WASHIGNTON D.C. ?EUR??,,????'??+ The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) has elected John Njord, executive director of the Utah Department of Transportation, its president for 2003-2004.

Njord said his emphasis areas for the association in the coming year will be reauthorization of the federal surface-transportation finance law, which expired Sept. 30, optimizing the transportation system, and environmental leadership. The statute that governs federal financing of highways and transit is known as the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, or TEA-21.

Njord called on AASHTO, which represents state transportation departments in Washington, to develop and quickly implement a strategy for a transportation-finance bill that is timely, promotes AASHTO?EUR??,,????'???s goals, keeps state agencies in business with no interruption of funding or programs, and effectively positions the association ?EUR??,,????'??for the best long-term financial good.?EUR??,,????'??