Technology, Funding Questions Highlight AASHTO Annual Meeting
The five-day event in Detroit includes a session where Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood will discuss the prospects for a new highway funding bill from Congress and a GM executive will explain how U.S. automakers are reinventing themselves.
Technology, safety, and federal funding for highways and transportation projects are key topics when members of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) gather in Detroit for their annual meeting Oct. 13-17 at The Marriott Downtown at the Renaissance Center. U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood will deliver the keynote address Oct. 17 after speaking about the American Jobs Act and the prospects for a new funding bill during at a plenary session the previous day. The session includes John Calabrese, executive director of Global Vehicle Engineering for General Motors, who will discuss how automakers are using innovation and cutting-edge technology to reinvent in the midst of tremendous challenges.
Another session on Oct. 16 is focused on new vehicle technologies to reduce emissions and prevent collisions, as well as integrate smart grid technology with electric vehicles.
"When Disaster Strikes: Funding, Emergency Operations, and Communications Strategies" is an Oct. 16 session exploring how state DOTs can coordinate and communicate effectively during the response to multi-state natural disasters. The scheduled presenters are King Gee, associate administrator for Infrastructure at the Federal Highway Administration; Terry Gibson, state highway administrator with the North Carolina DOT; and John Adam, chief engineer for the Iowa DOT.
For a conference program and other information about the event, visit http://www.michigan.gov/aashto.