2021 Convention general sessions will inspire, inform and entertain 2021 Convention general sessions will inspire, inform and entertain Keynote speaker Chad Hymas will share lessons learned about adapting to change following an accident that left him a quadriplegic Pam / Tuesday, January 12, 2021 0 3444 Article rating: No rating ATSSA’s 51st Annual Convention & Traffic Expo’s general sessions will inspire and inform, including insights from keynote speaker Chad Hymas, who was forced to rework everything in his life after a ranch accident left him a quadriplegic. Hymas will share about his experience adapting to change and offer lessons on leadership, teamwork and customer service to employ in your workplace. This year’s general sessions stretch over two days and are jampacked with valuable information including panels on the industry, innovation and government advocacy. Read more
Congressional leaders find deal on COVID-19 relief and federal spending bills Congressional leaders find deal on COVID-19 relief and federal spending bills Pam / Monday, December 21, 2020 0 3758 Article rating: 5.0 Leaders of the House and Senate agreed this afternoon to terms on a $900 billion COVID-19 relief package and a $1.4 trillion federal spending package, ending lengthy negotiations that had lasted for months. Included in the COVID relief legislation was $45 billion for transit, with $10 billion allocated to state departments of transportation for highways. ATSSA has supported the inclusion of funds for state DOTs throughout the year and made it the main legislative priority in any discussions centered around COVID-19 relief. In addition to making it a main talking point at the ATSSA Virtual Fly-In & Legislative Briefing in September, ATSSA also signed on to multiple letters alongside fellow stakeholders to push for Congress to include these funds. Read more
ATSSA urged CDC to include critical infrastructure workers in next COVID vaccination phase ATSSA urged CDC to include critical infrastructure workers in next COVID vaccination phase Pam / Monday, December 21, 2020 0 3045 Article rating: 5.0 Despite urging by ATSSA to include road construction workers and the manufacturers of roadway safety devices and construction machinery in phase 1b of the COVID-19 vaccination allocation process, a committee of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) denied the request. Instead, after meeting on Sunday, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to recommend that Americans who are 75 and older and who live independently be included in the next phase of vaccinations. They voted to place the group deemed as essential critical infrastructure in the following phase. The committee cited the high death rates among elderly Americans, the current short-supply of the vaccine and the smaller size of the group as compared to the DHS-designated group as the reasons for the recommendation. Frontline workers such as emergency responders and teachers were also included in the next phase. Read more
Biden expected to choose Buttigieg as transportation secretary Biden expected to choose Buttigieg as transportation secretary Pam / Tuesday, December 15, 2020 0 3323 Article rating: 4.3 President-elect Joe Biden will be nominating former presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), according to multiple reports. Buttigieg, who is also the former mayor of South Bend, Ind., rose to national prominence after a surging presidential run in his bid for the Democratic nomination earlier this year. Buttigieg appears to have emerged from among contenders for the position such as Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. During his presidential campaign, Buttigieg introduced an infrastructure plan that garnered support across the transportation industry. Read more
Senate approves stopgap funding resolution Senate approves stopgap funding resolution Maria Robertson / Friday, December 11, 2020 0 2769 Article rating: No rating Earlier this afternoon, the Senate voted to pass a stopgap Continuing Resolution (CR) that would keep the government funded through December 18 and avoid a potential government shutdown. The CR now goes to the desk of President Trump, where he is expected to sign it. Update: President Trump signed the extension on Friday, Dec. 11. Read more
ATSSA announces strategic reorganization ATSSA announces strategic reorganization Realignments and promotions allow ATSSA to better serve membership Pam / Monday, December 7, 2020 0 4066 Article rating: 5.0 FREDERICKSBURG, Va. (Dec. 7, 2020) – ATSSA President & CEO Stacy Tetschner announced a realignment of two of the Association’s vice presidents to better serve its members and most effectively address the multitude of vital issues facing the roadway safety infrastructure industry. “This decision was made to address the many issues we face as an industry devoted to working toward zero deaths. I wanted to best utilize the talented people we have on our team,” Tetschner said. Nate Smith’s role will expand to include Member Engagement as he continues leading ATSSA’s Government Relations strategy. Donna Clark becomes Vice President of Education and Technical Services. Read more
Biden transition team focuses on transportation issues Biden transition team focuses on transportation issues Pam / Thursday, December 3, 2020 0 2972 Article rating: No rating 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.” Read more
FCC votes unanimously to redistribute a portion of the safety spectrum FCC votes unanimously to redistribute a portion of the safety spectrum ATSSA and other roadway safety advocates opposed changes to 5.9 GHz band Pam / Wednesday, November 18, 2020 0 5466 Article rating: 5.0 The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted unanimously today to reallocate more than half of the 5.9GHz spectrum band—known as the “safety spectrum”—to unlicensed uses including WiFi. The new rules adopted today make the lower 45 megahertz of the spectrum available for unlicensed uses. They require Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) licensees to stop using this portion of the spectrum within a year. ATSSA President & CEO Stacy Tetschner called the action "a major blow to the roadway safety community and public safety in general." Read more
ATSSA Town Hall covers anticipated impacts of 2020 election ATSSA Town Hall covers anticipated impacts of 2020 election Listen now to a recording of Tuesday's Town Hall Pam / Tuesday, November 17, 2020 0 2742 Article rating: No rating 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. Read more
ATSSA holding Town Hall on the election’s impact on roadway safety ATSSA holding Town Hall on the election’s impact on roadway safety Register now for Tuesday’s live online event Pam / Thursday, November 12, 2020 0 3069 Article rating: No rating Join ATSSA Vice President of Government Relations Nate Smith on Tuesday for a Town Hall addressing the impact of the state and federal elections on roadway safety. Smith will discuss how the Nov. 3 election results will influence roadway safety policies and priorities in 2021 and for years to come, including the question of how our nation continues to respond to COVID-19. Register now for this online event held Tuesday at 1 p.m. EST. Read more
17May2022 Traffic fatalities rose an estimated 10.5% in 2021, reach 16-year high, NHTSA reports Tuesday, May 17, 2022 Read more