“Are We There Yet?” – AASHTO launches national campaign to build awareness and provide information on the critical needs of our nation’s transportation system

April 2, 2009 at 4:31 pm

(Source: AASHTO)

Photo: Zen Skillicorn@flickr

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.

Click here to explore the campaign.