ATSSA joined nine groups in releasing a statement today reaffirming support for the rapid, widespread deployment of vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technologies to further improve safety on American roads.

V2X allows communication between vehicles, infrastructure and other road users such as pedestrians and bicyclists and provides drivers with crucial warnings necessary to improve safety.

"We believe that 2023 will be a pivotal year for V2X deployment. Transportation stakeholders have aligned behind one V2X technology, cellular vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X), clearing the way for a unified, nationwide approach to the deployment of this tool," the statement says.

Shailen Bhatt, who led state transportation departments in Colorado and Delaware, was confirmed by the Senate to lead the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).

Bhatt’s confirmation by the full Senate on Thursday follows bipartisan support on Nov. 29 by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

As head of the FHWA, Bhatt will oversee implementation of the $1 trillion Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act (IIJA) passed into law in November 2021.

Finding and keeping talented people is more critical than ever and is increasingly important for gaining a competitive advantage in the marketplace.

Scott Wozniak, who has advised companies of all sizes across six continents and spent eight years at Chick-fil-A headquarters designing leadership development programs, will address that workforce issue as keynote speaker during the Feb. 19 general session of ATSSA’s 2023 Convention & Traffic Expo in Phoenix.

In his message, “Great Brands Have Great Employees – The Engine Behind Legendary Companies,” Wozniak will explain how to build an “employee engagement engine,” including providing five systems to attract and empower great people.

Helping achieve the industry goal of zero deaths on the nation’s roadways involves educating a range of groups from prospective partners to the general public.

Register now for the fifth and final session of ATSSA’s free Worker Safety Webinar series to gain skills to help you present your case. The Dec. 6 webinar starts at 2 p.m.

“Sharing Safety: Marketing and Partnerships to Create Safer Streets” will be led by Alex Kelly, CEO of SALT and Company, and a member of ATSSA’s Roadway Worker Protection Council. Participants will learn how to tell compelling stories about the work they are doing and leverage partnerships to increase awareness of roadway workers and the work they are doing and goals they seek to achieve. 

One week after Election Day, we finally have a good idea of what the next two years will look like on Capitol Hill.

While long thought that this year’s midterm elections would bring a “red wave” across the country, in the end Democrats were able to hold their ground in several swing states and remain in control of the Senate, while narrowly losing the House of Representatives to Republicans.

Even with the Senate race in Georgia headed to a run-off next month, Democrats know they will be in control of the Senate at least until 2024. They currently control 50 votes, plus Vice President Kamala Harris would provide a 51^st vote in the event the Senate stays 50-50 as it was prior to the election.