In a year in which households across the nation are struggling due to the rising costs of necessities, ATSS Foundation Director Lori Diaz tempered her expectations for the 2023 global day of philanthropy known as Giving Tuesday.

But Tuesday’s giving not only exceeded her expectations but also set a record for the second year in a row.

“I was astonished by the generosity shown to the ATSS Foundation,” Diaz said. “People had the opportunity to support many deserving organizations with their donations on Giving Tuesday and I am honored that they chose to support us. I appreciate every individual and group who gave to the Foundation and is helping us finish the year strong.”

Kathi Holst is still haunted by the deaths of two roadway workers at companies where she served as an executive. That’s why she’s passionate about the importance of a daily emphasis on worker safety.

ATSSA’s second Roadway Worker Protection Special Edition is now online. This year’s edition focuses on three areas:

• Building a workplace safety culture
• Insights on situational awareness
• A teen driver education program that protects workers, teens and all motorists by teaching new drivers how to safely navigate work zones.

The Roadway Worker Protection Special Edition also includes a state-by-state breakdown of work zone crashes.

With speeding through highway work zones posing an increasingly prevalent threat, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) and ATSSA members are taking extensive steps to protect workers engaged in a 3 ½-year project.

The Fall issue of Roadway Safety magazine details the steps those partners are taking for this long-term work on Interstate 494. Read about this project and much more in this issue, available online now.

The magazine also delves into several other issues including artificial intelligence, looking at how it’s being applied to optimize business and employed to raise the bar with intelligent traffic management systems.

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. (Sept. 27, 2023) – The American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) today unveiled a modernized logo that emphasizes the Association’s focus on advancing roadway safety.

The bolder colors and focus on navy provide the perfect complement for the orange traffic cone set within the initial A in ATSSA. Insertion of this simple, well-known image conveys an instant connection to work zones and roadway safety infrastructure.

“This logo makes a clear statement about who we are and our core purpose of advancing roadway safety,” said ATSSA President & CEO Stacy Tetschner. “It also instantly identifies us with work zones and the roadway workers who risk their lives every day to deliver safe passageways for each of us as we drive countless miles throughout the year.”

The ATSS Foundation awarded Roadway Worker Memorial Scholarships to 14 students for the 2023-24 academic year.

The Roadway Worker Memorial Scholarship Program started in 2002 to provide financial assistance for post-high school education to dependents of roadway workers killed or permanently disabled in roadway work zones. The program is competitive and provides scholarships valued up to $10,000 per student each year. Since its inception, the program has awarded 126 Roadway Worker Memorial Scholarships. An additional 26 Chuck Bailey Memorial Scholarships—valued at $1,000 each—have been awarded to applicants who demonstrate a strong commitment to volunteerism. Bailey was a member of the roadway safety industry who died in 2002.

“The goal of the program is to help dependents of workers killed or permanently disabled in a work zone incident navigate a path forward,” said Foundation Director Lori Diaz.

ATSSA’s Public Agency and Marty Weed Engineering scholarships provide department of transportation (DOT) officials opportunities to engage with the latest roadway safety tools and the people advancing the industry at the largest gathering of roadway safety infrastructure officials in North America. 

A record-breaking crowd registered for ATSSA’s 2023 Convention & Traffic Expo, and more are expected for the 54th annual event in San Diego, Feb. 2-6. 

This year’s 3M pledge wall raised $14,820 for The ATSS Foundation.

This was the seventh year 3M has operated the virtual wall fundraiser, which ran from the start of the year through the end of ATSSA’s Convention & Traffic Expo.

3M launched the event with an offer to match up to $5,000 in donations. When the tally fell just short of that figure—at $4,820—the company elected to provide the full match. Those funds plus 3M’s $5,000 sponsorship provided The Foundation with a total of $14,820.

The ATSS Foundation recently recognized the Shirley family of Georgia with the nonprofit’s Ambassador Award.

The Foundation Ambassador Award recognizes an individual or entity for extraordinary efforts in supporting The Foundation’s core purpose of promoting roadway safety through charitable giving and public awareness programs.

Georgia ATSSA Chapter President Rick Brockman nominated the family for the Foundation Ambassador Award in recognition of their years-long efforts in helping both The Foundation and the Georgia Department of Transportation, both of which offer college scholarships.

Thousands of roadway safety advocates filled the Phoenix Convention Center this week for ATSSA’s 53^rd Annual Convention & Traffic Expo, exploring the latest technology and equipment for protecting lives within work zones and on the nation’s roadways.

A record-setting number of people registered, with more than 3,700 for this year's event.

With nearly 50 education sessions to choose from, they gained both practical tips—such as how to negotiate contracts to limit liability—and enhanced their understanding of critical workplace safety and technology issues such as advances in communication between work zones and connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs).

Keynote speaker Scott Wozniak, an organizational leadership expert from Atlanta, addressed a key workforce issue on Sunday when he offered insights for building a successful team by focusing on the essential element of employee engagement.

Check out some of the highlights of this week's event.

Roadway Worker Memorial Scholarships can fuel the journey to dreams fulfilled for students who lost a parent or had one permanently disabled due to a work zone incident.

The ATSS Foundation offers two scholarships for the loved ones following a work zone tragedy.

The Roadway Worker Memorial Scholarship Program offers dependents of the workers—both children and spouses—an opportunity to continue pursuing their academic dreams beyond high school. This competitive program offers up to $10,000 for an academic year. Applicants who demonstrate a strong commitment to volunteerism may be eligible to receive an additional $1,000 in honor of Chuck Bailey, who was an esteemed member of the roadway safety industry.

Applications are due by Feb. 15 for the 2023-24 academic year.