AASHTO Journal, 8 May 2015
Around the nation, major infrastructure-focused associations, plus federal and state agency officials are using the week of May 10-16 to focus public attention on transportation system needs.
The efforts include an array of events in Washington, D.C., as part of “Infrastructure Week” that runs May 11-15.
Under federal law, the week of May 10-16 is National Transportation Week, while May 15 is National Defense Transportation Day.
And many executives from state departments of transportation will convene May 13-15 in Cheyenne, Wyo., as the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials holds its annual policy-focused spring meeting.
These special-focus events come as the Highway Trust Fund’s program authority is set to expire May 31, and Congress has yet to introduce legislation to extend it.
A number of congressional leaders have said, though, they plan to offer a short-term extension later in May, and probably come up with enough new revenue to carry the trust fund through December.
The Infrastructure Week calendar begins May 11 with a Bloomberg Government webcast discussion on the Highway Trust Fund and related issues with Vice President Joseph Biden, U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx and leaders of business and labor organizations.
There will be other forums throughout that week in the nation’s capital, with some focused on flood infrastructure or aviation issues, and many looking at how to finance highways and transit systems.