As President-Elect Joe Biden continues to formulate his policy transition teams, there is a focus on transportation and infrastructure issues. There is a strong indication that infrastructure policies will be an early focus of the Biden Administration.

Today, ATSSA submitted our policy priorities to the transition team, focused on roadway safety infrastructure investments.

“For more than 50 years, ATSSA has focused on reducing roadway fatalities and serious injuries on roads throughout the country,” ATSSA President and CEO Stacy Tetschner stated. “We look forward to working with President-Elect Biden and his infrastructure advisors on ensuing that roadway safety is the focal point on any surface transportation proposals and legislation. As the voice of roadway safety, ATSSA and our members are the go-to resource for policy makers at all levels of government, including the incoming administration and future U.S Department of Transportation appointees.”

The U.S. Department of Transportation this week released what it is calling a “first-of-its-kind” Pedestrian Safety Action Plan.

The plan is explained in a 26-page document that lays out actions to be achieved by the end of this year, the end of next year and into the future.

It begins by offering information to help people in “understanding the challenge” and “addressing the challenge.”

The goal is reducing pedestrian deaths and serious injuries. November and December traditionally see high fatality rates.

ATSSA Vice President of Government Relations Nate Smith noted that congressional races didn’t go as expected in this month’s election, with Republicans picking up seats while the Democrats could lose up to a dozen when final results are tabulated.

Smith also predicted who will be the next Transportation Secretary if Vice President Joe Biden wins when results of the presidential race are final. Smith laid out six contenders for the cabinet position.

Smith shared his observations and insights during a nearly 1-hour Town Hall this afternoon about the election and its impact.

In a year in which, bicycling and walking became increasingly popular as people sought outlets during stay-at-home orders and social distancing because of COVID-19, individual safety is of utmost importance.

Recent national data – especially for bicyclists - isn’t encouraging, however.

Bicycle fatalities increased 22% between 2007 and 2018, while automotive fatalities dropped 11% in the same period, according to the latest National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) statistics.

Today marks the start of “United for Infrastructure: A Week to Champion America’s Infrastructure,” a nationwide effort to draw the attention of policymakers and the public about the significance of infrastructure to the economy and communities. It encompasses a broad range of infrastructure issues including bicycle and pedestrian safety.

ATSSA President & CEO Stacy Tetschner sent letters to Federal Communications Commission Chair Ajit Pai and U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao this week strongly endorsing the Alliance for Automotive Innovation’s letter committing to fully utilize the bands of spectrum allocated for transportation safety.

“The commitment undertaken by the Auto Innovators reflects a watershed moment for roadway safety. This letter demonstrates a unified industry committing substantial resources and support for Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X). This approach should dispel any notion that the industry will not deploy V2X or that the Safety Spectrum will not be used,” Tetschner wrote.