AASHTO Journal, 18 July 2014
Malcolm Dougherty, director of the California Department of Transportation, was on Wednesday named president of the Western Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. The announcement was made at WASHTO’s annual meeting in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Dougherty previously served as WASHTO vice president and succeeds Arizona Department of Transportation Director John Halikowski as president.
WASHTO consists of the state transportation and highway departments of 18 western states and representatives of the U.S. Department of Transportation, the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Bureau of Land Management. The association helps members contribute to national transportation policy issues, promote strong relationships in the region, advocate for legislation that supports the transportation needs of the region, provide a place for members to exchange ideas and best practices, and work with USDOT and other governmental entities. As president of the organization, Dougherty, who was appointed to his current role at Caltrans in May 2012, will preside over all WASHTO meetings and serve as the regional representative to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Executive Committee.
“Transportation agencies continue to face challenges in preserving our nation’s infrastructure, particularly as we look towards the potential insolvency of the Federal Highway Trust Fund and the increasing need for long-term solutions to more sustainable transportation financing,” Dougherty said in a statement. “I am honored to be given the opportunity to serve in this position and look forward to addressing these challenges and others as part of this regional organization.”
Dougherty’s term as WASHTO president will last for one year.
Additional information on WASHTO is available here.