TRIP, a national transportation research nonprofit, this morning released its latest report on the status of the nation’s interstates. It found that the U.S. interstate system “will need to be rebuilt and expanded to meet the nation’s growing transportation needs,” according to a statement from TRIP.

The report, “Restoring the Interstate Highway System: Meeting American’s Transportation Needs with a Reliable, Safe & Well-Maintained National Highway Network,” ranked state highway systems on several categories.

Tune in this weekend to hear ATSSA President & CEO Stacy Tetschner on Transport Topics Radio.

He’ll be discussing roadway safety with host Dan Ronan, who chats weekly with industry experts from government, business, logistics and other sectors of the transportation industry.

The House of Representatives today passed H.R. 2, known as the Moving Forward Act, a $1.5 trillion infrastructure plan covering not only traditional transportation, but also schools, housing, drinking water, broadband, and clean energy.

The legislation, led by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) and House Ways and Means Committee Chair Richard Neal (D-Mass.), included the language from the $494 billion Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation in America Act, known as the INVEST in America Act. The bill passed along a party-line vote of 0-0, with Republicans opposing how the bill was crafted and the inclusion of provisions focused on environmental protections.

The Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation in America (INVEST in America) Act is headed for a full vote in the House of Representatives prior to July 4, according to House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) who said voting could begin as early as June 30.

After a markup process that lasted a little more than 24 hours, the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee voted to pass the INVEST in America Act late Thursday night. The committee voted along party lines, 35-25, to pass the five-year surface transportation reauthorization through the committee. The markup saw the consideration of 177 amendments over a two-day span that, at times, became heated as Republicans made it clear they believed they were shut out in drafting the $494 billion package.

ATSSA commends the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on moving the INVEST in America Act out of committee today. The bill, which includes historic funding levels for roadway safety infrastructure projects, moves the highway bill reauthorization process closer to the finish line before the looming Oct. 1 deadline.

ATSSA was encouraged by this week’s call from House Democratic leaders for another COVID-19 package that includes infrastructure funding.

The office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) released a list of priorities the Democratic Caucus is targeting in a fourth COVID-19 economic package, which includes attention to transportation projects and mobility.

The Moving Forward plan calls for recovery by investing in “smarter, safer infrastructure that is made to last” and that would produce “millions of good-paying jobs.”

If you weren’t able to attend the 50^th Annual Convention & Traffic Expo or haven’t mastered the art of being in two places at once, you missed some great presentations by experts in the roadway safety field. The great news is, you can find out what you missed during the convention’s concurrent education sessions!

Recordings of the education sessions are now online and available for free. In addition, materials provided by the presenters are posted there as well.

ATSSA Board Chair Greg Driskell, pictured in center, Past Chair Juan Arvizu, left, and Government Relations Vice President Nathan Smith were in Las Vegas on Sunday, Feb. 16  for the “Moving America Forward” presidential candidate forum aimed at raising the profile of the nation’s infrastructure needs. United for Infrastructure organized the program with groups that build, maintain, operate, and administer America’s infrastructure systems hosting it.

On Wednesday, House Democrats unveiled a $760 billion proposal to fund infrastructure investments over the next five years. ATSSA commends moving the process of highway bill reauthorization forward and looks forward to working with the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on crafting the details of the plan on a bi-partisan basis. The framework outlines major investments, including those in surface transportation, rail and transit systems, airports, ports and harbors, wastewater and drinking water infrastructure, brownfields, and broadband.  Additionally, this proposal is estimated to create more than 10 million jobs.

Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) introduced legislation to encourage states to explore a road usage charge to help fund transportation projects. The bill submitted on Tuesday by the state’s 3rd District representative would reauthorize the Surface Transportation Systems Funding Alternatives (STSFA) program through 2025 and increase funding authorization, improve reporting requirements and provide special consideration for new projects that advance the knowledge of funding alternatives or collect revenue, according to the congressman’s office.