ATSSA President & CEO Stacy Tetschner released a statement today regarding the failure of the House of Representatives to pass the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).

“The failure of the House of Representatives to do their jobs and pass the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is disappointing and dangerous. Unfortunately, having to release a statement like this is becoming the norm instead of the exception,” he said.

“Congress, specifically the House progressives and House Republican leadership, have decided to use this important historical investment in our nation’s roads, bridges and safety as political leverage. They are playing politics with every road user’s life, instead of protecting them. I would hope that they use the month of November to come to their senses and pass this bipartisan legislation and do the job they were voted into office to carry out.”

With the current surface transportation authorization set to expire over the weekend, Congress passed a short-term extension of the FAST Act, the current authorization, that will run until Dec. 3.

Earlier this afternoon the House appeared close to voting on the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package, but Democrats were unable to come to an agreement on a vote for a separate $1.75 trillion reconciliation package, the framework of which was released today.

AASHTO’s Council on Highways and Streets voted Wednesday to support a resolution to convert the Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH) to a specification.

The vote took place during the Council’s meeting as part of AASHTO’s annual meeting in San Diego.

AASHTO maintains MASH and commissioned the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) to conduct a scoping study on the idea of converting MASH 2016 to a specification. The study was completed this year, according to a presentation by Maine Department of Transportation Chief Engineer Joyce Taylor, who serves as vice chair of AASHTO’s Committee on Design. The association also held two webinars in June with state and industry officials to address opportunities and challenges the conversion would bring.

The move to convert MASH into a performance specification is aimed at “developing a more consistent testing of roadside hardware,” according to the Council on Highways and Streets resolution.

ATSSA will hold the first in a series of five worker safety webinars on Nov. 9.

“Road Safety 101” will be led by Alex Kelly, CEO of SALT + COMPANY, who was recently named to ATSSA’S Roadway Worker Protection Council.

The first event in the Worker Safety Webinar Series is sponsored by the ATSSA Training Department and the Roadway Worker Protection Council and is free for ATSSA members. Dates haven’t been set yet for the other four seminars, which will be held in 2022.

ATSSA members have been hit hard by this year’s labor shortage with one declaring, it’s “killing us.”

Read the Fall 2021 issue of Roadway Safety magazine to learn how your colleagues are coping and how ATSSA responded with a new tool to attract students and recent graduates to the field of roadway safety.

The magazine also includes an emotional piece about three people who became roadway safety advocates as a result of personal loss. You can also get a detailed update on colorized bike lanes at multiple jurisdictions, research results on studies of presence lighting and digital speed signs, and some early information about ATSSA's Annual Convention & Traffic Expo coming up in Febuary. 

Plus, check out our Training Spotlight, which includes a two-page, full-color chart detailing state-by-state requirements. 

ATSSA, as part of the Transportation Construction Coalition (TCC), is joining a radio campaign to urge people across the country to reach out to members of Congress to urge them to pass the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act (IIJA).

The campaign starts today and runs in 13 states in the districts of members of the House of Representatives who are uncommitted on their vote.

The Senate passed the $1.2 trillion IIJA on Aug. 10 by a vote of 69-30. The House had been expected to vote on the bill by Sept. 30 but has not taken action.  

ATSSA President & CEO Stacy Tetschner released a statement this morning regarding the failure of the House of Representatives to pass the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).

“The inability of the House of Representatives to pass the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) is deeply disappointing,” he said. “While the passage of a short-term extension of the current highway authorization will allow for critical work to continue such as the lifesaving projects carried out by ATSSA members, the lack of passage of a long-term and robust infrastructure package should be considered a failure.

The House had been expected to vote for the IIJA on Thursday. The Senate had passed it in August. Instead, the House still hasn’t voted and it allowed the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act to expire Thursday night.

Both chambers of Congress have now approved a 30-day extension of the surface transportation funding, which ensures the Highway Trust Fund can remain solvent and prevents any disruption to current projects.

With the House unable to pass the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), Congress extended the current authorization, the FAST Act, by 30 days, ensuring that the Highway Trust Fund could remain solvent and to prevent any disruption to current projects. The House passed this extension Friday nightby a vote of 365-51. The Senate followed suit on Saturday under unanimous consent.

Although Thursday was the set to be the day in which the House voted on the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), ultimately recess for the night was called shortly after 10:30pm on Capitol Hill and the bill did not receive a vote. The failure to pass the IIJA, or a short-term extension, would only have a minimal repercussions over the weekend and shouldn't affect any current work or business.

Where we currently stand...