The U.S. Senate passed the Inflation Reduction Act over the weekend, a sprawling bill centered around health care provisions, corporate tax increases and climate provisions, sending the bill to the House, which is expected to approve the legislation later this week.

Within the 775-page bill, ATSSA members will also see a nearly $1.9 billion competitive grant program aimed  at improving walkability, safety and increasing affordable transportation options. 

ATSSA will continue to follow the legislation and provide updates as it moves through Congress.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) posted the final rule regarding pavement marking retroreflectivity in today’s Federal Register.

The posting states: “The purpose of this final rule is to update the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) to provide standards, guidance, options, and supporting information relating to maintaining minimum levels of retroreflectivity for pavement markings. The MUTCD is incorporated in FHWA regulations and recognized as the national standard for traffic control devices used on all streets, highways, bikeways, and private roads open to public travel.”

The rule notes that it is effective on Sept. 6.

The Summer issue of Roadway Safety magazine is now online and focuses on work zone awareness efforts nationwide.

From the national event in Virginia to member photos from across the country to expert insights into planning a National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW) event, the magazine addresses this key industry safety effort.

Plus, this issue celebrates the 20^th anniversary of the National Work Zone Memorial, offers insights about supply chain challenges, and delves into the pitfalls of gas tax suspensions.

Check out three tools to help protect roadway workers on the job and much more in the Summer issue of Roadway Safety magazine, the flagship publication of the American Traffic Safety Services Association.

ATSSA’s Public Agency and Marty Weed Engineering scholarships offer department of transportation (DOT) officials the opportunity to participate in the largest gathering of roadway safety infrastructure officials in North America.

There they can see the latest innovations in roadway safety, interact with companies that produce them and engage with industry experts on everything from pavement marking and traffic control to technology designed to protect roadway workers and interact with connected and automated vehicles.

ATSSA’s 53^rd Annual Convention & Traffic Expo takes place in Phoenix, Feb. 17-21 and will include the New Products Rollout, Innovation Awards that go to the top products as judged by DOT officials, and the ever-popular Circle of Innovation where transportation officials from across the country and around the globe hear about the latest topics.

Scholarship applications are due by Sept. 19. Applicants will be notified by Oct. 12.

Apply by Dec. 1 to participate in ATSSA’s New Products Rollout (NPRO), which will be held during ATSSA’s 53^rd Annual Convention & Traffic Expo in Phoenix, Feb. 17-21.

Exhibitors who introduced products after Jan. 1, 2020, are eligible to apply.

Entries accepted for NPRO will be included in the New Products Listing, which showcases the products to the roughly 3,700 roadway safety professionals who attend ATSSA’S Annual Convention & Traffic Expo, including listing on the Convention website and mobile app.

Innovation Awards are chosen from among the products selected for NPRO.

Nominations are now open for the National Safety Award with ATSSA’s other annual awards opening for nominations soon.

The National Safety Award recognizes an employee or recent retiree of a government agency who made a significant contribution to the safety of our nation’s roadways. Nomination forms are due by July 31.

Nominations for the Industry Achievement Award and National Media Award open in August.

Changes are coming for the Mark of Excellence Award, which recognizes an ATSSA member who has made outstanding contributions to the advancement of roadway safety infrastructure through improved pavement markings.

Nomination forms for all awards are available on ATSSA’s Member and Industry Awards page.

The ATSS Foundation is partnering with Work Zone Safe to teach teen drivers how to safely navigate roadway work zones.

The online program is currently only available to teens who live in Oklahoma but could be expanded to other states.

Learn about the program and how to bring it to your state during a free webinar, "No More Pamphlets! Modernizing Teen Driver Work Zone Safety," on Aug. 9, 2-3 p.m. ATSSA members and representatives from departments of transportation (DOTs) are encouraged to attend.

ATSSA’s 53rd Annual Convention & Traffic Expo will bring roadway safety experts and innovators from across the nation and the world to Phoenix, Feb. 17-21.

This five-day event will once again be the site of the largest gathering of the roadway safety infrastructure industry in North America and feature information on the latest advances, provide a look at the latest innovative products, offer dozens of education sessions and access to countless experts from all facets of the industry.

The event will also include a massive display of devices to keep roadway workers and the motoring public safe, all situated on the 226,300-square-foot Traffic Expo floor inside the Phoenix Convention Center.

The ATSS Foundation will hold its popular golf and sporting clays events, plus there will be additional opportunities for networking through special events for groups such as the Young Industry Professionals.

The American Traffic Safety Services (ATSS) Foundation is partnering with Work Zone Safe to educate teen drivers on how to safely navigate work zones.

Thanks to a grant from the PPG Foundation of Pittsburgh, The ATSS Foundation worked with Work Zone Safe to develop a free interactive training program that teaches teen drivers the importance of work zone safety including how to navigate a work zone. The curriculum addresses the importance of safe driving habits, the results of speeding and inattentiveness, and how to read work zone signage, operate within queuing and navigate night work zones. It also covers how to understand work zone devices, pavement markings and mobile operations. mobile operations.

“We are excited to be addressing this gap in driver education for teens,” ATSS Foundation Director Lori Diaz said. “The information in this curriculum is critical in helping the next generation of drivers protect themselves and roadway workers as we continue working toward zero deaths on the nation’s roads and highways. We hope departments of transportation in states across the country will be interested in making the curriculum available in their jurisdictions.”

Join roadway safety professionals for ATSSA’s Midyear Meeting to help shape policies and initiatives for the roadway safety infrastructure industry for the coming year.

Network with more than 350 industry professionals from across the country who are gathering in Providence, R.I., to further innovation and infrastructure for roadway safety, Aug. 23-26.

The meeting is tailored to national committee members and friends to learn, network and build leadership skills.

“These meetings are critical to the work of our Association,” said ATSSA President & CEO Stacy Tetschner. “We lay the groundwork for many efforts and innovations for advancing roadway safety at our committee and council meetings. We were pleased by last year’s record-breaking attendance of 381 and hope to exceed that this year as we work to develop roadway safety plans that utilize the funding approved in the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act.”