AASHTO is made up of representatives from the highway and transportation departments of all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. It advocates transportation policies, provides technical services and plays a key role in developing the national transportation agenda.
Mallory said he will emphasize three areas during his tenure: the next federal reauthorization bill, environmental stewardship, and safety and security. The current federal transportation funding law, the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) expires in 2003 and Mallory, who was AASHTO’s vp last year, has been involved in the group's efforts to outline recommendations to Congress.
Among Mallory’s goals for the next year are maximizing highway funding, encouraging greater flexibility in transferring federal funds among major programs, and simplifying federal program structures and funding categories. He also wants to find ways to protect the environment while meeting transportation needs.
"This shouldn't be an either-or proposition," Mallory said. "We must be environmental stewards. Our society demands that we not destroy our resources as we meet our nation's mobility demands."
He also plans to focus on safety and security needs.
