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ATSSA Town Hall breaks down IIJA funding, timing
Five months after the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act IIJA was signed into law, it’s understandable ATSSA members could be wondering when the money will begin flowing to projects across the country. That was one of the key discussion points today during an ATSSA Town Hall on the “Economic Impact of the Infrastructure Package on ATSSA Member Companies.” ATSSA Vice President of Engagement Nate Smith and Kathy Ruffalo, president of consulting firm Ruffalo & Associates, reviewed the funds expected through different programs, the steps to get them accessible and when the first money can be expected. Smith also talked about the gas tax holiday proposals across the country and ATSSA's efforts against them. Five months after the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act IIJA was signed into law, it’s understandable ATSSA members could be wondering when the money will begin flowing to projects across the country. That was one of the key discussion points today during an ATSSA Town Hall on the “Economic Impact of the Infrastructure Package on ATSSA Member Companies.” ATSSA Vice President of Engagement Nate Smith and Kathy Ruffalo, president of consulting firm Ruffalo & Associates, reviewed the funds expected through different programs, the steps to get them accessible and when the first money can be expected. Companies should start seeing opportunities for funding in May for the Safe Streets for All program, a competitive grant program that receives $5 billion through IIJA, Smith said. That funding can go toward Vision Zero programs to address things such as bike lanes and pedestrian safety in local communities, he said. A new program for wildlife crossing mitigation, which is to receive $350 million over five years, will be available at some point beyond May. Roadway safety projects will receive a total of $30 billion over five years under the IIJA, Smith said. The largest funding goes to the Highway Safety Improvement Program HSIP $16.8 billion over five years, which will go to states based on a formula. Rural road safety will receive $300 million over five years and will go toward mitigating against roadway departures, a key area for ATSSA members and their work in the roadway safety infrastructure industry. Those funds also are grant related. Tribal road safety funding doubled under IIJA, rising to $120 million over five years. Pedestrian security, another new category, will receive $25 million over five years and is meant to address things such as protecting people on sidewalks from getting struck by vehicles. The final category for roadway safety funding falls under Transportation Alternatives and was allotted $7.2 billion over five years for programs such as safe routes to school. Smith said the fiscal 2022 appropriations were signed recently and funds are now available. However, he noted that the Biden administration is pushing a fix-it-first strategy rather than new construction. He said ATSSA disagrees with that approach and asked members to contact the Government Relations Team if they encounter obstacles to obtaining funds. The team will then notify their contacts on Capitol Hill on the members’ behalf. Funds for each of the grant programs should be getting disbursed over the coming year. In addition, the roadway safety industry got another bit of good news with a $10 billion bipartisan proposal for a COVID-19 relief package that would provide states and localities flexibility for American Rescue Plan Act funds for infrastructure. The plan was announced Monday. Ruffalo noted that funding for the Nov. 15 IIJA wasn’t appropriated until March 15 and it wasn’t until Friday that states received authorization to start spending. She noted the importance of the timing, especially in the northern states where spring construction season needs to get rolling before the next round of cold weather begins. She noted that states have until August to obligate their funds for projects. She said one delay for getting money through advanced appropriations has been a staffing shortage at the U.S. Department of Transportation, which seeks to hire more than 1,000 people to handle discretionary grants and advanced appropriations. Shifting gears, Smith noted that material and workforce shortages continue to plague the industry. He said ATSSA will be doing a survey soon to find out where shortages remain. He also asked members to contact him to share how these challenges are impacting their ability to complete work. He will then relay that information to the Biden administration. Smith also addressed the issue of gas tax suspension proposals both in Congress and in states across the country and reminded members that ATSSA is working against these proposals. Connecticut, Maryland and Georgia have already acted on short-term suspensions, and Virginia is among states discussing the issue. “We are very concerned about these gas tax holidays,” Smith said. But he added that he was “cautiously optimistic” no action will be taken at the federal level. A recording of today’s Town Hall will be available soon. Check here for the recording of this Town Hall and prior events. Send input and questions to the Government Relations Team at govrelations@atssa.com.
Lieutenant governors association recognizes National Work Zone Awareness Week with resolution
This morning, the National Lieutenant Governors Association NLGA recognized the importance of roadway worker protection by unanimously approving a policy resolution recognizing National Work Zone Awareness Week NWZAW. While gathered at a conference in Washington, D.C., the NLGA’s Resolutions Committee approved the measure unanimously on Wednesday. The full NLGA voted its support today. Delaware Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long made remarks prior to the approval, noting how critical it is to raise awareness of workers in active work zones and how important it is to do everything possible to provide for safety while making infrastructure improvements. This morning, the National Lieutenant Governors Association NLGA recognized the importance of roadway worker protection by unanimously approving a policy resolution recognizing National Work Zone Awareness Week NWZAW. While gathered at a conference in Washington, D.C., the NLGA’s Resolutions Committee approved the measure unanimously on Wednesday. The full NLGA voted its support today. Delaware Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long made remarks prior to the approval, noting how critical it is to raise awareness of workers in active work zones and how important it is to do everything possible to provide for safety while making infrastructure improvements. The resolution was approved just in time for the Spring construction season. NWZAW is held each year just ahead of the kickoff of the construction season as a reminder to motorists to be alert for roadway workers. Statistics show that motorists and their passengers are at great risk in work zones as well as roadway workers. This year’s National Work Zone Awareness Week is April 11-15, with a national kickoff event scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on April 12 in Hampton, Va. The event will be livestreamed.
‘Work Zones are a Sign to Slow Down’
FREDERICKSBURG, Va. March 31, 2022 – The transportation industry is taking increasing steps to improve the timeliness of information about active work zones but even before those measures are available nationwide, work zone warnings are important for everyone to heed to get home safely. This year’s National Work Zone Awareness Week is April 11-15 with the theme: “Work Zones are a Sign to Slow Down.” National Work Zone Awareness Week NWZAW, in its 22nd year, is a national public awareness campaign held annually at the start of the spring construction season. It spreads the message that we are all responsible for work zone safety. UPDATE: The livestream of the national kickoff event can be viewed here at 1:30 p.m. ET on April 12. FREDERICKSBURG, Va. March 31, 2022 – The transportation industry is taking increasing steps to improve the timeliness of information about active work zones but even before those measures are available nationwide, work zone warnings are important for everyone to heed to get home safely. This year’s National Work Zone Awareness Week is April 11-15 with the theme: “Work Zones are a Sign to Slow Down.” National Work Zone Awareness Week NWZAW, in its 22nd year, is a national public awareness campaign held annually at the start of the spring construction season. It spreads the message that we are all responsible for work zone safety. Statistics from the National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse show the vast majority of people killed in work zones are motorists, passengers and pedestrians. The most recent statistics show there were 762 fatal crashes in work zones resulting in 842 deaths in 2019. Of those killed, 135 were roadway workers. “National Work Zone Awareness Week was established with roadway workers in mind, but the statistics make it abundantly clear that everyone is at risk in work zones,” ATSSA President & CEO Stacy Tetschner said. “The goal of this week is for motorists to slow when approaching and passing through roadway work zones so everyone makes it home safely.” Statistics for 2019 estimate there were 115,000 work zone crashes—27,000 of which were injury-involved crashes resulting in 39,000 injuries—underscoring the need to observe work zone speed limits and eliminate distractions when approaching and driving through work zones. This year’s National Kickoff Event is scheduled for Tuesday, April 12 and is hosted by the Virginia Department of Transportation VDOT. It will be held at 1:30 p.m. EDT at the Fort Monroe Continental Gazebo, 4 Fenwick Road, Hampton, Va. 23651, which overlooks the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel Project. In case of rain, the event will move indoors to the Fort Monroe Theater, located a few blocks from the gazebo. The event will also be streamed live. Watch for details for the livestream at NWZAW.org/participate or the ATSSA blog. Cameron Hutt of Cleveland, Tenn., a college student whose father was killed in a work zone incident in 2006, is scheduled to speak at the National Kickoff Event. Cameron is a senior studying communications at the University of Tennessee and the recipient of a Roadway Worker Memorial Scholarship. Roadway Worker Memorial Scholarships are awarded through The American Traffic Safety Services ATSS Foundation, the charitable arm of ATSSA. The ATSS Foundation awards scholarships to the dependents of roadway workers killed or permanently disabled in work zone incidents. The scholarships are competitive and have a value up to $10,000 with an additional $1,000 possible for students with a strong commitment to volunteerism. NWZAW got its start in 1997 when a group of VDOT employees in southwestern Virginia wanted to dedicate a week to raise awareness of work zone safety among all district employees ahead of the busy roadway work season. The next year, VDOT presented the idea for a national awareness campaign to the American Traffic Safety Services Association ATSSA, which, in turn, approached the Federal Highway Administration FHWA and the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials AASHTO. The groups finalized plans and launched the first national kickoff event in 2000. NWZAW now includes a theme for each day. April 11 – Work Zone Safety Training Day in which companies are encouraged to pause during the workday for safety demonstrations, discussions about safety policies and other prevention steps to protect people in work zones. April 12 – National Kickoff Event as described above. In addition, departments of transportation across the country and private companies organize events in their locations. April 13 – Go Orange Day when everyone is encouraged to wear orange to show support for work zone safety and the families of victims who have lost their lives in work zones. Photos can be posted on social media with #NWZAW and #Orange4Safety. April 14 – Social media storm in which organizations, companies, agencies and individuals are encouraged to share messages and use hashtags #NWZAW and #WorkZoneSafety throughout social media between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. EDT. April 15 – Moment of Silence. People are encouraged to take part in this new event for 2022 to remember the people who lost their lives in a work zone incident. For additional information about NWZAW and its history, check NWZAW.org. The following public service announcements are available for use by the media: “Work zones are a sign to slow down.” That’s the theme of this year’s National Work Zone Awareness Week, set for April 11-15. 762 fatal crashes occurred in work zones in 2019, killing 135 roadway workers. Join us in raising awareness of the importance of slowing your vehicle and staying alert as you approach and pass by a work zone. For more information, visit NWZAW.org. Each year, hundreds of people are killed in roadway work zones. Most of them are the drivers and their passengers trying to travel through the work zone. That means it’s critical for everyone to pay attention. “Work zones are a sign to slow down.” That’s the theme of this year’s National Work Zone Awareness Week, scheduled for April 11-15. For more information, visit NWZAW.org. “Work zones are a sign to slow down.” Work zone crashes killed 842 people in 2019, including 135 roadway workers. Most of the people killed were drivers and their passengers. So slow down and stay alert as you approach and pass by a work zone. Help spread the word during National Work Zone Awareness Week, April 11-15. For more information, visit NWZAW.org. Additional hashtags for NWZAW include: #NWZAW #SafeWorkZonesForAll #WorkZoneSafety #StandDown4Safety #SaferRoadsSaveLives #GoOrange4Safety
Upcoming Events
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.
Legislative Briefing & Fly-In 2026
ATSSA’s 2026 Legislative Briefing & Fly-In is April 14-15, in Washington, D.C.
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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.
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National Work Zone Awareness Week
Show your support of work zone safety awareness by participating in NWZAW 2026, April 20-24, with ATSSA and host Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT).
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.