Washington, D.C. [April 13, 2007]—The American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) has engaged Washington, D.C.-based Dittus Communications to assist in the development and execution of a multi-year image and branding program for the U.S. transportation design and construction industry.

ARTBA’s “It’s Our Future” campaign will use research, advertising and earned media to educate key inside the Washington beltway audiences about the many returns the industry provides on the public’s investment in transportation infrastructure improvements.

In the second phase of the campaign, ARTBA will focus on building public and political support for significant increases in federal transportation investment. The current law, the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act – A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) which funds the nation’s road, highway, bridge, transit and transportation infrastructure programs, expires in 2009.

“We are thrilled to be chosen by ARTBA to work on this timely campaign,” said Dittus Communications vice president of public affairs and project lead Peter Holran. “With the federal highway bill up for reauthorization in a few years, the time is ripe to raise awareness of the transportation construction industry, and to show that transportation infrastructure is a smart investment in our nation’s future.”

The Dittus team handling the work will be comprised of Holran; Angela Martinez, senior director; Tom Conway, senior vice president; Tom Squitieri, senior media advisor and Liz Eigenberger, account executive. The Dittus team brings to the ARTBA project experience with similar projects for clients including Shell Exploration & Production, the American Council on Fitness and Nutrition, Dell, PhRMA, and Pernod Ricard. Also, Dittus' issue advocacy expertise has been called upon by numerous campaigns, including Pepco’s “DC is Electric” campaign, the High-Tech DTV Coalition's campaign for DTV transition and the Campaign for Tire Safety, as well as campaigns promoting nutrition and fitness and increased access to domestic energy resources.

ARTBA’s “It’s Our Future” also includes a separate, yet complementary, workforce recruitment and development component aimed at attracting the “best and brightest” to careers in the industry.

Established in 1902, ARTBA represents more than 5,000 public and private sector members of the U.S. transportation design and construction industry in the Nation’s Capital. Information about the association can be found www.artba.org.

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About Dittus

Dittus Communications is a full-service public relations firm serving national and international clients. With an array of services, including media relations, issue advocacy, grassroots and corporate branding, combined with the firm's continual growth, Dittus has been honored with numerous awards, including Public Affairs Agency of the Year. In 2005, Dittus became part of FD (www.fd.com), a leading business communications and consulting firm with offices in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the United States. In 2006, FD became the strategic communications arm of FTI Consulting, a premier provider of problem-solving consulting and technology services to major corporations, financial institutions and law firms. FTI Consulting is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. For more information on our experienced staff or to view a full portfolio of capabilities, visit www.dittus.com.