ATSSA provided feedback to the Office of Management and Budget on Sunday regarding the proposed rules for Buy America requirements, asking for clarification on four specific issues and noting the importance of roadway safety infrastructure at a time when traffic fatalities are a major issue nationwide.

“ATSSA members are generally in favor of increasing the capacity to procure domestically-sourced construction materials and manufactured products for use on surface transportation projects,” ATSSA President & CEO Stacy Tetschner wrote to Deputy Controller Deidre A. Harrison. “However, ATSSA members are deeply concerned with the breadth and scope of the [Notice of Proposed Rulemaking] and the impact it could have on the timely and cost-effective delivery of much-needed roadway safety infrastructure improvements.”

The letter is in response to the NPRM on Guidance for Grants and Agreements – 2 CFR Parts 184 and 200 (Docket No. 2023-02617), which was published Feb. 9. The letter notes that ATSSA members manufacture, distribute and install roadway safety infrastructure devices such as guardrail and cable barrier, traffic signs and signals, pavement markings, work zone safety devices.

“It is important that any new Buy America requirements not have the unintended consequence of hindering the delivery of important roadway construction and roadway safety projects across the country,” Tetschner wrote.

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.

Phoenix (Feb. 21, 2023) – A portable lighting system tethered to an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) won the Innovation Award at ATSSA’s 53rd Annual Convention & Traffic Expo with three other new products being recognized for honorable mention.

The Blue Vigil ALED Portable Light is a person-portable area lighting system that mounts a high-intensity LED array on a tethered UAV that can be positioned up to 100 feet above a job site, according to Blue Vigil of Sterling, Va. The ALED puts over 8,000 square feet of light on the ground, providing nearly twice as much coverage as the towed light towers commonly used for roadway work zones.

The ALED can remain airborne for as long as needed and is designed to withstand the rigors of use in the field and on construction sites, according to company information.

The innovative light was chosen from among 18 entered in ATSSA’s New Products Rollout. The products represented companies from the U.S., Canada and Australia, and were evaluated by a panel of judges made up of department of transportation personnel.

PHOENIX (Feb. 19, 2023) – The American Traffic Safety Services Association awarded Peter Speer of Pexco with the Industry Achievement Award today during ATSSA’s Annual Convention & Traffic Expo taking place in Phoenix through Tuesday.

The Association also announced Neil Boudreau of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation as recipient of the National Safety Award and Jerry Britt, a PPG consultant, as recipient of the Mark of Excellence Award.

The Industry Achievement Award is the highest honor bestowed by ATSSA and is given to a member deemed worthy of special recognition. It honors members who have made significant contributions to ATSSA and left a mark on the roadway safety infrastructure industry.

The National Safety Award recognizes an employee or recent retiree of a government agency who made a significant contribution to the safety of our nation’s highways.

The Mark of Excellence Award is given to an ATSSA member who has made outstanding contributions to the advancement of roadway safety infrastructure through improved pavement markings.

Yes, there was a big event in Phoenix yesterday but could those guys tackle roadway safety solutions?

Could their front line mount an effective defense against work zone incursions? Could their offensive coordinators come up with a plan to integrate pavement markings and connected vehicle technology?

No, but roadway safety fans can find strategies for those issues and many more in Phoenix Feb. 17-21 at ATSSA’s biggest event of the year – the 53^rd Annual Convention & Traffic Expo.

Attendees will score big through interactions with industry experts, networking opportunities, nearly 50 education sessions and by exploring the 200,000-square-foot exhibit hall (more than triple the size of the gridiron) where new and powerful lifesaving devices will be displayed.

Registration is still open for the Convention & Traffic Expo where roadway safety and innovation intersect so get your name on the roster before it’s too late.