MINUTES of
AASHTO Subcommittee on Transportation Communications Conference Call
Thursday, June 7, 2012
1. Welcome – Dana Alexander Nolfe
a. Self Introductions
Participating: Dana Alexander Nolfe – RI; Steve Swartz and Kim Qualls – KS; Steve Pierce – WA; Lloyd
Brown and David Dubov – AASHTO; Ted Vaden, Jen Garifo and Amanda Perry – NC; Dawn Garner- Mich.;
Paul Trombino and Dena Gray-Fisher – IA; Mary Jo Oie – NE; Meadow Bailey – AK; Michelle Booth – NV;
Monica Hernandez - D.C.; Peg Schmidt - Wis.; Mike Williams –Delaware.
2. Approval of Minutes from Last Meeting, March 19, 2012 – Dana Alexander Nolfe
a. See Attached from Mary Jo Oie
Minutes approved
3. Treasurer’s Report – Dena Gray-Fisher
a. Status Update
 $25,507 in cash; $8,000 in CD
4. Trans Comm Annual Conference 2012 – NC – Ted, Jen, Amanda
a. Status Update
 Budget/sponsorships -- $47,500 in confirmed cash sponsors; several in-kind donations –
restaurant/food gift certificates. Still working with more sponsors
 NASCAR will be involved in the conference. Will provide some activities during luncheon; driving
simulator; tire changing. Will help build DOT/NASCAR relationships.
 NASCAR wants to partner on safety message
 Registration, which has a fee of $350, has been slow, but still early in the game
 Conference website is up and updated agenda is posted;
 Still working to fill one session; open to suggestions; Jim Baron of ATSSA would like to introduce
their safety award
 A potter is working on the skills contest award; banquet will be at the N.C. Museum of Natural
Sciences
 Efforts to promote the conference/skills contest: Lloyd requests Chairman Trombino send letter
to CEOs promoting both the conference and the skills contest; pitches also to be posted on
LinkedIn and Twitter
5. Awards Committee – Michelle Booth
 Dena suggests that Michelle have a conference call with the judging states to discuss their roles,
where to get the entries, deadlines, etc.
6. Site Selection Committee – Dana for Valerie Burnett-Edgar
 Interest for 2014 by Arizona
 AASHTO, D.C. and Maryland have an interest in a combo conference in 2015
 Mississippi has received a request to make a pitch to host again and they are considering it
7. LinkedIn Committee – Kimberly Qualls
 271 members on LinkedIn
 Will hit hard the messaging for the conf. and and skills competition
8. Webinars – Steve Swartz
 May Pinterest presentation by Dana attracted more than 60 registrations
 Capital Bikeshare presentation by D.C. on June 21. Promoting the presentation on the
TransComm website and Facebook page. Also on the TransComm LinkedIn page. Will
expand to include the LinkedIn page of Transportation Industry Public Relations
Professionals.
 Future presentations include Storify and the AASHTO social media survey.
 Will continue to schedule webinars at 2 p.m. Eastern
 Chairman Trombino (through Dena) suggest a webinar on mobile apps
9. Reports from the Regions
NASTO
 D.C.
 DDOT celebrated ten year anniversary – new logo, Mayor and US DOT, WMATA and former
Directors gathered to mark occasion
 This fall will hit a major milestone on largest infrastructure project – the 11th Street Bridge
Project a $300 M project
 Bikeshare system continues to succeed – the two millionth ride took place in May
 Ordered two new streetcar trains for H Street line that will open Summer 2013
 MASSACHUSETTS
 MBTA service cuts and new fares July 1
 Highway Side – accelerating bridge replacements projects
 CONNECTICUT
 Connecticut just broke ground for a Busway project – a 9.4 mile corridor exclusively for
buses designed to reduce congestion (and emissions) around Hartford.
 The DOT is about the complete the northbound side of a major I-95 bridge in New Haven,
known as the “Q Bridge” because it goes over the Quinnipiac River. This is by far the biggest
project the CT DOT has ever undertaken, at $2.2 billion. A ribbon-cutting with USDOT Dep
Secy John Porcari, the Governor and others will be held June 22
 Because of the relatively mild winter in CT, we have about $6 million of our winter budget
left , with which we will be buying about 45 new snow plow trucks.
 MAINE
 Took advantage of mild weather conditions - allowed for plow crews to start installing new
roadway signage with more reflectivity as required by FHWA
 In full swing with paving schedule, culvert repair work, roadway maintenance
 Opened new bus services and facility at Acadia National Park
 Opening new Veterans Memorial Bridge this month
o A $63M bridge replacement project
o Includes bike and pedestrian access
 NEW HAMPSHIRE
 Reported on great success with recent media coverage – offered behind the scenes
opportunities to press (i.e. opportunity for reporter to go on bucket overlooking bridge
demo). Great public relations opportunity to expose their branding, logos and messaging.
o Travel Channel “Off Limits” featured bridge demo activity.
o Bridge demo activity created a draw – members from community followed the
activity.
 DELAWARE
 Last month completed a large project - $115 million bridge, in beach area. Big opening
event and a walk-over. 2,000 people came out
SASHTO
 NORTH CAROLINA
 North Carolina DOT is experiencing strong public pushback as it tries to fill funding gaps by
using the tolling toolbox. An 18-month study and education campaign for a proposal to
widen and improve Interstate 95 through the length of the state has generated legislation in
Congress and the state legislature to stop or restrict tolling.
 A project to build a 20-mile tolled bypass around Charlotte was rejected by a federal
Appeals Court and sent back to the lower court, which will at a minimum cause lengthy
delay and additional expense.
 The state also is wrangling over a plan to add tolls on the state's ferry system, which is
second-largest in the US (after Washington).
WASHTO
 ALASKA
 Developing a system for responding to legislators about projects.
 Developing communication performance measures.
 WASHINGTON
 On an ongoing basis, it’s strategizing and developing messages and talking points and
materials that capture the big picture of transportation, particularly the pressures on
funding vs. the needs of the statewide system.
 With downsizing occurring, the constant re-evaluation of communications functions and
priorities and how to get the job done with shrinking resources.
 IDAHO
 The $100 million Sand Creek Byway in Sandpoint is the single largest project in ITD history.
The June ceremony will include the Governor and entire congressional delegation.
 NEBRASKA
 Our beloved Director, 40 years of service to the state, last three as our Director-State
Engineer, will retire August 3. The Governor will announce his successor soon.
 We will continue to work to keep the recently passed legislation by our Unicameral to
receive additional funds from the State’s general fund for what has become the Build
Nebraska Act.
 COLORADO
 Preparing for WASHTO 2012 (July 8-11) in Colorado Springs.
 Implementing a new strategic communications plan and internal communications effort.
 Discussions under way for a potential gas tax increase next year.
 Scarce funds means lots of "fair share" fighting with locals right now.
 SOUTH DAKOTA
 Working on an External Communications Plan.
 Implementing an Intern Communications Plan.
MAASTO
 WISCONSIN
 Wisconsin and Minnesota DOTs are moving forward with the St. Croix Crossing project near
Stillwater, Minnesota. Congressional action and signature of President Obama were needed
to exempt the bridge from the U.S. Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, allowing the construction
project to proceed.
 MICHIGAN
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Gateway project – work around Ambassador (privately owned) Bridge between US and
Canada. Court ordered MDOT to finish work that bridge company was suppose to do. MDOT
has created Facebook page and is doing a weekly video update, posting photos and posting
regular updates on what work is being done on daily basis. Photos and video have helped
drive likes and shares of site.
On regular MDOT Facebook page a new photo of the day feature has increased hits and
shares as well.
A homeless community has been living in right of way for a while. By the end of the month
that will have been dealt with.
 KENTUCKY
 Kentucky is hosting the MAASTO Conference in July
 The Eggners Ferry Bridge, which carries U.S. 68/KY 80 across Kentucky Lake in westernmost
Kentucky, has reopened. The bridge was rammed by a cargo vessel the night of Jan. 26,
completely tearing away one span. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet let an emergency
contract to a Louisville company, Hall Contracting of Kentucky, which said it could have a
new span in place by Memorial Day. Hall Contracting beat the deadline by two days; the
bridge reopened on May 25. New truss was assembled in a nearby riverport and barged to
the bridge site.
 KANSAS
 Mike King, a central Kansas contractor, was named Secretary of Transportation by the
governor. He replaces long-time secretary Deb Miller.
 The agency’s funding came through the recently-completed legislative session unscathed.
10. AASHTO News – Lloyd Brown
 Social media survey has been sent to states
 Faces of Transportation competition open until next month. Key word is “faces”; many
photos are submitted every year that don’t have faces in them
 America’s Transportation Award regional awards will be rolled out at regional meetings this
summer; Top 10 winners coming after the regional awards. 49 projects from 37 states
submitted, including some that had never submitted.
 AASHTO Journal Daily – this is a new product under development that will provide news
daily. If you want to help beta test, let Lloyd know by sending an e-mail

New executive director and chief financial officer will be named at the end of this year or in
January
11. AASHTO 100th Birthday Project - Lloyd Brown
 AASHTO 100th Birthday. Between 2013 and 2014 AASHTO will celebrate its 100th anniversary.
Have a “straw dog of a plan” right now, but it needs involvement and support of the state CEOs.
Want to form an executive committee of the CEOs to determine how to plan and manage the
celebration. CEO committee will comprise representatives from each region and will be chaired
by Paul Trombino.
 Chairman Trombino: looking forward to working on this and needs help as they go forward. He
wants to work social media into the celebration.
12. Bylaws update – Dena Gray-Fisher
Working to have a draft in the next few weeks. Using AASHTO’s main organizational bylaws as the
structural model. They need a lot of work to be developed into TransComm bylaws.
13. Old business
Nothing to report
14. New Business
ATSSA is starting a new award for safety. More info later.