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ATSSA evaluates impacts from potential government shutdown
With Congress yet to pass the 12 appropriations bills needed to fund the federal government beyond the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30, a government shutdown is becoming a real possibility. While a federal shutdown is a rare occurrence, it can create uncertainty and have economic consequences. In the event of a federal government shutdown, essential functions funded with discretionary funds would continue but many of the federal employees providing these essential services would be doing so without pay until a funding resolution is reached. Programs funded through the use of mandatory spending – such as Social Security, Medicare and certain federal trust funds like the Highway Trust Fund HTF – would continue to function at the start of the new fiscal year. With Congress yet to pass the 12 appropriations bills needed to fund the federal government beyond the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30, a government shutdown is becoming a real possibility. While a federal shutdown is a rare occurrence, it can create uncertainty and have economic consequences. A shutdown means there is a lapse in appropriations and requires federal agencies to end all non-essential duties that are paid for using discretionary funds until there is either a Continuing Resolution providing additional funding or upon passage and enactment of an appropriations bill. In the event of a federal government shutdown, essential functions funded with discretionary funds would continue i.e., certain medical services, federal law enforcement, air traffic control and border protection but many of the federal employees providing these essential services would be doing so without pay until a funding resolution is reached. Programs funded through the use of mandatory spending – such as Social Security, Medicare and certain federal trust funds like the Highway Trust Fund HTF – would continue to function at the start of the new fiscal year. What does a shutdown mean for ATSSA members and the U.S. Department of Transportation? The effect of a federal government shutdown will vary by agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation USDOT. Because the vast majority of federal highway, transit and highway safety programs are funded using mandatory spending from the HTF and not through the use of discretionary funds, these programs will not be affected during a federal government shutdown. This means Federal Highway Administration FHWA activities, programs and staffing will continue to operate and reimbursements for project costs should not be impacted. In addition, Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act IIJA programs funded through advance appropriations are also unaffected. The situation is different for the Federal Aviation Administration FAA. A perfect storm faces the FAA on Sept. 30. In addition to being impacted from a lapse in funding from a government shutdown, FAA programs also need to be reauthorized by the same date. If there is a lapse in funding AND no extension of the authorization for FAA programs, more than 17,000 FAA employees will be furloughed, and projects funded through the Airport Improvement Program AIP would cease during a shutdown. The AIP provides funding for most safety infrastructure programs on both the airfield and access roadside of the airport complex. The Office of Management and Budget OMB requires all federal agencies to provide a contingency plan to cover any lapse in appropriations. USDOT has posted its shutdown plan.
ATSSA unveils new logo
FREDERICKSBURG, Va. Sept. 27, 2023 – The American Traffic Safety Services Association ATSSA today unveiled a modernized logo that emphasizes the Association’s focus on advancing roadway safety. The bolder colors and focus on navy provide the perfect complement for the orange traffic cone set within the initial A in ATSSA. Insertion of this simple, well-known image conveys an instant connection to work zones and roadway safety infrastructure. “This logo makes a clear statement about who we are and our core purpose of advancing roadway safety,” said ATSSA President & CEO Stacy Tetschner. “It also instantly identifies us with work zones and the roadway workers who risk their lives every day to deliver safe passageways for each of us as we drive countless miles throughout the year.” FREDERICKSBURG, Va. Sept. 27, 2023 – The American Traffic Safety Services Association ATSSA today unveiled a modernized logo that emphasizes the Association’s focus on advancing roadway safety. The bolder colors and focus on navy provide the perfect complement for the orange traffic cone set within the initial A in ATSSA. Insertion of this simple, well-known image conveys an instant connection to work zones and roadway safety infrastructure. “This logo makes a clear statement about who we are and our core purpose of advancing roadway safety,” said ATSSA President & CEO Stacy Tetschner. “It also instantly identifies us with work zones and the roadway workers who risk their lives every day to deliver safe passageways for each of us as we drive countless miles throughout the year.” The new logo retains the phrase that declares the bedrock truth that “Safer Roads Save Lives.” ATSSA added that message to the logo it unveiled 25 years ago, which featured a curving roadway and the color teal. The new four-color logo maintains continuity by employing teal for that fundamental message. This is the third logo for ATSSA, which was established in 1969. The original logo was black and white and incorporated a roadway sign, a striped street and a work zone barrier. ATSSA is an international trade association with a member partnership of approximately 1,500 member companies that represent 11,000 industry professionals. Members are engaged in sign manufacturing, pavement marking, guardrail and barrier, traffic signals and technical innovation fields. The Association and its members work “Toward Zero Deaths” on the nation’s roadways. Members pursue that goal through the design, manufacture and installation of road safety and traffic control devices. They also convene to collaborate throughout the year at chapter meetings, ATSSA’s annual Midyear Meeting and through the Annual Convention & Traffic Expo, which is the largest gathering of this industry in North America. There, members explore the latest tools and technology for roadway safety and learn from industry experts, including leaders in transportation departments across the country. ATSSA is also known industrywide as a leader in roadway worker training and is active in legislative advocacy, holding events with member participation in state capitals across the country as well as the annual Legislative Briefing & Fly-In in which members meet on Capitol Hill with legislators from their states and districts. Today, ATSSA also unveils a new logo for the American Traffic Safety Services Foundation, the charitable arm of the association. Bringing the ATSS Foundation image into alignment with the ATSSA logo provides a visual connection between the two while maintaining a separation through the Foundation’s unique color scheme, which is built around burgundy. The Foundation exists to promote roadway safety through charitable giving and public awareness efforts such as the National Work Zone Memorial and the Roadway Worker Memorial Scholarship Program, which awards academic scholarships to the loved ones of roadway workers killed or permanently disabled in work zones.
ATSSA Town Hall on Buy America guidelines set for Sept. 7
Get ready for enactment of the new Build America, Buy America Act BABA guidelines by attending ATSSA’s free virtual Town Hall on Sept. 7. Speakers will address questions on the recently released guidance for the Build America, Buy America Act BABA. The virtual Town Hall panel will include ATSSA Director of Federal Government Relations Cameron Greene and Kathy Ruffalo, president of Ruffalo & Associates, a Washington-based advocacy and consulting firm. Ruffalo has significant transportation and infrastructure experience at both the federal and state levels. Registration is now open. Get ready for enactment of the new Build America, Buy America Act BABA guidelines by attending ATSSA’s virtual Town Hall on Sept. 7. Registration is now open for this free event at 2 p.m. ET. Speakers will address questions on the recently released guidance for the Build America, Buy America Act BABA. The virtual Town Hall panel will include ATSSA Director of Federal Government Relations Cameron Greene and Kathy Ruffalo, president of Ruffalo & Associates, a Washington-based advocacy and consulting firm. Ruffalo has significant transportation and infrastructure experience at both the federal and state levels. To get the most out of this event, please email your questions now to Greene at cameron.greene@atssa.com. Last week, ATSSA analyzed the final Buy America guidance published in the federal register on Aug. 23. The Association provided a summary of the most important sections of the 162-page document to assist ATSSA members and noted that the publication starts a 60-day countdown to enactment. The Sept. 7 virtual Town Hall provides members another opportunity to gain insights into what this means for their business and operations. Registration is now open for the Town Hall. During the Town Hall, Greene and Ruffalo will discuss what the publication of this guidance means for the industry, analyze key sections of the guidance and take a look ahead to prepare ATSSA members for what they should expect to see next. The Town Hall will include a Question-And-Answer session. Participants are encouraged to send questions now so answers can be researched in advance. Email questions to cameron.greene@atssa.com.
Upcoming Events
Midyear Meeting 2025
Join us Aug. 19-22, 2025, in Milwaukee, Wis., for the Midyear Meeting. ATSSA members hold committee & council meetings, discuss industry issues & advance roadway safety.
2026 Convention & Traffic Expo
Where Roadway Safety + Innovation Intersect. ATSSA’s 56th Annual Convention & Traffic Expo is Feb. 20-24, 2026, in Houston, Texas. Join key roadway safety and transportation professionals at this premier event.
Visit ATSSA at booth #EH2316 during Utility Expo 2025 in Louisville.
TOOLS & RESOURCES
Easily find content, tools or products in the Resource Library. Search industry, legal and volunteer resources; products, toolkits and publications for industry professionals, past webinars and more. Get the ATSSA Worker Protection Toolkit for resources on incident response and prevention.
ATSSA Community
As a member of ATSSA, you become part of a vibrant community made up of thousands of roadway safety infrastructure professionals. Explore ways of connecting with your professional community through chapters and volunteer leadership and access quick links to the most popular member resources.
Innovation and Technical Services
ATSSA is dedicated to being a reliable and accurate source of innovative technology information for all members. As the industry moves towards an automated and more technologically advanced future, prepare and learn from best practices and resources related to traffic safety topics and technical services.
North America’s top roadway safety event
Join thousands of roadway safety and transportation professionals at ATSSA’s 56th Annual Convention & Traffic Expo, Feb. 20-24, 2026, in Houston, Texas. Connect with industry leaders, explore the latest safety solutions and drive innovation.
ATSSA's core purpose is to advance roadway safety. ATSSA members embrace the goal of eliminating roadway fatalities through the design, manufacture and installation of road safety and traffic control devices. For more than 50 years, ATSSA’s training has been recognized as the highest quality roadway safety training program available. Get top training for your team.