The U.S. Senate passed the Inflation Reduction Act over the weekend, a sprawling bill centered around health care provisions, corporate tax increases and climate provisions, sending the bill to the House, which is expected to approve the legislation later this week.

Within the 775-page bill, ATSSA members will also see a nearly $1.9 billion competitive grant program aimed  at improving walkability, safety and increasing affordable transportation options. 

ATSSA will continue to follow the legislation and provide updates as it moves through Congress.

Fredericksburg, Va. (April 18, 2022) – The American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) and Transportation Research Board (TRB) Standing Committee on Traffic Control Devices invite students to compete in the 2023 Traffic Control Device (TCD) Student Challenge.

The TCD Student Challenge promotes innovation and stimulates ideas in the traffic control devices industry with a goal to improve operations and safety and encourage future generations of roadway safety professionals. As part of the challenge, individuals or student teams submit solutions in the subject area of transportation and roadway safety based on the chosen topic for the year.

This year’s topic is “Innovative Traffic Control Devices to Improve Vulnerable Road User Safety.”

ATSSA recently released its recommendations for “Developing an Effective Vulnerable Road User (VRU) Program” to address rising pedestrian fatalities as well as the safety of people not in vehicles but who utilize the roadways.

“This includes bicyclists and others who might not only walk, but roll, and are at a distinct and dangerous disadvantage when crossing a road or being in a road with vehicles and trucks,” ATSSA President & CEO Stacy Tetschner said in a letter to the heads of state departments of transportation (DOTs) across the country.

The document includes 19 recommendations assembled by ATSSA’s Traffic Signals Committee that Tetschner said ATSSA believes “will help put VRUs on a more equal footing with vehicle‐based travel, not only in terms of safety, but as a means of effective and efficient travel mode.”