The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) has elected Craig Thompson, Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, as its president for the term 2023-2024. Garrett Eucalitto, Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Transportation, has been selected as the vice president for the same term.

Thompson expressed his honor in serving as AASHTO's president during a time when transportation needs are rapidly evolving. He emphasized the exciting yet challenging period for the transportation industry, stating, "I see great opportunity for those of us in the industry to make a real impact for our communities."

 

In his role, Thompson outlined three major areas of emphasis for AASHTO during his tenure:
- Realizing the Promise of the IIJA: Focusing on the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), Thompson stressed the importance of working efficiently to apply these investments in a way that positively impacts communities.
- Bolstering Safety: Addressing AASHTO'ssafety concerns on the nation's roadways, Thompson plans to build upon safety initiatives to ensure continued progress and make safe multi-modal transportation a priority.
- Reinvigorating the Workforce: Acknowledging demographic trends affecting the labor pool, Thompson aims to collaborate with state DOTs to establish effective practices for building a transportation workforce that meets current and future needs.

"I will tell you as someone who spent a couple of decades discussing the importance of transportation funding, and what happens when you don't invest, we need to tell the story on how transportation improves people's lives," remarked Thompson.

He stressed the need to start immediately on reauthorization as AASHTO works to fulfill the promise of the IIJA. Thompson also highlighted the importance of moving forward on the safety issue, leveraging real-time data and reevaluating safety messaging.

https://aashtojournal.transportation.org/aashto-elects-new-leadership-at-2023-annual-meeting/