COMMENTSThe annual May 1 “Member Day Hearing” held by the House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee generated a broad range of commentary on everything from multi-year reauthorization of surface transportation funding to workforce development tactics and the need for the Essential Air Service program to keep rural airports active and operational. [Above screen capture […]
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Bill Proposes to Eliminate Equipment Tax that Feeds Highway Trust Fund
editor@aashto.org May 3, 2019 0 COMMENTSRep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., and Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn., introduced H.R. 2381, the Modern, Clean, and Safe Trucks Act of 2019, on April 30 that would repeal the current 12 percent federal excise tax or FET on heavy commercial trucks and trailers. Though monies generated by the FET tax goes into the Highway Trust Fund, Rep. […]
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The Subcommittee on Security within the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a hearing on April 30 to examine the security threats and challenges posed by the Internet of Things or IoT, plus ways to encourage the inclusion of more cybersecurity by design into connected devices and the networks that support them. Sen. […]
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FHWA Provides Emergency Funds to Repair Flood-Damaged Roads in Missouri
editor@aashto.org May 3, 2019 0 COMMENTSThe Federal Highway Administration issued $2 million “quick release” Emergency Relief funds to the Missouri Department of Transportation on May 3 to help repair roads damaged by widespread flooding back in March that affected several states throughout the Midwest. [Above photo by the Missouri DOT.] The FHWA noted in a statement that snow, wind, and […]
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Legislation introduced May 2 by Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, proposes to overhaul and consolidate 44 “energy incentives” within the federal tax code three technology-neutral provisions to spur more “clean electricity, clean transportation, and energy efficiency.” [Above photo by the U.S. Air Force.] In terms of transportation, this bill […]
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On May 1, President Trump nominated John Kramer, currently the deputy assistant secretary for budget and finance at the U.S. Department of Transportation, to become chief financial officer for the agency. Kramer is also being appointed assistant secretary for budget and programs at USDOT. Kramer, who joined USDOT in December 2017, spent 20 years at […]
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Daniel Harmon (above left) with the Texas Department of Transportation and Bryan Ross (above right) from the Missouri Department of Transportation were two of 29 new members added on April 24 to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Transportation System National Advisory Committee. Established nine years ago, the MTSNAC is made up of leaders from […]
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