ATSSA State Chapters Oppose Gas Tax Suspension Measures ATSSA State Chapters Oppose Gas Tax Suspension Measures Maria Robertson / Thursday, March 10, 2022 0 3456 Article rating: No rating Three ATSSA chapters sent letters today opposing measures that would suspend state gas taxes during the ongoing crisis. In Michigan, Pennsylvania and California, governors and state legislators have proposed temporarily halting their state’s gas tax in an attempt to provide relief to consumers at the pump. Unfortunately, it is unlikely that consumers will see a discernible decrease in the price of fuel should these measures become law. Instead, much-needed roadway safety improvement projects would be put at risk. ATSSA remains concerned with any federal or state legislation that would threaten critical infrastructure funding. Read more
ATSSA joins effort asking Congress to amend ARP to release relief funds ATSSA joins effort asking Congress to amend ARP to release relief funds Groups seek ability to use allocated funds for transportation projects Pam / Thursday, March 3, 2022 0 3002 Article rating: No rating ATSSA joined the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) and 26 other groups asking leaders in the House and Senate to pass legislation that would amend the American Rescue Plan (ARP). The groups sent a letter on Tuesday asking Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to act on legislation (S. 3011 and H.R. 5735) that would give states and localities greater flexibility to use a larger portion of ARP funds needed for transportation projects. “The American Rescue Plan (ARP) provided states and localities with $350 billion in relief funds and $10 billion in capital improvement assistance at a time of critical need. The COVID-19 pandemic ripped a gaping hole in the budgets of many state and local governments, making this assistance crucial as the nation’s economic recovery continues,” the letter states. It goes on to explain that more than $100 billion remains unobligated and yet “the funds lack the flexibility necessary for states and localities to address ongoing transportation needs.” Read more
Biden highlights guardrails in State of the Union Biden highlights guardrails in State of the Union Tetschner applauds focus on safety and infrastructure in congressional address Pam / Wednesday, March 2, 2022 0 3274 Article rating: No rating In championing the passage of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) in his State of the Union address Tuesday night, President Joe Biden specifically mentioned “highway guardrails” as a positive outcome of the legislation. This is apparently the first mention of guardrails in the history of these presidential addresses to Congress. Additionally, Biden announced that the nation would start fixing “over 65,000 miles of highway and 1,500 bridges in disrepair.” That was in addition to 4,000 projects Biden said had already been announced. ATSSA President & CEO Stacy Tetschner commended the emphasis on infrastructure and the specific reference to a proven lifesaving device produced by ATSSA members. Read more
ATSSA leads road safety coalition in opposing Gas Prices Relief Act ATSSA leads road safety coalition in opposing Gas Prices Relief Act Group sends letters to House and Senate leaders expressing its view Pam / Friday, February 18, 2022 0 4706 Article rating: 1.0 ATSSA was joined today by 11 road safety organizations in submitting letters to the leadership of the House and Senate, asking them to reject the Gas Prices Relief Act proposed in both houses of Congress. The letter to Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell opens with the following statement. “As the leading road safety associations and organizations in the United States, we write to strongly urge you to oppose the Gas Prices Relief Act, introduced by Sens. Kelly, Hassan, Stabenow, Cortez Masto, Warnock and Rosen. This legislation would be calamitous to federal transportation and road safety programs, shortly after the enactment of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) that provided historic federal investments in this nation’s infrastructure.” Sens. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) and Maggie Hasson (D-N.H.) introduced the legislation earlier this month, with Sens. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) and Jackie Rosen (D-Nev.) signing on as co-sponsors. Read more
ATSSA CEO sends letter to Senate leaders urging rejection of Gas Prices Relief Act ATSSA CEO sends letter to Senate leaders urging rejection of Gas Prices Relief Act Pam / Thursday, February 17, 2022 0 4791 Article rating: 1.0 ATSSA President & CEO Stacy Tetschner today sent a letter to Senate leaders Charles Schumer and Mitch McConnell urging them to reject the Gas Prices Relief Act. “On behalf of the American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) and its over 1500 members, I strongly urge you to oppose the Gas Prices Relief Act. This legislation would strip the main source of funding for the Highway Trust Fund (HTF), jeopardizing the implementation of life-saving infrastructure safety programs included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA),” Tetschner wrote. He noted that at a time when roadway fatalities are increasing, it is not a time to “undercut funding for infrastructure safety projects.” ATSSA members are encouraged to reach out to their Senators to express their opposition to the proposal. Read more
ATSSA’s 2022 Convention & Traffic Expo reunited thousands of roadway safety advocates ATSSA’s 2022 Convention & Traffic Expo reunited thousands of roadway safety advocates ATSSA travels to Phoenix for the 2023 event set for Feb. 17-21 Pam / Wednesday, February 16, 2022 0 5736 Article rating: 4.0 ATSSA’s 2022 Convention & Traffic Expo brought together more than 3,200 roadway safety advocates over five days in Tampa, Fla. They collaborated, networked, learned about the latest innovations and even cheered on their favorite team at the Chairman’s Big Game Watch Party on Sunday evening. Keynote speaker Scott Moore kept the packed crowd in the Ballroom of the Tampa Convention Center spellbound as he shared leadership and teamwork tips gleaned from his decades leading the elite Navy SEALs on “no fail” missions. And Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg talked about the USDOT commitment to zero deaths on the nation's roadways while acknowledging that may not be achieved during his tenure but that ATSSA's members are needed to achieve that goal. It's not too early to start planning now for next year. The 2023 Convention & Traffic Expo takes place in Phoenix, Feb. 17-21 at the Phoenix Convention Center with the theme of “where roadway safety and Innovation intersect.” Read more
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg delivering keynote remarks Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg delivering keynote remarks Transportation leader confirmed for ATSSA’s 2022 Convention & Traffic Expo Pam / Tuesday, February 8, 2022 0 4603 Article rating: 5.0 FREDERICKSBURG, Va. (Feb. 8, 2022) – Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg confirmed today that he will deliver keynote remarks at ATSSA’s 52nd Annual Convention & Traffic Expo. Buttigieg is expected to discuss the National Roadway Safety Strategy released Jan. 27 by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) as well as provide insights into the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act (IIJA) and its impact on roadway safety. “We are honored that Transportation Secretary Buttigieg is making the time to address our members and we look forward to hearing his insights pertaining to roadway safety and how our industry can partner with USDOT to dramatically reduce roadway fatalities,” said ATSSA President & CEO Stacy Tetschner. Read more
ATSSA’s 2021 Annual Report is now available online ATSSA’s 2021 Annual Report is now available online Pam / Monday, February 7, 2022 0 4837 Article rating: No rating ATSSA’s Annual Report for 2021 is now available. This year’s theme is “Resilience & Records” and lays out the many achievements that took place across the Association in a year that posed significant challenges for our members such as supply chain disruptions and a nationwide worker shortage. The report opens with a letter from President & CEO Stacy Tetschner who touches on issues from passage of the bipartisan infrastructure package to the creation of a Roadway Worker Protection Council, which emerged from the 2021 Convention & Traffic Expo. The report also includes a list of company members that joined ATSSA in the last year, a review of updates to ATSSA’s training options and insights gained from a member survey commissioned in 2021 as well as other highlights from the past year. Read more
FHWA releases guidelines for safety programs under new infrastructure package FHWA releases guidelines for safety programs under new infrastructure package Pam / Wednesday, February 2, 2022 0 4268 Article rating: 2.0 Earlier today, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) released guidelines for the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) under the new Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The guidance outlines eligibilities under the HSIP, along with defining guidance for new special rules that fall under the HSIP. While the majority of the HSIP guidance remains intact from the previous highway authorization, ATSSA’s Government Relations team highlighted a few changes to the guidance under the IIJA. Read more
Traffic fatalities make historic increase for first nine months of 2021, NHTSA reports Traffic fatalities make historic increase for first nine months of 2021, NHTSA reports Pam / Wednesday, February 2, 2022 0 3748 Article rating: No rating Traffic fatalities increased 12% for the first nine months of 2021 compared to the same period in 2020, marking the biggest percentage increase in the history of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) fatality reporting process, which projects fatality data. The Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) provides statistical projections for traffic fatalities nationwide, looking at the first nine months of the year in this report that provides an early estimate of motor vehicle traffic fatalities. The 12% increase is based on an estimated 31,720 people killed in motor vehicle crashes nationwide in the first nine months of 2021 compared to 28,325 killed in the first nine months of 2020. That is the highest number of fatalities for nine months since 2006. Read more