The Transportation Policy Forum discusses and recommends policies related to legislation, regulation, and other policy matters to the Board, including the Association’s recommended positions on reauthorization of key transportation legislation and on ongoing topical issues of interest to Member Departments. These policies may include modal, multimodal, multi-disciplinary, and emerging issues that have originated from the councils and committees or have been assigned to the Policy Forum by the Board of Directors or its Strategic Management Committee.
Highways and Streets
Most Americans ride in automobiles daily using streets and highways, tunnels and bridges, and other key infrastructure components. AASHTO strives to find innovative mechanisms to best ensure safe, maintained, and efficient vehicle transportation.
View Website
Rail
Rail infrastructure in America is of vital importance – not only do trains transport 40 percent of all intercity freight, but it links communities in efficient ways other modes cannot. AASHTO works to ensure America’s railroads remain the world’s best.
View Website
Aviation
The American aviation system handles over 70,000 passenger and cargo flights daily with about 5,000 airborne at any given time. AASHTO members develop strategies to promote and enhance airports and spaceports within their states. We also continue to explore innovative approaches to unmanned aerial system, or drone, use to supplement our transportation networks.
View Website
Water
America’s seaports are critical assets to facilitate the movement of goods and people across inland waterways and open ocean en masse. Over 90 percent of the world’s goods are transported over water, and state DOTs play a large part in America’s access to this means of trade. Several state DOTs also operate and maintain shipping terminals and ferry networks.
View Website
Freight
The efficient movement of freight is inherently intermodal affecting highways and streets, railroads, waterways, and airports. AASHTO shares best practices from the development of state freight plans and advocates for policies to accommodate rapid changes in supply chains and technologies.
View Website
Active Transportation
Americans that walk, run, bike, scoot, and row are also part of America’s transportation system. AASHTO and state DOTs are working harder than ever to improve the safety and appeal of these environmentally friendly transportation modes.
View Website
Public Transportation
Daily, tens of millions of Americans are dependent on bus, paratransit, subway, and commuter rail for transportation solutions. Many state DOTs own, operate, and/or oversee public transportation programs for their constituents. AASHTO takes a holistic approach to transportation solutions, and transit remains a vital resource to both urban and rural areas.
View Website