Transportation leaders gather to focus on new vision

May 31, 2007

About 250 transportation leaders from the public and private sectors gathered this week in Cambridge, Md. for a summit aimed at identifying a new vision to meet the nation's future transportation needs.

About 250 transportation leaders from the public and private sectors gathered this week in Cambridge, Md. for a summit aimed at identifying a new vision to meet the nation's future transportation needs.

The conference, held May 21-23, was "the culmination of two years of research to document the trends that must be addressed in the future, followed by the gathering of the best ideas of many experts to form the background for our discussions," said John Horsley, executive director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), the main sponsor of the conference. "We are pleased to have so many key partners in this effort -- trucking, rail, ports, highway users, transit. We are striving to forge a consensus that will ultimately reshape our nation's transportation system," Horsley said.

Joining AASHTO in the initiative were:

  • AAA
  • The American Council of Engineering Companies
  • The American Public Transportation Association
  • The American Road and Transportation Builders Association
  • The American Trucking Associations
  • The Associated General Contractors of America
  • The Association of American Railroads

During the conference, participants worked on a draft vision statement in each of nine transportation areas, including freight, highways, rail, transit, metropolitan mobility, sustainable transportation, advanced technology and innovation, safety and funding.

AASHTO will use the results of the conference deliberations to produce a transportation vision and strategy for the 21st century.

Results of the conference will be presented to the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission and to Congress. Two members of the commission -- Vice-Chairman Jack Schenendorf and Commissioner Frank McArdle -- attended the Wednesday sessions and addressed the participants.

Sponsored Recommendations

The Science Behind Sustainable Concrete Sealing Solutions

Extend the lifespan and durability of any concrete. PoreShield is a USDA BioPreferred product and is approved for residential, commercial, and industrial use. It works great above...

Powerful Concrete Protection For ANY Application

PoreShield protects concrete surfaces from water, deicing salts, oil and grease stains, and weather extremes. It's just as effective on major interstates as it is on backyard ...

Concrete Protection That’s Easy on the Environment and Tough to Beat

PoreShield's concrete penetration capabilities go just as deep as our American roots. PoreShield is a plant-based, eco-friendly alternative to solvent-based concrete sealers.

Proven Concrete Protection That’s Safe & Sustainable

Real-life DOT field tests and university researchers have found that PoreShieldTM lasts for 10+ years and extends the life of concrete.