AAA Meets with U.S. Transportation Secretary LaHood

AAA President and CEO Robert L. Darbelnet meets with U.S. Dept. of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to discuss AAA’s authorization priorities and other transportation issues.

AAA President and CEO Bob Darbelnet emphasized the need for a new national transportation vision and significant program reforms when he met recently with U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to discuss pending authorization legislation and funding options. With the federal transportation authorization bill set to expire September 30, 2009, Darbelnet shared with LaHood AAA’s key authorization recommendations, including the need to create a streamlined program focused more directly on national priorities and tied to results, ensure adequate long- and short-term funding, and designate traffic safety as a key national priority. As part of its safety recommendations, AAA supports establishing a goal aimed at cutting highway fatalities in half by 2025 and ensuring at least 10 percent of all transportation investment is dedicated to highway safety.