Campaign promotes transportation infrastructure awareness.
Press Release Summary:
Facing the expiration date for the current federal transportation authorization, AASHTO launched a national campaign to build awareness and provide information about the critical needs of America's transportation system. "Are We There Yet? We Can Be!" is designed to provide current information pertaining to the condition of this country's infrastructure, with examples of successful projects, technology, and focused solutions.
Original Press Release:
AASHTO Launches Are We There Yet? We Can Be. America, Let's Get Moving!
Washington, DC - "Are we there yet? The perennial question asked by kids on a long car trip is the same one all Americans should be asking about our entire transportation network," said John Horsley, Executive Director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). "Improving our transportation system must be a top priority for all of us since we are only investing half of what it would take to meet the needs of our nation's growing population, demand for freight, and aging roads, bridges, and transit."
With the expiration date looming for the current federal transportation authorization, AASHTO has today launched a national campaign to build awareness and provide information on the critical needs of our nation's transportation system.
Are We There Yet? We Can Be! is designed to be a one-stop shop for current information on the condition of the country's infrastructure, state examples of successful projects, innovative technology, and focused solutions that can be shared with the public, the media, business and community groups, and lawmakers. The website highlights AASHTO's proposals for the upcoming authorization, developed during the past year by representatives of the state departments of transportation.
"By working collaboratively across the nation - using common language and themes, we can ensure that our messages will be heard," Horsley said.
The campaign stresses three key points: State DOTs are accountable; their projects are community-driven; and their work is performance based - on-time, on-budget and using the most innovative technologies.
The campaign website, AreWeThereYet.transportation.org, outlines the AASHTO authorization proposals and includes facts about America's transportation infrastructure as well as a host of examples and information on issues ranging from safety and congestion, to freight and transit. AASHTO's new television webchannel, www.TransportationTV.org, offers interviews with key Members of Congress, information on issues such as the Highway Trust Fund, backgrounders, and a weekly news show devoted to transportation issues.
As part of its campaign, AASHTO also plans to continue to issue a series of reports on critical elements of our infrastructure, including in the coming weeks, its annual Bottom Line report, and Rough Roads Ahead, which looks at pavement conditions and preserving the transportation system. Finally, community and business leaders as well as elected officials and the media can take action through the campaign to keep updated on legislative events, share information, and offer their own insights into the state of transportation today.
For more information on the campaign, contact Sherry Conway Appel, 202-624-7827, sappel@aashto.org.
