FHWA’s McMaster Visits ARTBA, Shares Priorities

What happened: In a Jan. 21 visit with ARTBA’s Executive Committee, Federal Highway Administrator Sean McMaster (pictured above left with ARTBA Chair Tony Fassino, Caterpillar) outlined the coming year’s surface transportation agenda for the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). He emphasized opportunities for ARTBA and FHWA to collaborate on work zone safety, infrastructure modernization and efficient project delivery.

In detailing a “back to basics” approach for his agency, McMaster also noted:

• U.S. DOT is working on reauthorization priorities to share with Congress soon.
• The administration has approved 11,000 categorical exclusions and several regulatory rescissions to help move projects to construction more quickly.
• FHWA wants to ensure Buy America requirements don’t delay projects, although waivers must be limited, strategic, and temporary.
• The agency would like to see public-private partnerships (P3s) considered as a means of moving forward on key megaprojects.
• Additional states are considering participation in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) assignment program.

The House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee’s Republican Staff Director, Nick Christensen, also joined the meeting and affirmed the committee is working in a bipartisan way to advance new surface transportation legislation in the House this spring.

What’s next: McMaster pledged continued collaboration with ARTBA in all these activities, with particular interest in tapping the expertise of the association’s membership.