FREDERICKSBURG, Va. (Feb.17, 2021) – The American Traffic Safety Services Association is pleased to announce winners of the Industry Achievement Award, the Mark of Excellence Award and the National Safety Award.

The awards were given as part of the 51st^th Annual Convention & Traffic Expo, held online Feb. 8-12 & 16-18. The Industry Achievement Award and the Mark of Excellence Award were announced on Feb. 16. The National Safety Award was announced today.

Automated vehicles will be mainstream in the next decade, members of an Innovation Panel predicted today during the first general session of ATSSA’s 51^st Annual Convention & Traffic Expo.

Timothy Drake, vice president of public policy and regulatory affairs at ITS America, said he expected trucking fleets and public transportation would be the first to take that step and be in place in the 2030s. With that in mind, he said planning needs to take place now within jurisdictions across the country and state departments of transportation (DOTs).

Nazila Roofigari-Esfahan, an assistant professor at Virginia Tech, agreed with Drake but said she hoped it wouldn’t take place before people are ready for it. She said both infrastructure and individuals need to be prepared for that shift in transportation.

The Innovation Panel was one part of today’s general session at ATSSA’s 2021 Convention & Traffic Expo. The session kicked off with a welcome from Board Chair Greg Driskell and the State of the Association Report by ATSSA President & CEO Stacy Tetschner. That was followed by a State of the Industry panel and announcement of two industry awards.

ATSSA’s 51^st Annual Convention & Traffic Expo resumes on Tuesday. The second week of this two-week event includes two general sessions packed with industry panels and the ever-popular Circle of Innovation, which this year is open to all attendees.

Tuesday's general session will include a State of the Industry Panel, Industry Innovation Panel, State of the Association Report, and the presentation of the Industry Achievement and Mark of Excellence awards. The Trade Show booths open on Tuesday and will be open from noon to 5 p.m. daily. 

It’s not too late to register for everything this unique, online event has to offer.

ATSSA President & CEO Stacy Tetschner will be the guest on Transport Topics Radio this Saturday to discuss roadway safety and ATSSA’s 51st Annual Convention & Traffic Expo, which started on Monday and continues through next Thursday.

The program initially airs at 1 p.m. Saturday and will be rebroadcast three times over the weekend.

Transport Topics Radio is hosted by Dan Ronan, who chats weekly with experts from government, business, logistics and other sectors of the transportation industry.

The demand for roadway industry jobs is enormous and will continue growing, Karen Bobo, director of the Center for Transportation Workforce Development at the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), said at today’s Workforce Development Open Forum.

The “critical task” is developing a qualified workforce, she told the group attending the Open Forum held as part of ATSSA’s 51^st Annual Convention & Traffic Expo. The question for everyone was how to achieve that.

She said it’s essential to identify emerging skills and training that will be needed and finding effective ways to attract employees who will want to invest in the industry.

Every company seeks to recruit and retain the most talented personnel but how to do it takes insights and skill.

Join the Workforce Development Open Forum on Wednesday (Feb. 10) for a live discussion from 10 a.m. to noon EST about developing a new model for success that identifies, trains and places individuals for jobs in the roadway safety infrastructure industry.

Learn from seasoned personnel from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and bring your ideas and questions.

The Workforce Development Open Forum is included in full registration for ATSSA’s 51^st Annual Convention & Traffic Expo being held online through Feb. 18.

Training and technology were identified as two important areas to address during this morning’s Roadway Worker Protection Summit, the kick-off event of ATSSA’s 51^st Annual Convention & Traffic Expo.

“Training is absolutely critical,” said Kathi Holst, a four-decade member of the industry, an ATSSA board member and president & CEO of RCMS in Naperville, Ill. “If we aren’t providing training … we are negligent.”

Holst was one of four panelists for the Summit, which addressed both prevention of work zone incidents and resources for use if the worst happens and an employee gets killed on the job. ATSSA Vice President of Education & Technical Services Donna Clark and ATSS Foundation Chair Dave Krahulec moderated the discussion, which also included Doug Dolinar, who is president of Guidemark Inc. of Souderton, Pa., and also an ATSSA board member.

ATSSA’s 51^st Annual Convention & Traffic Expo begins today, launching with a Roadway Worker Protection Summit at 10 a.m. EST that includes a panel discussion about ways to protect employees and what to do if tragedy strikes.

Hear from people who have walked that tough journey and bring your own ideas to share.

It’s not too late to register for everything this two-week, online event has to offer including MUTCD chats, nearly 50 education sessions, multiple networking events, industry panels, a government advocacy event and national awards. This event provides a unique opportunity to make vital connections with members of the roadway safety industry.

As more states move to legalize marijuana and decriminalize other controlled substances, employers face increasing challenges and liability from employment-related claims in the workplace.

From demands to accommodate medical marijuana use in the workplace to disability related accommodation requests under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), employers are required to navigate evolving state laws decriminalizing marijuana while federal law continues to prohibit marijuana and other controlled substances.

From the ADA to OSHA to workers compensation claims involving impaired employees, this education session – “The Grass Isn’t Always Greener: The Impact of Increased Marijuana Legalization on the Workplace and Other Employment Law Developments” -evaluates employers’ legal duties while providing practical advice to help avoid employment claims. This is one of nearly 50 education sessions offered at ATSSA’s 51^st Annual Convention & Traffic Expo. It concludes with a look ahead at emerging law trends that may impact your company in 2021, including claims emerging from COVID-19 and new federal and state regulations.

The demand for rideshare continues to grow across the globe. It is becoming increasingly important that traffic control design specialists understand the nuances of how companies like Uber work to streamline pick-ups, drop-offs and vehicle routing for the 35%+ of Americans who use ridesharing apps and are able to leave their own cars at home.

Whether it be event planning, emergency responses or long-term construction projects, there are significant benefits to understanding how rideshare functions and how to best incorporate it in the planning process.

Join Katie Savarise and Ben Kemp of Uber for “Effectively Integrating Rideshare into Traffic Management Plans” on Feb. 8, from 1- 2 p.m. EST. It is one of nearly 50 education sessions offered during ATSSA’s 51^st Annual Convention & Traffic Expo being held online Feb. 8-12 and 16-18.