Pedestrians take the forefront in October with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) holding its first “Pedestrian Safety Month,” a national educational outreach to heighten awareness for motorists and pedestrians of all ages.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) held a Summit on Pedestrian Safety in July during which groups representing both pedestrian and bicyclist organizations took part.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Office of Safety offers a “focused approach” program to target specific issues including pedestrian and bicyclist safety in jurisdictions across the nation. It offers examples of programs that have undertaken changes to target this issue.

ATSSA members heard from three members of Congress and a U.S. Senator today during the first day of the Association’s two-day Legislative Briefing & Fly-In.

This year’s event was handled via virtual format with nearly 70 people taking part from across the country. Two members of Congress spoke from their Capitol Hill offices.

On Wednesday, ATSSA members are scheduled for 54 meetings with federal legislators or their staff members.

ATSSA’s 2020 Legislative Briefing & Fly-In has gone virtual, offering members the opportunity to participate without traveling to the nation’s capital.

“If you’ve never taken part, this year’s event provides a great way to get a glimpse into legislative advocacy from the comfort of your home or office,” said ATSSA Vice President of Government Relations Nate Smith. “The Legislative Briefing & Fly-In gives ATSSA members the unique opportunity to interact directly with lawmakers and have their issues and priorities heard.”

The Sept. 15-16 event is free to members but the deadline to register is Sept. 7.

TRIP, a national transportation research nonprofit, this morning released its latest report on the status of the nation’s interstates. It found that the U.S. interstate system “will need to be rebuilt and expanded to meet the nation’s growing transportation needs,” according to a statement from TRIP.

The report, “Restoring the Interstate Highway System: Meeting American’s Transportation Needs with a Reliable, Safe & Well-Maintained National Highway Network,” ranked state highway systems on several categories.

The Federal Communications Commission’s Office of Engineering and Technology granted a 21-day extension of the deadline for submitting replies to comments regarding a proposed rule change regarding the 5.9 GHz band, also commonly referred to as the "safety spectrum."

The new deadline of April 27 resulted from the extensive comments submitted and disruptions caused by COVID-19.

ATSSA President & CEO Stacy Tetschner sent a letter to the nation’s lieutenant governors today, asking them to declare ATSSA members in the category of “essential critical infrastructure workers” as defined by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

“Although ATSSA members fall into the categories outlined by DHS as essential, we urge you and the Governor to explicitly indicate that these industries in your state be deemed essential,” Tetschner wrote.

The FCC voted unanimously today to allocate a portion of the 5.9 GHz band to a 45 MHz sub-band that supports unlicensed uses like WiFi. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and commissioners Michael O'Rielly, Brendan Carr, Jessica Rosenworcel, and Geoffrey Starks all were in favor of the redistribution during an open meeting at the group’s headquarters in Washington, D.C.

The Department of Defense (DOD),  the Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America), and ATSSA oppose a new 5.9 Gigahertz (GHz) band proposal recently made by Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai.

The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) needs an update, and ATSSA is playing a major role in the process. The current edition of the roadway safety infrastructure industry’s guide to keeping drivers and roadway workers safe was published in 2009.

A bill passed in Washington State will provide educational opportunities to the loved ones of highway workers killed or permanently disabled in roadway crashes.