ATSSA Signal July/August 2020

The Signal | July/August 2020 17 Government Relations Transportation projects continue despite virus Pennsylvania and Washington bucked trend seen across the nation By Renée W. Gibson, ATSSA Staff In the weeks immediately follow- ing the issuance of federal guidelines closing businesses and asking people to stay home except for essential errands because of COVID-19, two states and several local jurisdictions, including the Boston area and the San Francisco bay area, ceased operations at their depart- ments of transportation. However, within amonth, departments of transportation (DOTs) in 48 states had resumed work and were taking advan- tage of the decreased traffic to tackle roadway projects. And by May 1, nearly every state’s personnel were engaged in road work. In fact, some projects were moving faster than expected because of the decreased traffic. In California, a project on U.S. 101 was originally expected to causemassive traf- fic delays through this summer. Instead, the California Department of Transpor- tation, known as Caltrans, expected the project to be finished by mid-May, well ahead of schedule. In Maryland, Gov. Larry Hogan and the Maryland DOT announced that a proj- ect on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge was completed one year ahead of schedule. From the start of stay-at-home orders in March, ATSSAadvocated for itsmembers to be considered “essential critical infra- structureworkers” under the guidelines issued by the U.S. Department of Home- land Security (DHS). ATSSA President & CEO Stacy Tetschner sent a letter to the nation’s governors and lieutenant governors urging them to consider its members essential and to keep road construction projects and materials manufacturing open. “On behalf of the 1,500 members of the American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA), I urge you to deem road constructionworkers and themanu- facturers of roadway safety devices and construction machinery as essential industries and workers in your state,” Tetschner wrote. “ATSSAmembersmanu- facture, distribute and install lifesaving roadway safety infrastructure devices such as traffic signs and signals, pave - ment markings, guardrail and cable barrier, crash cushions and work zone safety devices, among many others. “It is critical that these sectors continue to be put to work for the safety of the traveling public and for the safety of emergency services and public safety personnel as we continue to fight this pandemic nationwide.” Most states agreed with ATSSA and included roadway workers and manu- facturers in their directions. However, the governors of Pennsylvania andWashington halted DOT projects for weeks as did some local jurisdictions. InPennsylvania, projectswere suspended on March 17. ATSSA encouraged the resumption of projects in a timely and safe manner and sent a separate letter to PennDOT requesting a reversal of the suspension. PennDOT Deputy Secretary for Highway Administration Melissa Batula wrote back, saying the state would resume operations as soon as they felt it was safe. “We are keenly aware of the impacts this action has caused to the construction industry and other businesses state- wide,” Batula wrote. “PennDOT certainly understands the importance of the 570 workers and 48-member companies you mention; we relyon this robustworkforce to aid PennDOT in our core mission to construct andmaintainour highways and roadway safety devices. Our efforts are aimed at helping to keep this workforce healthy and able to report as we bring projects back online when the COVID-19 threat has been sufficiently mitigated.” PennDOT resumed work on May 1 with strict guidance in place. Meanwhile, the funding implications aris- ing from the economic crisis brought on by the pandemic remain to be seen, but initial data is troubling. Federal and state officials know that state budgets will be tight and indus- try associations are already working to advocate for assistance. The American Association of State High- way Transportation Officials (AASHTO) sent a letter to Congress onApril 6 asking for $50 billion to help state transporta- tion departments. “State DOTs are forecasting a significant reduction in state transportation reve- nues that will challenge their ability to maintain and operate our transporta- tion system in away that can support the COVID-19 response,” Executive Director Jim Tymon said in a statement support- ing the request. “Some state DOTs are already furloughingworkers due to fund- ing shortfalls and more will be faced with the same difficult decision about projects and people, unless Congress takes action.” ATSSA is tracking actions state by state and has posted a map on the COVID-19 page of its website (ATSSA.com/COVID) that shows the status of road projects. The page also provides access to each DOT’s website. Washington’s DOT expected to resume projects but had not given a date at press time.  To reach ATSSA Director of State Government Rela - tions Renée W. Gibson, renee.gibson@atssa.com .