ATSSA was encouraged by this week’s call from House Democratic leaders for another COVID-19 package that includes infrastructure funding.

The office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) released a list of priorities the Democratic Caucus is targeting in a fourth COVID-19 economic package, which includes attention to transportation projects and mobility.

The Moving Forward plan calls for recovery by investing in “smarter, safer infrastructure that is made to last” and that would produce “millions of good-paying jobs.”

If you weren’t able to attend the 50^th Annual Convention & Traffic Expo or haven’t mastered the art of being in two places at once, you missed some great presentations by experts in the roadway safety field. The great news is, you can find out what you missed during the convention’s concurrent education sessions!

Recordings of the education sessions are now online and available for free. In addition, materials provided by the presenters are posted there as well.

ATSSA Board Chair Greg Driskell, pictured in center, Past Chair Juan Arvizu, left, and Government Relations Vice President Nathan Smith were in Las Vegas on Sunday, Feb. 16  for the “Moving America Forward” presidential candidate forum aimed at raising the profile of the nation’s infrastructure needs. United for Infrastructure organized the program with groups that build, maintain, operate, and administer America’s infrastructure systems hosting it.

On Wednesday, House Democrats unveiled a $760 billion proposal to fund infrastructure investments over the next five years. ATSSA commends moving the process of highway bill reauthorization forward and looks forward to working with the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on crafting the details of the plan on a bi-partisan basis. The framework outlines major investments, including those in surface transportation, rail and transit systems, airports, ports and harbors, wastewater and drinking water infrastructure, brownfields, and broadband.  Additionally, this proposal is estimated to create more than 10 million jobs.

Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) introduced legislation to encourage states to explore a road usage charge to help fund transportation projects. The bill submitted on Tuesday by the state’s 3rd District representative would reauthorize the Surface Transportation Systems Funding Alternatives (STSFA) program through 2025 and increase funding authorization, improve reporting requirements and provide special consideration for new projects that advance the knowledge of funding alternatives or collect revenue, according to the congressman’s office.