APWA, Federal Highway Administration Sign 5-Year MOA

For Immediate Release

Washington D.C.—The American Public Works Association today signed a 5-year memorandum of agreement with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration.

The MOA, signed during a ceremony at APWA’s government affairs office, includes 12 areas in which the organizations will work together.

“Whether it’s building roads and bridges or safeguarding communities following severe weather, transportation is a key part of every public works department in the U.S.,” said APWA President Gary Losier, PEng. “Having this formal agreement with the Federal Highway Administration means APWA will continue our great work together to reach our common goals.”

“All aspects of transportation are so important to APWA that it is one of our three public policy priorities,” said APWA CEO Scott D. Grayson, CAE. “Now that we’ve formalized what has been a very positive and long-time relationship, we look forward to seeing the results of this MOU as we work together to strengthen this nation’s world-class highway system and make our roadways safer.”

“We’re incredibly pleased to continue our partnership with APWA and to work together to advance our shared goals of building and maintaining a safe, streamlined highway transportation system on behalf of all Americans,” said FHWA Administrator Shailen Bhatt. “Citizens depend on our nation’s highways and roadways to get to work, take their kids to school, and endless other purposes. We, at the Federal Highway Administration and the U.S. Department of Transportation, support local governments, and the millions of miles of roadways nationally under their care, working together to improve transportation safety, resilience, environment, and local economies.”

Today’s MOA is the second such agreement between APWA and a federal agency. In 2022, APWA signed a new 3-year memorandum with FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

With the new MOA, FHWA and APWA agree, in part, to:

• Collaborate on efforts to integrate safety throughout the project development process, support the National Roadway Safety Strategy and advance a Safe System Approach
• Identify areas for APWA engagement with FHWA, including freight, curbside management, road weather, work zones, low-carbon materials, traffic operations, and technology
• As part of the FHWA Executive Leadership Group for Traffic Incident Management (TIM), APWA will continue cooperative efforts with TIM partners to train public works professionals in TIM practices, and
• FHWA representatives will serve on APWA’s Connected and Automated Vehicles, and Road Safety subcommittees

“By this agreement, the parties commit to creating the tools needed to assist public works and transportation managers in responding to the dynamic changes in all areas of transportation,” the MOU reads. “The parties will embrace innovation, new and emerging technologies, and capitalize on opportunities to improve services today and in the future.”