Today, both houses of the Kansas legislature voted to pass a transportation funding bill and sent it to Gov. Laura Kelly’s desk. Members of the Heart of America-ATSSA (HOA-ATSSA) Chapter leadership participated in the Economic Lifelines coalition advocacy day in Topeka on Feb. 12. They had a booth in the state Capitol highlighting the work that ATSSA members do throughout Kansas. Additionally, they met with Transportation Committee leaders and the state Secretary of Transportation and participated in a press conference with the governor.

ATSSA has postponed two major events scheduled for this spring in the wake of COVID-19. The Legislative Briefing & Fly-In scheduled for April 22-23 has been delayed by five months to Sept. 9-10. The Safer Roads 2020 International Conference scheduled for May 12-14 in Richmond, Va., has been postponed by six months to November. An exact date will be announced once it is confirmed.

We will post additional updates related to COVID-19 as available.

National Work Zone Awareness Week will continue as scheduled on April 20-24. However, Michigan officials canceled the April 21 kickoff event in accord with CDC guidelines regarding the coronavirus pandemic.

As of Sunday, the CDC recommended groups not hold gatherings of 50 or more people for the next eight weeks. Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) officials discussed the issue with ATSSA today. It was agreed that MDOT will instead host next year’s event. Virginia DOT had been scheduled to host in 2021 but will now host in 2022.

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. (March 4, 2020) – The American Traffic Safety Services Foundation is pleased to announce that 3M raised $17,791 during the month of January, including during ATSSA’s 50^th Annual Convention & Traffic Expo in New Orleans.

This was the fifth year 3M has hosted a pledge wall at the convention to support The Foundation’s programs. The St. Paul, Minn.-based company sponsored the pledge wall and matched donations up to $5,000.

ATSSA is "steadfastly opposed" to the Federal Communication Commission's plan to reallocate a portion of the 5.9 GHz band of spectrum to other uses out of concerns for "safety and security," President & CEO Roger Wentz said in a statement filed this week with the Federal Register.

People have until March 9 to submit comments and until April 6 to post replies to the proposal, first announced by FCC Chairman Ajit Pai at a Nov. 20 meeting with Citizens Against Government Waste, New America’s Open Technology Institute, and WifiForward.

ATSSA member Ver-Mac is auctioning a portable changeable message sign to benefit the American Traffic Safety Services Foundation. Bidding is now open and runs through March 27 with all proceeds going to the Foundation. 

Don’t miss your chance to deliver your message to Capitol Hill with ATSSA’s annual Legislative Briefing & Fly-In. The free two-day conference in Washington, D.C., takes place April 22 and 23 and provides ATSSA members an opportunity to meet policymakers, interact with people from both houses of Congress, and hear from department of transportation officials.

Incoming ATSSA President and CEO Stacy Tetschner visited our headquarters this morning for his first meeting with the Association’s staff. Outgoing President and CEO Roger Wentz, who retires at the end of this month, and Board Chair Greg Driskell introduced Tetschner to the group during a breakfast meeting after which Tetschner shared a bit about his vision for the Association.

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.