ATSSA joins groups petitioning Bhatt to rescind IIJA policy memo ATSSA joins groups petitioning Bhatt to rescind IIJA policy memo Pam / Wednesday, January 18, 2023 0 1238 Article rating: No rating ATSSA joined 17 organizations today in asking Federal Highway Administration Administrator Shailen Bhatt to rescind the “Policy on Using Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Resources to Build a Better America” memorandum that was issued Dec. 16, 2021. The groups, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, noted they supported the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act (IIJA) passed in November 2021 and that it was a “carefully negotiated and balanced package of policy reforms and targeted national investments” to make the lives of Americans better. The issue leading to the request for the policy to be rescinded was that the Dec. 16 memo “elicited significant confusion within the transportation community.” Further, the letter states that the memo was “intended to serve as an overarching policy framework that prioritizes IIJA resources towards certain projects, which was inconsistent with what was laid out under the legislation President Biden signed into law the month before.” Read more
ATSSA congratulates Graves on being named chair of T&I Committee ATSSA congratulates Graves on being named chair of T&I Committee Pam / Tuesday, January 10, 2023 0 825 Article rating: 5.0 ATSSA congratulates Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.) on being chosen to chair the Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee in the 118th Congress. “ATSSA members have counted Chairman Graves as a roadway safety leader throughout his tenure on the T&I Committee and we look forward to his continued emphasis on this critical issue now that he is chair,” ATSSA President & CEO Stacy Tetschner said. “We are eager to work with him and his committee staff in the months and years ahead to ensure that roadway safety remains the top priority for Congress and the Biden administration.” Graves’ selection was announced by the committee today. He confirmed his priority for roadway safety and infrastructure in his comments included with the announcement. Read more
ATSSA joins nine groups reaffirming support for rapid deployment of V2X technologies ATSSA joins nine groups reaffirming support for rapid deployment of V2X technologies Pam / Wednesday, December 14, 2022 0 5673 Article rating: No rating ATSSA joined nine groups in releasing a statement today reaffirming support for the rapid, widespread deployment of vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technologies to further improve safety on American roads. V2X allows communication between vehicles, infrastructure and other road users such as pedestrians and bicyclists and provides drivers with crucial warnings necessary to improve safety. "We believe that 2023 will be a pivotal year for V2X deployment. Transportation stakeholders have aligned behind one V2X technology, cellular vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X), clearing the way for a unified, nationwide approach to the deployment of this tool," the statement says. Read more
ATSSA congratulates Bhatt on FHWA confirmation ATSSA congratulates Bhatt on FHWA confirmation Transportation veteran confirmed as FHWA leader Pam / Friday, December 2, 2022 0 2823 Article rating: No rating Shailen Bhatt, who led state transportation departments in Colorado and Delaware, was confirmed by the Senate to lead the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Bhatt’s confirmation by the full Senate on Thursday follows bipartisan support on Nov. 29 by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. As head of the FHWA, Bhatt will oversee implementation of the $1 trillion Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act (IIJA) passed into law in November 2021. Read more
Election outcomes take shape one week later Election outcomes take shape one week later Pam / Wednesday, November 16, 2022 0 5709 Article rating: 4.0 One week after Election Day, we finally have a good idea of what the next two years will look like on Capitol Hill. While long thought that this year’s midterm elections would bring a “red wave” across the country, in the end Democrats were able to hold their ground in several swing states and remain in control of the Senate, while narrowly losing the House of Representatives to Republicans. Even with the Senate race in Georgia headed to a run-off next month, Democrats know they will be in control of the Senate at least until 2024. They currently control 50 votes, plus Vice President Kamala Harris would provide a 51st vote in the event the Senate stays 50-50 as it was prior to the election. Read more
USDOT: No extension of temporary waiver for construction materials for Buy America USDOT: No extension of temporary waiver for construction materials for Buy America Pam / Monday, November 7, 2022 0 4317 Article rating: 5.0 The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) will not extend its current one-year implementation delay of Buy America changes for construction materials stemming from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), also known as the bipartisan infrastructure law, the department announced. USDOT will begin enforcing the new Buy America requirements for construction materials on Thursday, according to a "notice of expiration" posted online. The notice included several concurrent and related actions USDOT is taking related to implementation. Read more
ATSSA asks Buttigieg to delay new Buy America requirements ATSSA asks Buttigieg to delay new Buy America requirements ATSSA president also asks for exemption of some temporary products Pam / Thursday, November 3, 2022 0 5671 Article rating: 3.9 ATSSA President & CEO Stacy Tetschner today sent a letter to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg making three requests regarding changes to the Buy America requirements included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). “In a recent survey of ATSSA members regarding the new Buy America requirements for federally-funded infrastructure projects, there is considerable concern about the impact that these new policies will have on roadway safety,” Tetschner wrote. “Knowing of your strong commitment to reducing the number of fatalities and serious injuries on this nation’s roadways, it is important for you to consider the serious effect the new Buy America requirements will have not only on the roadway safety industry but the public as well.” Tetschner also noted his concern regarding the "looming deadline" for implementation of the new Buy America requirements. Read more
USDOT offering webinar on applying for SMART Grants USDOT offering webinar on applying for SMART Grants Register now for Sept. 29 webinar; applications due Nov. 18 Pam / Wednesday, September 21, 2022 0 8517 Article rating: 4.0 The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) will hold a Sept. 29 webinar to assist individuals interested in applying for a Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Grant. Registration is now open for the webinar, which runs from 2:30-4 p.m. ET. The grants were authorized as part of the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act (IIJA) approved in November. The new grant program offers up to $100 million annually over the next five years. The grants would fund transportation projects that “use data and technology to solve real-world challenges facing communities today,” according to the USDOT announcement. The SMART Grants Program does not require other funding such as matching or cost sharing, according to USDOT. Read more
Apply by Sept. 15 for FY22 Safe Streets and Roads for All grants Apply by Sept. 15 for FY22 Safe Streets and Roads for All grants Pam / Wednesday, September 7, 2022 0 5584 Article rating: No rating The deadline for submitting Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant applications is Sept. 15. Groups eligible to apply for the grants include metropolitan planning organizations; counties, cities, towns, transit agencies or special districts within a state; federally recognized tribal governments; and multijurisdictional groups comprised of these groups. Activities that are eligible include developing or updating a comprehensive safety action plan; conducting planning, design and development activities in support of an action plan; and carrying out projects and strategies identified in an action plan. A list of example activities is available. Read more
FHWA hosting webinar on pavement marking retroreflectivity final rule FHWA hosting webinar on pavement marking retroreflectivity final rule Advance registration required for the free Sept. 1 event Pam / Wednesday, August 24, 2022 0 13184 Article rating: 4.2 The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is hosting a webinar on “Maintaining Minimum Pavement Marking Retroreflectivity” to discuss the final rule published in the Federal Register on Aug. 5. The Sept. 1 webinar starts at 12:30 p.m. ET, is free for the public but requires advance registration. Organizers said the final rule published on Aug. 5 amends the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), adding provisions for minimum maintained levels of pavement marking retroreflectivity in Revision 3 of the 2009 MUTCD. Read more