Biden expected to choose Buttigieg as transportation secretary Biden expected to choose Buttigieg as transportation secretary Pam / Tuesday, December 15, 2020 0 6503 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
Proposed 11th edition of MUTCD available for preview Proposed 11th edition of MUTCD available for preview Public comments period starts Monday Pam / Friday, December 11, 2020 0 14006 Article rating: 4.8 The first comprehensive update to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways (MUTCD) in a decade is now available for preview in the Federal Register. The document opens for public comment on Monday. The Notice of Proposed Amendments for the 11th edition of the MUTCD contains more than 600 proposed changes, according to a statement from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Read more
Election Update: Three key congressional leaders on transportation & infrastructure issues reelected Election Update: Three key congressional leaders on transportation & infrastructure issues reelected State ballot measures pass in Arkansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Virginia Pam / Wednesday, November 4, 2020 0 6458 Article rating: No rating As ballots continue to be counted across the country, a number of tightly contested congressional races that the ATSSA Government Relations Team has been tracking, have been declared winners. Among them was House Transportation & Infrastructure (T&I) Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio (D) fended off a challenge from political newcomer Alex Skarlatos to win Oregon’s 4th District. Transportation-related statewide ballot initiatives that ATSSA is tracking passed in four states. Read more
Senate passes one-year extension of federal highway bill Senate passes one-year extension of federal highway bill Measure included in action to prevent government shutdown Pam / Wednesday, September 30, 2020 0 8608 Article rating: No rating The Senate this evening approved a one-year extension of the federal highway bill, which would have expired at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday. The extension was included in a continuing resolution (CR) passed by both chambers to avert a government shutdown. The stopgap bill pushes the deadline to pass the yearly spending budgets for the federal government to Dec. 11. The Senate approved the action by an 84-10 vote. Read more
House passes stopgap funding bill including highway fund extension House passes stopgap funding bill including highway fund extension Senate expected to vote ahead of Sept. 30 deadline Pam / Wednesday, September 23, 2020 0 6704 Article rating: 5.0 The House of Representatives Tuesday night passed a stopgap funding measure that will keep the federal government fully operating beyond next Wednesday (Sept. 30). The measure included a one-year extension of the current federal highway bill that would have expired the same day. On Monday, House Democrats offered a Continuing Resolution to extend the highway fund by one year with $10.4 billion. If approved by the Senate, the extension would be a “straight” extension of the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act, better known as the FAST Act, meaning no increase in funding to existing programs. The proposal also would include funds needed to ensure the short-term solvency of the Highway Trust Fund (HTF), with a general fund transfer of $10.4 billion to the HTF, allocated for highways. The Senate is expected to vote next week ahead of the deadline. Read more